Firefighters

Firefighters are trained professionals who respond to fires and other emergencies to protect people and property. They work in fire departments that may be municipal, regional, or volunteer-based. Depending on jurisdiction, duties include fire suppression, technical rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and wildfire management.

In daily operations, firefighters perform fire suppression, search and rescue, ventilation, and safety oversight during incidents. They also engage in prevention work such as inspections, fire safety education, and code enforcement, and in post-incident tasks like investigation and report writing.

Training typically requires physical fitness, medical screening, and completion of a fire academy or equivalent; many firefighters hold EMT or paramedic certification. Ongoing education covers incident command, safety, PPE use, hazardous materials, and specialized skills.

Equipment includes personal protective equipment (fire-resistant turnout gear, helmet, gloves, boots), self-contained breathing apparatus, radios, and tools. Vehicles include fire engines, ladder trucks, and specialized units for rescue, hazmat, EMS, and aerial operations. Wildland and aircraft firefighting are specializations in some regions.

Organizationally, departments have ranks such as firefighter, engineer/driver, lieutenant, captain, and chief. Many departments employ a mix of career professionals and volunteers; some are fully career or fully volunteer. Incident response is guided by an incident command system or similar.

The public role of firefighters extends beyond responding to fires to promoting safety, installing and maintaining smoke detectors, planning evacuations, and participating in community outreach.