Firefighter
Firefighters respond to emergency call outs, search and rescue incidents and road traffic accidents. They also give advice on fire safety.
- Starter salary£28,000 a year
- Experienced£42,000 a year
- Typical hours42 to 48 a week
What you'll do
As a firefighter, you could:
- carry out practice drills and respond to emergency call outs
- control and put out fires
- rescue people and animals from burning buildings and incident sites
- deal with natural disasters like floods or storm damage
- manage chemical or hazardous substance spills
- give presentations to schools and community groups
- inspect buildings to make sure they meet fire safety regulations
Working environment
You could work at a fire station, at a client's home or at a client's business.
Your working environment may be at height, cramped and physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment and a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of public safety and security
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others
- physical fitness and endurance
- knowledge of training and how to present information
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a firefighter
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
- a fire service training course
College
You could take a college course before applying to join the fire service as a trainee, though this is not essential.
Courses include:
- public services
- fire and rescue services in the community
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply for an Operational Firefighter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with a fire and rescue service.
The apprenticeship takes about 2 years and combines on-the-job training with off-site study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, in English and maths
Volunteering
Volunteering or working in a support role, for example emergency call handling or fire safety home visits, will give you an idea of what the job is like, as well as access to internal vacancies. You'll usually need to be 18 or over.
Most fire and rescue services also run a Fire Cadets scheme. They're typically aimed at young people aged between 13 and 17 and offer a few hours' training each week in:
- basic firefighting drills
- using equipment
- first aid
- fire safety
Contact your local fire service to find out more about volunteering opportunities and fire cadets.
Direct application
You can apply directly to join the fire service. Each service sets its own entry requirements.
Many ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.
The selection process can take some time and involves:
- online aptitude tests
- attendance at an assessment centre
- fitness and medical checks
- interviews
Fire services hold regular outreach events where you can speak to firefighters about the job and register your interest for upcoming vacancies.
Other routes
You may be able to join the fire service as an on-call firefighter .
You'll be trained to deal with a broad range of incidents in return for a commitment to provide shift cover during days, nights and weekends. This is a paid position and could lead to a full-time role when opportunities arise.
You can also train to be a firefighter in the Royal Air Force (RAF) .
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass a fitness test
- pass a medical check
- pass enhanced background checks
- have a full driving licence
- be over 18 years of age
Some fire services may only accept applications from people living in the local and surrounding areas.
Generally, there is no upper age limit to join.
Career path and progression
All fire services have a programme that lets you plan and track your career development.
You could work your way up to crew manager, watch manager or station manager.
If you're prepared to move between services, you could become:
- an area manager
- a brigade manager
- a chief fire officer
If you're involved in fire safety and prevention work, you can take professional qualifications leading to membership of The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) .
You could also get a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence for driving fire engines.
Career tips
Fire services take on new recruits at different times of the year, so check with your local fire service to find out when they are recruiting next.
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