Firefighter

As a firefighter you'll respond to emergencies and protect people, the environment and property from all types of accidents and emergencies

You'll work closely with the local community to increase their level of fire safety awareness, and to help prevent fires and accidents happening in the first place.

You'll also promote fire safety and enforce fire safety standards in public and commercial premises. This will involve acting on and advising on all matters relating to the protection of life and property from fire and other risks.

In the role, you'll continually learn and update your knowledge through a series of lectures, exercises, practice drills and training, which are an integral and ongoing part of the job.

Types of firefighter

• wholetime firefighters - work for the fire service full time and usually cover urban areas.
• retained firefighters - are on-call responders who usually cover rural areas. You'll be required to live or work within five minutes or one mile of the fire station and respond to pagers when an emergency call is received. You'll either be self-employed or work for an employer willing to allow you to leave work immediately to attend an emergency.

Responsibilities

As a firefighter, you’ll need to:

• respond immediately and safely to emergency calls and requests for assistance
• attend emergency incidents including fires, road accidents, floods, terrorist incidents, spillages of dangerous substances, and rail and air crashes
• rescue trapped people and animals
• minimise distress and suffering, including giving first aid before ambulance crews arrive
• safeguard your own and other people's safety at all times
• clean up and check a site after dealing with an incident
• take time to become familiar with local streets, roads and buildings, so you can respond to emergency calls with speed and efficiency
• inspect and maintain the appliance (fire engine) and its equipment, assisting in testing fire hydrants and checking emergency water supplies
• undertake drills and physical training and take part in training on techniques, use of equipment and other related matters
• maintain the level of physical fitness necessary to carry out all the duties of a firefighter
• promote fire safety and educate and inform the public by giving talks in schools, at local organisations and by carrying out home visits
• maintain links with the local community.

In a management position, you'll find that the operational aspects of firefighting form a much smaller part of your role, being replaced by supervisory activities.

Typically you’ll be required to:

• assess situations quickly, deciding on the best course of action
• direct the crew
• write full incident reports
• carry out fire investigation
• manage budget administration and control
• allocate personnel and resources to achieve performance targets
• negotiate with representative bodies
• deal with external agencies
• carry out planning and resource management
• deal with political aspects of the Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA).

Salary

There is a nationally agreed salary structure for firefighters, as follows:

• The starting salary for a trainee firefighter is £28,265. When fully trained, this rises to £37,675. Higher rates apply for overtime.
• Crew manager salaries range from £40,041 (development) to £41,767 (competent). Watch manager salaries range from £42,672 to £46,707.
• A station manager's earning potential is between £48,580 and £5,586 plus overtime rates, subject to the officer's level of competence.
• Further advancement to the role of group manager and then area manager attracts salaries of between £55,953 and £72,054, depending on the level of competence.

Retained firefighters are paid an annual retainer, dependent on their role in the service, plus a turn-out fee for each incident they attend. Retainers start at £2,827 for a trainee, while a competent retained firefighter receives £3,768. London firefighters are paid more.

Income data from the Fire Brigades Union. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Hours of work usually include regular unsocial hours, spread across 40 to 48 hours a week in a shift pattern. Most firefighters work two day shifts followed by two night shifts, before having four days off.

However, different services employ different duty systems, depending on their needs. When necessary, paid overtime is worked.

Job-sharing and part-time work are possible.

What to expect

• Being a firefighter requires regularly working in hazardous and challenging environments, such as in extreme heat or cold and adverse weather conditions, at great heights, in confined spaces, and within smoke-filled buildings. The job also carries the risk of exposure to dangers like collapsing structures, vehicle accidents, explosions, and toxic fumes. Physical fitness is crucial, as firefighters need to manage heavy equipment and wear breathing apparatus.
• Currently around 8% of firefighters are women. However, the fire service is working to recruit more female, black and ethnic minority firefighters through positive recruitment strategies.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK.
• Smart appearance is important. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are required to be clean-shaven to ensure the equipment can work effectively.
• Travel within a working day is frequent. Absence from home overnight (other than rostered duty) and overseas work or travel are generally uncommon.

Qualifications

Personal qualities and physical attributes are more important than academic qualifications, though a good general education is required. A degree or other further education qualifications are not essential and entry without a degree or HND is common.

However, some vocationally-focused, graduate-entry degree courses are available, such as:

• BSc (Hons) Fire and Leadership Studies at the University of Central Lancashire in partnership with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
• BSc (Hons) Fire and Rescue at the University of Wolverhampton in partnership with West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service.

These courses don't guarantee entry into the fire and rescue service but aim to equip students with the skills needed to pursue a career in the fire industry. For more details, see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Other related degree courses in areas including fire engineering, fire safety and risk management or fire and explosion are also available. Search for postgraduate courses in fire safety engineering for more options.

You need to be aged 18 or over to become a firefighter and you'll most likely need to pass a Personal Qualities and Attributes (PQA) test, to ensure you're suitable for the role.

Applications used to be made solely through a standardised national selection process known as the National Firefighter Selection (NFS), but many services now use a tailored application process. It's important therefore to check what the recruitment process is at the service you wish to apply to.

Recruitment generally begins with an online application, and either the National Firefighter Ability (NFA) tests or some variation of assessment, interview and physical tests. Towards the end of the selection process, you'll be invited to attend a medical. Good vision in both eyes and good hearing are essential.

Applying to become a firefighter is an involved and lengthy process and one you must complete meticulously to have a chance of being selected. You should read all the information provided by the Fire and Rescue Service about recruitment into the fire service.

To improve your chances of entry, you need to keep fit and gain as much information as possible about both the role and the fire and rescue service in general. To keep up to date with relevant fire issues, join the UK Fire Service Forum.

It's also possible to complete an apprenticeship to become a firefighter. For example, see those listed Fire Service College and Gov.Uk Find an apprenticeship.

Skills

As well as physical fitness, you'll need the following to be a firefighter:

• effective communication skills
• integrity, composure and a reassuring manner
• the ability to follow instructions
• the ability to work as part of a team
• problem-solving skills
• patience, understanding and sensitivity
• confidence and resilience
• adaptability and flexibility
• sound judgement, courage, decisiveness, quick reactions and the ability to stay calm in difficult circumstances
• the willingness and ability to learn continually
• an interest in promoting community safety, education and risk prevention.

You may also need a full UK driving licence.

Work experience

Due to health and safety requirements, work experience isn't possible, although you may be able to be placed as an observer in a fire station or attend an open day. Contact the fire and rescue service you're interested in to enquire.

Depending on your circumstances, you could work as a volunteer or retained firefighter. Experience of this nature could increase your chances of gaining a full-time position.

Many fire services run a Fire Cadets programme; a uniformed youth organisation that gives people aged 13-17 a chance to learn the skills needed to be a firefighter. While doing cadet activities, participants can take several Level 2 qualifications, including BTEC Certificate in Fire and Rescue Services in the Community.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Fire and rescue services only recruit when they need firefighters to replace those who are retiring or leaving the service, and competition can be fierce. Each fire service recruits independently so contact services directly. The current economic climate and public sector cuts may affect the number of jobs available.

In England, there are 44 fire and rescue services. For a list of services by region, see the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Wales has three services, covering North Wales, Mid and West Wales and South Wales.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is responsible for the whole of Scotland, while Northern Ireland is divided into four area commands and is overseen by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS).

Private and public sector employers include:

• civil airport and port fire services
• forest industry
• industrial fire services protecting private companies in the chemical, pharmaceutical, nuclear, oil and gas industries
• Ministry of Defence (MoD) - Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO)
• Royal Air Force (RAF).

Look for job vacancies at:

• individual UK fire and rescue service websites
• Find a job
• Fire Service - has a paid-for job alert service and provides lots of information about recruitment and progression.
• NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council)
• myjobscotland - has an option to register for alerts for SFRS vacancies.
• South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service

Fire - publishes a magazine with the latest news and useful information about fire and rescue work. Staying current with this may be helpful to your application.

Professional development

Initial firefighter training typically takes between 12 to 18 weeks to complete. It's usually held at a specially-equipped training centre where you will be taught basic firefighting skills such as ladder safety, hose laying and how to use breathing apparatus. Training also involves learning about fire safety and the importance of getting the fire safety message across within the local community.

On successful completion of the initial training, you'll join a fire station on probation and your performance will be continuously assessed. Visit individual fire and rescue service websites for details of their training programme.

You'll be expected to undertake a CPD programme throughout your career, which includes attending lectures, exercises, practical training sessions and other forms of training to maintain your competence levels. You'll be responsible for developing your own skills and maintaining fitness.

The Fire Service College runs a range of specialist courses covering areas such as:

• hazardous materials
• leadership and management courses aimed at middle and senior managers
• prevention and protection
• rope, water and associated rescue skills
• specialist operations.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Training Centre runs relevant courses.

Career prospects

Promotion is earned on individual merit subject to demonstrating competence in each role and showing evidence of potential through attendance at assessment and development centres.

There's a well-structured career path, which gives real responsibility at an early stage. From the role of firefighter, career development generally runs as follows:

• Crew manager - responsible for the fire appliance and crew, takes charge of smaller incidents and provides support to the watch manager.
• Watch manager - leads a number of smaller teams at larger incidents and may have duties as a fire safety inspector.
• Station manager - ensures the service's delivery at one or more fire stations and may take charge of larger incidents.
• Group manager - responsible for the service across a geographical area (e.g. London) or a specialist department, such as training.
• Area manager - responsible for a larger geographical area or for heading a directorate.
• Brigade manager - strategically responsible for departments and supports the chief fire officer.
• Chief fire officer - responsible for ensuring effective delivery of all fire and rescue service duties.

Beyond the level of station manager, it's often necessary to move between services to get promoted.

It's possible to specialise in a particular area of the fire and rescue service and there are opportunities to study for a foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate degree in areas such as:

• fire and risk management
• fire engineering
• fire safety engineering
• fire and leadership
• disaster management.

Other options for progression include studying for a postgraduate management qualification and becoming a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) for those involved in fire safety and prevention work.