What Do Forest Firefighters Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Forest Firefighters control and suppress fires in forests or vacant public land. They also rescue fire victims, and administer emergency medical aid.

Other tasks include:

• Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
• Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
• Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
• Establish water supplies, connect hoses, and direct water onto fires.
• Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
• Test and maintain tools, equipment, jump gear, and parachutes to ensure readiness for fire suppression activities.

We asked Forest Firefighters how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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83% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 88% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Forest Firefighters participate in physical training to maintain high levels of physical fitness. They serve as fully trained lead helicopter crewmember and as helispot manager.

• Maintain fire equipment and firehouse living quarters.
• Test and maintain tools, equipment, jump gear, and parachutes to ensure readiness for fire suppression activities.
• Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
• Perform forest maintenance and improvement tasks, such as cutting brush, planting trees, building trails, and marking timber.
• Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.

We asked some Forest Firefighters a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	37% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	85% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	82% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	18% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	71% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Forest Firefighters also maintain fire equipment and firehouse living quarters. They may also establish water supplies, connect hoses, and direct water onto fires.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Forest Firefighters Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences. They might also Participate in physical training to maintain high levels of physical fitness.

In addition, they Test and maintain tools, equipment, jump gear, and parachutes to ensure readiness for fire suppression activities.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.

To some Forest Firefighters, it is also their responsibility to Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Forest Firefighter, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/firefighters.htm

http://www.iaff.org/

http://www.i-women.org/

http://www.nfpa.org/