FDNY has one of the bravest workforces, keeping millions of people in New York safe during disasters. It takes a lot of courage, determination, and passion for serving the community to join this force and risk your safety to keep others safe. Moreover, getting this job isn’t easy because the state requires you to pass multiple physical and cognitive tests and background tests to prove you’re worthy of this profession.
If you’re considering applying for the NYC Firefighter Exam, knowing what it’s like to be one and their day-to-day responsibilities can help you make a better decision.
The Evolution of Firefighter Departments
Most people believe firefighters sit around and wait for the fire to occur. However, every fire department has now evolved into a multi-faceted service agency with numerous things to look after. Firefighters these days wear many hats and are expected to have a wide range of skills and knowledge related to:
- Hazardous materials
- Emergency medical treatment
- Computers and technology
- Public relations
- Public administration
- Equipment operation and maintenance
- Public Education
- Fire Protection Systems
- Firefighting
Due to the increased expectations and job responsibilities, landing a job in this department has become quite difficult. Typically, firefighters have to work a 24-hour shift followed by 48 hours off or a 48-hour shift followed by a 96-hour break.
Here’s what their shifts look like.
Start of the Shift and Changeover
Firefighters arrive at the firehouse a few minutes before their shift and start preparing. Every shift begins with a changeover where the team that ends their shift briefs the other team who is about to start. They discuss critical information about operating procedures, ongoing emergencies, or anything else that needs to be communicated.
The captain then discusses the day’s schedule, and the firefighters receive their assignments and duties. For example, who will be driving, who’ll use which apparatus, is anyone being reassigned to another station, etc.
Checking Equipment and Getting Started
Once their shift starts, the first thing that firefighters have to do is check their apparatus and equipment and ensure they are clean, operational, and ready to use. They check engines, rescue trucks, brush trucks, ladder trucks, and everything on them—such as oil levels, fuel levels, hoses, horns, sirens, firefighting pumps, etc.
Paramedics and EMTs also check their medical equipment and ensure they have everything they need. Captains spend their time logging equipment and personnel on the computer, verifying different schedules for inspection and training, and performing administrative duties as their shifts start. Besides that, they also lead and participate in calls and training.
One or two crew members are assigned to prepare breakfast for the team that everyone eats together after equipment check. Eating together is considered an essential bonding component of a fire department. Firefighters regularly find themselves in dangerous and high-pressure situations and must understand and trust each other to do their job right.
Job Activities
Different firefighters are assigned different activities executed in triage—most critical action takes place first. If there’s an emergency fire or medical call-out, all the personnel will put everything down to attend the call. Otherwise, they complete their tasks according to their list. Their daily activities include:
Fire Call-Out
Fire call-outs are the primary responsibility of the firefighters; they also receive many false calls and act accordingly. For example, a store calls complaining about a fire, but it was an electrical issue, and the fire is out when they reach there. In such situations, they evaluate the cause of the fire and eliminate any hazards. For action calls (when there’s actually a fire), the firefighters save people and use different apparatus and equipment to put out the fire, and medical teams offer assistance.
They also receive calls to provide backup to another station, especially if the fire is severe. Some firefighters help at the scene while others must wait in the truck to ensure they don’t need more backup.
Medical Call Outs
As mentioned, firefighters also have to work as EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) because sometimes the paramedic units aren’t always available. For this, they receive basic and extensive training to offer the first line of defense for car crash injuries, cardiac arrests, etc., while waiting for ambulances.
In addition, when paramedic units need extra muscle to lift and carry patients during emergencies, they call firefighters for backup.
Public Relations Events
Firefighters also need to attend several events to spread awareness about the prevention of fire and dealing with emergencies. They attend seminars, offer interviews, or answer calls and emails to increase public education. This is why firefighter exams require public relations and education skills.
These days, many organizations are arranging local events to demonstrate using home fire extinguishers and when to change smoke detectors’ batteries to ensure everyone’s safety.
School Visits
The fire department also sends teams to different schools to spread awareness and show them how to deal with emergencies. Some schools also arrange a visit to the station for educational purposes, and firefighters have to teach the kids and show them around.
Basic Chores
Along with the core duties, firefighters also have to perform basic chores such as cleaning, cooking, getting supplies, or equipment maintenance.
Ongoing Training
Training and working out is a part of every firefighter’s job. They have to stay fit, upskill and increase their knowledge to do their job successfully.
Shift Close and Dinner
After finishing their set of duties, firefighters have dinner together. Some of them cook or do the dishes. If they have more time to kill before the changeover, they clean and pack the equipment for the next crew and rest a little. Some firefighters may receive emergency call-outs because most residential fires occur late at night.
Changeover
Every firefighter’s shift starts and ends at the changeover. During the shift end, they have to do a final check-in and brief the new crew. Once the final changeover is over, they get 24–48 hours of rest and start the same shift again with rotating duties.
Now that you know what a day in a firefighter’s life looks like, it’s time to find out whether you’re cut out for this role. Along with a competitive salary, you get many rewards when working for the community. If you want to apply for this job, make sure you register for our exam prep classes.
Civil Service Success offers NYC Firefighter Exam prep classes that teach you all the skills you need to succeed at written, physical and psychological examinations. Our instructors have personal experience in civil service jobs and offer comprehensive training. You can also sign up for the NYC Sanitation Exam or Suffolk Police Exam classes. Register now.