Firefighter
Firefighters respond to emergency situations and rescue people and property from all types of accident and disaster. They also make an area safer by minimising the risks, including the social and economic costs, caused by fire and other hazards.
Firefighters work closely with the local community to increase their level of fire safety awareness in order to help prevent fires and accidents occurring in the first place. They promote fire safety and enforce fire safety standards in public and commercial premises by acting and advising on all matters relating to the protection of life and property from fire and other risks. Lectures, exercises, practice drills and other forms of training are an integral and ongoing part of the job.
Typical activities include:
For fire officers in charge, additional activities include:
Firefighter positions are open to graduates and Diplomates in all subjects, but a degree or formal further education qualifications are not essential and entry without a degree or HND is common. Personal qualities and physical attributes are more important than academic qualifications, though a good general education is required, and GCSE or equivalent passes in English, maths and a science subject are particularly useful.
There are, however, a number of vocationally-focused fire safety degree courses available, run in partnership with local fire and rescue services. These include:
These courses do not 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. Contact the course providers for further details and entry requirements.
Other relevant degree courses in areas such as fire engineering, fire safety and risk management, and fire and explosion are also available, as well as degrees in related areas such as disaster management. See the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website for details.
To become a firefighter you must be at least 18 years old and must pass a series of National Firefighter Ability (NFA) tests and fill in a National Firefighter Questionnaire (NFQ) to ensure you are suitable for the role.
The written tests cover the following areas:
On successful completion of these written tests, applicants move on to a series of physical tests carried out in full firefighter uniform:
Good vision in both eyes and good hearing are also essential. See the Fire Service website for full details of current eyesight requirements and medical checks.
To improve your chances of entry, you need to remain fit and gain as much information about both the role and fire and rescue service in general as possible. It may be useful to join the Fire Service website discussion forum to keep up to date with relevant fire issues. Due to health and safety requirements it may not be possible to carry out work experience and you will not be able to attend incidents or travel in a fire appliance. It may be possible, however, to be placed as an observer in a fire station. Contact the fire and rescue service you are interested in direct to see if this is possible.
As well as physical fitness, candidates need to show evidence of the following:
You may also be required to hold a full UK driving licence. See the Fire Service website for a full list of personal qualities and attributes (PQAs) required for the role.
Fire and rescue services only recruit when they need firefighters to replace those who are retiring or leaving the service. There is no set time of year when recruitment takes place. Each fire service recruits independently following national fire service recruitment procedures and you should contact the personnel or recruitment department of the fire and rescue service to which you intend to apply. The current economic climate may affect the number of jobs available. See Ordinary People, Extraordinary Career for contact details of UK fire and rescue services.
Some fire and rescue services, for example the London Fire Brigade, have carried out specific graduate recruitment schemes in the past and may do so again in the future.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Firefighter training is intensive and the initial period takes around 12-16 weeks to complete. It is 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 to the local community.
You will be required to undertake regular study, both in the training centre and at home in the evenings and at weekends, and you will be assessed regularly to monitor your progress. Once you have attained your first aid certificate and got to grips with the basic skills, you will get experience of a simulated fire, including the heat, humidity, flames and thick smoke.
On successful completion of your initial training, you will join a fire station on probation and your performance will be continuously assessed. This development programme typically takes around two years and focuses on learning about the community and the risks surrounding your station, and showing competence in the areas covered at the training centre. Visit individual fire and rescue service websites for details of their training programme.
You will be expected to undertake a continuous training programme throughout your career. This will include attending lectures, exercises, practical training sessions and other forms of training to maintain your competence levels. You will be responsible for developing your own skills and ensuring that you maintain your fitness levels.
The Fire Service College runs a range of specialist courses in areas such as:
They also run leadership and management courses aimed at middle and senior managers. Relevant courses are also run by the Scottish Fire Services College (SFSC) and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Training Centre .
Most members of the fire and rescue service start as firefighters and gain front-line experience. This means that every new recruit has a chance of promotion, even to the most senior posts. Promotion is earned on individual merit and is subject to demonstrating competence in each role and showing evidence of potential through attendance at assessment and development centres.
There is a well-structured career path, which gives real responsibility at an early stage. For those who want promotion, career development typically runs along the following lines:
The fire and rescue service is currently piloting a fast track scheme to help outstanding people reach their full potential. The scheme is currently being trialled by 13 fire and rescue services and is open to a small number of trainee firefighters as well as current operational staff. The aim of the scheme is to provide an intensive development programme that helps candidates reach station manager level within about four years. See Ordinary People, Extraordinary Career for more details. Beyond the level of station manager, it is often necessary to move between services to gain promotion.
It is also 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, and disaster management.
Other possible opportunities include study for membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) , for those involved in fire safety and prevention work, or study for a general postgraduate management qualification.
There is no national fire service. Principal employers are local authority fire and rescue services. There are 46 fire and rescue services in England run by locally accountable fire and rescue authorities (FRA) and accountable to the Department for Communities and Local Government . Wales has three fire and rescue services, accountable to the Welsh Assembly Government; Scotland has eight, accountable to the Scottish Government; and the Fire and Rescue Service in Northern Ireland (NIFRS) is divided into four area commands, accountable to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
A list of the UK fire and rescue services is available from the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Career website.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is the recognised trade union for the fire and rescue service and carries out national negotiations when necessary. The FBU website also has up-to-date information on salaries and pensions.
Opportunities also exist with a small number of other private and public sector employers, including:
Recruitment campaigns are usually advertised in the local press, on individual UK fire and rescue websites and in jobcentres.
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