In our review of different careers, we take a look at how to become a firefighter. We also look at what a firefighter does and what skills and attributes it takes to become a firefighter.
What Does a Firefighter Do?
Being a firefighter is an unusual job. It can involve entire shifts where you do nothing but sit at your station watching TV, cooking meals for the team you're on shift with, visiting schools and talking to young children about fire safety or giving the fire engine a good wash. It can also involve being outdoors in all weathers, entering smoke and fire filled buildings, cutting people (both alive and dead) from vehicles and rescuing animals and people from dangerous situations, whatever they might be.
Becoming a firefighter is not for the faint-hearted. They provide support in any number of emergency situations, although of course they specialize in protecting people and property from the dangers of fire. They also advise and educate people on those dangers with the aim of reducing the risk of fires.
As a firefighter, you day might could involve being called out to control and put out fires, dealing with bomb alerts, rescuing people from burning buildings or other accidents, managing chemical spills, educating people on the dangers of fire and fire prevention, cleaning and maintain equipment and carrying out practice drills.
Firefighters are expected to work various shifts that cover twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week on every day of the year.
Is Becoming a Firefighter Right For Me?
Anyone wishing to become a firefighter will need to possess the following skills and attributes:
- An excellent level of fitness
- The ability to work well in a team
- Excellent communication skills
- A calm and reassuring manner, even in extreme circumstances
- The ability to work well under pressure and remain calm in dangerous situations
- Good practical skills
- Assertiveness
- The ability to write reports on incidents
How Much Can a Firefighter Earn?
A when you are recruited as a firefighter you will be on an annual salary of just over £21,000 a year. You will then recieve annual pay increments until you reach the top-level salary of £28,500.
What Qualifications Do I Need To Become a Firefighter?
There are no qualifications required to become a firefighter, but there is a rigorous application process. This involves your initial application which you must submit based on the county you wish to work in as the fire service do not recruit nationwide.
Once you have applied you will need to complete Maths and English tests to show that you are educated in both subjects to at least level 2. If successful you will perform job-related tests to ensure that you have the required level of fitness to undertake the tasks that the job requires. This will involve things such as carrying ladders, carrying certain weights, hose running and spending time in enclosed spaces. You will also complete the Chester Step Test which assesses your overall level of fitness.
If successful you will then have an interview and if you pass at this stage you will need to have a criminal records check, a medical and then complete twelve weeks of training, usually involving staying away from home during the week.
