Fire and Emergency Worker

Fire and Emergency Workers protect the public by responding to emergencies; their job is to preserve life, protect property, and ensure public safety. The ability to act decisively in stressful and dangerous situations is essential to fire and emergency workers. They respond to a variety of situations, not just fires, including: accidents, vehicle crashes, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescues, and many other emergencies.

Duties and tasks

  • Administer first aid to victims and assess their condition
  • Maintain vehicles, equipment, tools, and safety gear
  • Participate in drills, training sessions, classes, and courses
  • Respond to emergencies and traumatic incidents reported by dispatchers
  • Safely operate emergency vehicles, tools, and equipment
  • Work with medical responders to preserve life

Skills required

  • Ability to follow Safety Standards
  • Critical Thinking
  • Fit and Able to Perform Physical and Repetitive Tasks
  • Listen and Take Direction
  • Operate Equipment and Heavy Machinery
  • Strong Hand-eye Coordination and Manual Agility

Working conditions

Fire and Emergency Workers are exposed to all kinds of environmental conditions and hazards. Due to the dangerous nature of their job, safety procedures and training are essential to reduce risk of injury and illness. They work in high-stress environments, so the ability to listen and take direction as well as the ability to act without direction are critical in this career. Workers may spend their shifts on call at a fire house or emergency operations station; these shifts can last 24 hours.

Professional associations / Industry information

Country Fire Authority (CFA) 

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service 

South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service 

Tasmania Fire Service 

The Australian Professional Fire-fighters Foundation 

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA) 

Related jobs and job titles

  • Aviation Firefighter
  • Fire Engineer (Army)
  • Fire Prevention Officer
  • Paramedic
  • Registered Nurse
  • Rescue Paramedic
  • Therapy Aide