Forest Firefighters
Career Snapshot
Forest firefighters tackle forest and rangeland fires. These fires can spread to the extent of a small nation, endangering wildlife as well as houses and businesses. Forest firefighting crews are dispatched as soon as flames are seen. They arrive at the fire scene by car or helicopter, armed with hand tools, chainsaws, pumps and hoses, and heavy earth-moving machines.
A fundamental tenet in battling forest fires is to establish a space, or firebreak, to prevent the flames from spreading. Another option is to fight fire with fire, which is known as backlighting. Small fires are strategically placed to burn away the fire's fuel and bring it to a halt.
Firefighters cannot always drive in with bulldozers and other heavy equipment in remote areas. Elite firemen known as smokejumpers drop from planes to reach these remote places. Despite the job's tremendous dangers, competition to become a smokejumper is particularly fierce.
The majority of forest firefighters are government employees, and opportunities are determined by available money. A high school diploma is possible. Applicants must pass both written and physical exams. Forest firemen, like their city and suburban counterparts, must be able to push themselves to the limit. The risk is really high. An abrupt shift in the wind might cause a forest fire to reverse course, leaving few, if any, escape options.
This is a vocation that needs physical fitness, teamwork, and a great deal of guts. Firefighters must be willing to travel long distances to fight fires. It is often the bravery, devotion, and sacrifice of these men and women that saves nature and humans from annihilation.
Characteristics
Activities
Areas of Study
Degrees
Key Abilities
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Control Precision
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Deductive Reasoning
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Inductive Reasoning
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Manual Dexterity
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Multilimb Coordination
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Oral Comprehension
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Oral Expression
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Problem Sensitivity
Colleges
Top Skills