Should I be a firefighter?

What comes to your mind when you think of a firefighter?

Or

Well, it's more than this.

Firefighting is full of action !

What will you do?

• put out fires

• rescue the sick and injured

• prevent future fires

• investigate the sources of fires

• educate the community about fire prevention

• Check PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) — turnout jacket, pants, boots, air supply, and personal alert devices

• Check and wash the fire truck — sirens, ladder, etc.

• Get equipment ready for service — changing batteries on radios and heart monitors

• The crew cleans, mops, and vacuums all living areas and bathrooms of the fire station

• Crew meeting to discuss day's activities

And of course, emergency events can alter your schedule!

When responding to calls, you:

• put out fires

• do technical rescues

• attend to medical emergencies

• stop hazardous material spills

When not responding to calls, you:

• train to improve and/or maintain firefighting skills

• have physical fitness training (1- hour mandatory, everyday)

• do pre-fire planning

• do hydrant maintenance

• do child safety seat installations

Teamwork is critical in firefighting.

Imagine you are in an active firefighting situation.

You want to know that your team has got your back — and they want to know that you've got theirs, too.

A typical full-time annual salary a firefighter makes in Canada is $75,000 – $105,000.

A typical full-time annual salary a firefighter makes in USA is $50,850 – $111,550

• you are a risk taker

• team player

• people person

• work well under pressure

Do you already have some of the skills needed?

Tip: Starting as a volunteer firefighter will help you get your foot in the door at your local fire department.