How to become a Firefighter

410

£30,000/y

avg. starting salary

If you’re passionate about health and safety, and want to make a real difference in your community, you should think about becoming a Firefighter… Firefighters help protect people, their property and the environment from fire. They are called upon to tackle emergency situations on a daily basis, ranging from putting out domestic fires through to dealing with suspicious packages, bomb threats, road accidents and even chemical spillages. Whilst day-to-day activities may vary, typical duties for a Firefighter could include:

Controlling and extinguishing fires
Responding to emergency calls
Performing search and rescue operations
Educating the community about the dangers of fire, and giving information on fire prevention
Maintaining equipment, including performing regular checks to make sure everything is in working order

Becoming a Firefighter is an incredibly rewarding career choice, however, it’s not for the faint-hearted. It takes an incredible amount of bravery, courage, dedication and discipline to even make it through the selection process. Days (and nights) can be long, and it will take a positivity and resilience to progress. Excellent vision, the ability to follow orders and an aversion to claustrophobia will be similarly essential. You will also need to be over the age of 18. Other key attributes include:

A high level of physical fitness
Excellent problem solving skills
Calmness under immense amounts of pressure
Sensitivity, and a reassuring and comforting approach
Assertiveness
Excellent communication skills

Firefighter

Up to £30,000

Station Manager

Up to £40,000

"I started out as a Retained Firefighter, meaning I had a different day job but provided flexible cover for my local station as and when required. After a few months, I knew Firefighting was for me, so I quit my job and never looked back. It can be really tough at times, both physically and mentally, but the rewards are well worth it. I’m part of a crew, a unit of like-minded people who risk their lives every day to save others. Job satisfaction doesn't come much bigger than that."

Get qualified

No particular qualifications are needed to become a Firefighter. However, there are a series of written exams and aptitude tests you’ll need to pass in order to be eligible. You will also need to complete a number of physical tests as part of the selection process.

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