Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Firefighter
What firefighters actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Start a 24-hour shift: check SCBA, turnout gear, the engine’s pump, tools and medical equipment. From there, the day usually includes respond to fires, medical emergencies, crashes and rescues, operate pumps, hoses, ladders and rescue tools, and search for and rescue victims. Many departments use 24-hour shifts followed by 48 or 72 hours off. Overtime is common; wildland firefighters may work long seasonal deployments.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a firefighter working full time.
- Start a 24-hour shift: check SCBA, turnout gear, the engine’s pump, tools and medical equipment.
- Respond to a medical call for a patient with difficulty breathing.
- Training drill on ladder operations and forcible entry.
- Conduct a fire safety inspection at a restaurant.
- Respond to a vehicle crash; extricate a driver with hydraulic tools.
- Cook dinner as a crew and clean the station.
- Respond to a residential structure fire: advance an attack line and search for occupants.
Where firefighters work
Firefighters live and work at fire stations during shifts and respond to emergencies in homes, businesses, highways and wildland areas. The work is physically demanding and dangerous, with exposure to heat, smoke, chemicals and trauma.
Hours and schedule
Many departments use 24-hour shifts followed by 48 or 72 hours off. Overtime is common; wildland firefighters may work long seasonal deployments.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Respond to fires, medical emergencies, crashes and rescues
- Operate pumps, hoses, ladders and rescue tools
- Search for and rescue victims
- Provide emergency medical care as EMTs or paramedics
- Respond to hazardous materials incidents
- Inspect buildings and teach fire prevention
- Maintain equipment, apparatus and fitness
Tools you’ll use every day
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- Turnout gear
- Hose, nozzles and pumps
- Ladders and forcible-entry tools
- Hydraulic rescue tools
- Thermal imaging cameras
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Meaningful, respected work
- Strong teamwork and camaraderie
- Good benefits and pensions in many departments
- Schedules with multiple days off
What’s hard
- Dangerous work with exposure to smoke and carcinogens
- Physically demanding
- Traumatic calls and stress
- Competitive hiring for career positions
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I want to help people in emergencies
- I’m physically fit and willing to train hard
- I stay calm in dangerous situations
- I love teamwork and crew life
- I can handle 24-hour shifts
- I can cope with traumatic scenes
Not sure? Take the free Firefighter fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Wear full PPE and SCBA in hazardous atmospheres
- Follow incident command and accountability systems
- Decontaminate gear after fires to reduce carcinogen exposure
- Maintain fitness and use peer support after traumatic calls