According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents. | 94% |
| Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies. | 93% |
| Assess nature and extent of fire, condition of building, danger to adjacent buildings, and water supply status to determine crew or company requirements. | 91% |
| Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios. | 91% |
| Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters. | 89% |
| Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use. | 88% |
| Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects. | 88% |
| Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel. | 84% |
| Direct the training of firefighters, assigning of instructors to training classes, and providing of supervisors with reports on training progress and status. | 83% |
| Perform maintenance and minor repairs on firefighting equipment, including vehicles, and write and submit proposals to modify, replace, and repair equipment. | 82% |
| Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities. | 82% |
| Inspect and test new and existing fire protection systems, fire detection systems, and fire safety equipment to ensure that they are operating properly. | 82% |
| Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable. | 81% |
| Participate in creating fire safety guidelines and evacuation schemes for nonresidential buildings. | 80% |
| Maintain required maps and records. | 79% |
| Drive crew carriers to transport firefighters to fire sites. | 79% |
| Inspect stations, uniforms, equipment, or recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary. | 78% |
| Evaluate fire station procedures to ensure efficiency and enforcement of departmental regulations. | 78% |
| Direct firefighters in station maintenance duties, and participate in these duties. | 78% |
| Recommend personnel actions related to disciplinary procedures, performance, leaves of absence, and grievances. | 77% |
| Perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence. | 77% |
| Study and interpret fire safety codes to establish procedures for issuing permits to handle hazardous or flammable substances. | 76% |
| Direct investigation of cases of suspected arson, hazards, and false alarms and submit reports outlining findings. | 75% |
| Recommend equipment modifications or new equipment purchases. | 73% |
| Supervise and participate in the inspection of properties to ensure that they are in compliance with applicable fire codes, ordinances, laws, regulations, and standards. | 72% |
