Job description Firefighter near Toronto (ON)

Find out what work is like for a firefighter in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Firefighters (NOC 42101).

Firefighters

Description

Firefighters carry out firefighting and fire prevention activities, and assist in other emergencies. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal governments and by large industrial establishments that have internal firefighting services. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Work week duration

Firefighters usually work more than 40 hours per week.
More than 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Firefighters have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents, bomb threats and other emergencies
  • Rescue victims from burning buildings and accident sites
  • Control and extinguish fires using manual and power equipment, such as axes, water hoses, aerial ladders and hydraulic equipment and various firefighting chemicals
  • Administer first aid and other assistance
  • Ensure proper operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment
  • Prepare written reports on fire incidents
  • Inform and educate the public on fire prevention
  • Train to maintain high level of physical fitness
  • Assist the public, the police and emergency organizations during times of major disasters
  • May participate as members of a trauma or emergency response team and provide paramedical aid to accident victims or ill persons
  • May supervise and coordinate the work of other firefighters
  • May conduct building inspections to ensure compliance with fire code.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Handling material manually
  • Walking and running
  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Firefighters are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Municipal, provincial, regional and federal governments
  • Internal firefighting services of large industrial establishments

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Specialized safety equipment
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • High places
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 42101), and a list of similar occupations:

  • airport firefighter
  • fire captain
  • firefighter
  • firefighter lieutenant
  • industrial firefighter
  • shipboard firefighter

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Firefighters in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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