Firefighting: Dangerous but Rewarding

Firefighting: Dangerous but Rewarding

Spencer Rackley

Eng 111-Sec 43H

Stanley

Ivy Tech Community College

9/21/2007

Introduction

Becoming interested in a career sounds easy, but in reality it is an extremely hard task to find the right career path. A career in firefighting jumped out at me when I realized I wanted to requirements from my job. First would be that I would not work in an office. The second is that my profession would make a difference in people’s lives.

After bouncing many options in my head, I made a decision to work towards a firefighting career. Although it is almost certain I will get injured multiple times in this field, I feel it fits me and that I would be good at it. Throughout my life I hope to get a feeling of satisfaction and worth from helping people through their crises.

Many things excite me about this career. For one, I like to be a hands on person, and fighting fires is definitely hands on. Helping people and making them feel better and comforted is a high priority for my life, and that is a result of what I will be doing in my job.

Job Description

Defining the job of a firefighter is tough because they do almost anything. It is a tough job to do and even tougher to even get a job as a firefighter. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006) the outlook for firefighters is in tough competition. There are many more applicants than open positions mainly due to the fact that only and high education is required. Those who are the most physically fit and do the best on the written portion will succeed in being hired. Those with a Fire Science degree have even a better chance of getting a job. Although it takes two years of life and dedicated work, it is a good investment if it means a better chance at a paying career doing what is desirable.

Although finding a job in this field is difficult the salary is not a selling point to this career. The average salary across the United States is $40,420 for firefighters (Delta College, 2007). Most need to have a second job to be able to provide for themselves and their families.

Also according to the website, the career field will grow at an increasing rate due to retirements, those who quit, and those seeking other jobs. As of now, 300,000 professional firefighters are employed in the United States (Delta College, 2007).A very interesting fact is that very few firefighters are laid off because they are such dedicated workers according to the Department of Labor website. All in all, more firefighters will be needed in the years to come.

Many duties are included in the title of firefighter. Uncountable fires take ravage to homes and businesses every year, but that’s not all. Firefighters also help in any emergency in which they can help in. Quoting the website from Delta College, it gives the job description as this, “Firefighters are responsible for protecting people's lives and property from the hazards of fire and other emergencies. They provide this protection by fighting fires to prevent property damage and by rescuing people trapped or injured by fires or other accidents.

Through inspection and safety education, firefighters also work to prevent fires and unsafe conditions that could result in dangerous, life- threatening situations. They assist in many types of emergencies and disasters in everyday life. In many rural areas firefighters serve on a volunteer basis. Firefighters may respond to fire alarms and other emergency calls. They also perform demonstrations