Firefighter

Firefighters help to protect the community by informing the public about fire safety and prevention. They are called out to fight fires and they also deal with other emergencies, such as road and rail accidents and flooding.

Work activities

Firefighters deliver fire safety programmes in their community, to prevent fires and accidents. They also fight fires, in order to save lives and property. They also deal with emergencies such as road traffic collisions, chemical spills, floods and rescue situations. Firefighters give information about fire precaution measures to staff in places like shops, factories, offices and hotels. They carry out routine inspections and check that fire authority requirements are being met, for example, provision of adequate escape routes and smoke detectors. In some areas, they visit people in their homes to do fire risk assessments, and they might fit smoke alarms. They also visit places such as schools, to raise general awareness about fire and its prevention. They educate young people about the dangers of fireworks and matches.

Firefighters who are on-call are based at fire stations. When they are called out to an emergency, they travel at speed in the fire engine to the scene. They wear a uniform and protective clothing. If they are dealing with a fire, the first priority is to check that everyone has been evacuated from the area. While some firefighters pump water and foam on to the fire, others enter the building, if necessary, to locate anyone who is trapped inside.

Firefighters use equipment such as ladders, breathing apparatus and two-way radios. They sometimes use thermal imaging cameras, which help to find people in smoke-filled rooms by detecting changes in temperature. They rescue any occupants and give them first aid if needed. They make sure that there are no further risks to the public from, for example, unsafe buildings or the chance of the fire re-starting. They might need to stay at the scene for several hours. On returning to the station, they write reports; these could be used by the police and insurance companies. When dealing with road, rail and air incidents, firefighters use special equipment to cut people free from damaged vehicles. This might include heavy lifting gear. They pump water out of buildings that have been flooded and also rescue people and animals from dangerous situations.

Part-time firefighters – known as retained firefighters – have other jobs, but carry pagers to alert them to emergencies. Retained firefighters need to live or work within a few minutes of a fire station. They are paid an annual fee and various attendance fees.

Personal qualities and skills

As a firefighter, you’ll need to be able to:

Work at heights and in dark, confined spaces.
Use your hands well for practical tasks.
Keep calm and concentrate on a task under pressure.
Communicate effectively with other firefighters and with the public.
Work in a team.
Respect people from all backgrounds.
Deal sensitively with people who might be distressed or confused.
Follow instructions.
Use your initiative to solve problems and make decisions.
Pass fitness and medical tests, which include strength and lung capacity tests.
Keep accurate records.
Develop local knowledge of streets, roads and buildings in the area.

You should be:

Fit and agile, with good co-ordination and balance.
Confident.
Reliable.
Resilient.
Alert to what is going on around you.
Adaptable and open to change.
Committed to your own continuous development.

Normal colour vision and good hearing are essential. Some medical conditions will make it very difficult for you to become a firefighter; each fire service has its own requirements. Fire services also set a written exam, and test applicants’ job-related skills, as part of the recruitment process. You are likely to need a full driving licence.

Pay and opportunities

Firefighters are paid on a rising scale negotiated by the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU). In 2023, a basic annual salary for a trainee firefighter is £27,178 rising to £44,911 for a watch manager at the highest level. Hourly rates range from £12.41 to £20.51.

Full-time firefighters work 41-43 hours a week, which includes shifts on a rota basis.

Firefighters are employed by fire and rescue services around the country. Places such as airports, power stations, chemical plants and armed forces bases might also employ firefighters. Firefighters work in towns and cities throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

There are usually only a few fire and rescue services with vacancies each year. Competition to enter the fire service is strong. There are always many more applicants than vacancies. Promotion prospects within the service are good. However, competition for promotion is also strong.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Each fire and rescue service is responsible for its own recruitment. Vacancies are advertised in the following places:

Local/national newspapers.
UK Fire Service Resources.
The Government’s Find a Job service.
Fire and rescue service websites.

Entry routes and training

The minimum age of entry is 18 years and you will need to be over 17 and a half before you can start to apply. Some fire and rescue services offer the chance to do a short work experience placement. You could then apply for an operational firefighter apprenticeship at level 3 (advanced level) if one is available with your local fire service.

Many further education colleges run courses suitable for school leavers who want to enter public/uniform services (such as the fire service) but who cannot apply until they are old enough. These courses usually lead to a qualification in public services. Successful completion of such a course does not, however, guarantee employment in the public services. Foundation degrees are available in public services.

Applicants take tests of number skills, ability to understand and use written information, situational awareness and problem-solving skills. Then they must attend an interview and take part in roleplay exercises. There are also job-related physical tests including using breathing apparatus and/or a face mask in a confined dark space, assembling and carrying equipment and working at the top of a ladder. Applicants must also pass tests of medical and physical fitness (including aerobic fitness, lung function, eyesight and hearing). Entry to the retained fire service is also at a minimum of 18 years old. Candidates must obtain their employer’s permission before joining.

Firefighters can progress to crew manager, watch manager and station manager posts. Management and command training courses are available for those who want to reach senior management positions.

Qualifications

For direct entry to firefighting, the usual entry requirement is a good general education and a pass in entrance tests. Some people enter with GCSEs, particularly in maths, English and science. People also enter the fire service with A-levels, a foundation degree, an HND or a degree, although there is not a graduate fast entry scheme. Other qualifications include Edexcel BTEC level 2 first and level 3 National qualifications.

For entry to a foundation degree or an HND, the usual requirement is:

One to two A-levels.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in 4 subjects.

Alternatives to A levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

However, course requirements vary so check prospectuses carefully.

To get onto an advanced apprenticeship, you’ll usually need GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English and maths. If you don’t have these qualifications, you may be able to complete them alongside your programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. The minimum age of entry is 18 years. The normal retirement age for firefighters is 60. New entrants must pass physical tests.

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