The Firefighter

What is a firefighter ? A firefighter is a rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property and/or the environment.

The complexity of modern, industrialized life has created an increase in the skills needed in firefighting technology.

The goals of firefighting are:

(1) Save Life.

(2) Save Property.

(3) Save the Environment.

The skills required for safe operations regularly practiced during training revolutions throughout a firefighter's career. In the United States, the preeminent fire training and standards organization is the National Fire Protection Association, also known as NFPA. Initial firefighting skills are taught during a local, regional or state approved fire academy.

Firefighters work closely with other emergency responders such as police and emergency medical services (EMS). A firefighter's role may overlap with both.

Firefighters also frequently provide some degree of emergency medical services (EMS), in addition to working with full-time paramedics.

The basic tasks of firefighters include:

- Firefighting

- Fire Prevention

- Rescue

- Basic First Aid

- Investigations.

Firefighting is further broken down into skills which include:

- size-up

- extinguishing

- ventilation

- salvage

- containment

- mop up and overhaul

Training is never ending. Once the basic course of training has been completed, the volunteer furthers his training by taking additional courses offered by the State of New York. Firefighters also received training in-house, usually a few hours weekly, to keep their skills up. Firefighters are always learning new techniques in firefighting and to do it as safe as possible.