Firefighters deal with a wide range of emergency situations, from fires, floods and oil spills to terrorist attacks and road traffic accidents. They also give advice to people and organisations on how to prevent fires and accidents.
As a wholetime (full time), retained (part time, on call), volunteer or community response firefighter, you could be:
fighting and putting out fires and making sure buildings are safe
rescuing people from burning buildings and other situations, and maybe giving first aid
attending road traffic accidents and, if necessary, cutting people free from damaged cars
cleaning up chemical spillages
rescuing people who are trapped in lifts, buildings or floods
maintaining, cleaning and checking equipment and vehicles
writing reports and keeping logs.
In addition, and as a firefighter with the Community Response Unit, you could also be:
dealing with heath and forest fires
visiting schools, and other centres in the area
giving individuals, groups and organisations advice on how to prevent fires
checking that homes, places of work and public events meet fire safety law and regulations
visiting homes, carrying out home safety checks and installing smoke alarms.
As of March 2019, the salary for a wholetime firefighter starts at £22,908, rising to £23,862 a year after training. This increases to £30,533 a year with experience. A crew manager earns £32,452 to £33,851 and a station manager earns £39,374 to £43,428. Retained firefighters receive an annual retaining fee of around £2,291 rising to £3,053 with experience, which is paid quarterly. You would also get paid an hourly rate for attending training nights and call outs.
An airport firefighter earns around £25,000 a year.
As a wholetime firefighter in a large town or city, you will be based in a fire station.
You will work indoors and outdoors, often under difficult conditions and in dangerous situations.
You would normally work an average of 42 hours a week. You will work shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays.
Firefighters start on 30 days annual leave, rising to 33 after 5 years' service, plus 8 public holidays.
You can be working under a lot of stress, dealing with upsetting situations where people have lost their life or been seriously injured.
You will sometimes have to work at heights or in confined spaces filled with smoke.
You will sometimes have to carry equipment weighing at least 25kg.
You will wear a uniform, protective clothing and in some situations breathing equipment.
As a retained or volunteer firefighter you will work part time and be on call to attend fires and other emergencies. You will probably live in a rural area or remote village and may be called in from home or your other place of work. You have to be able to get to your local fire station within five to eight minutes.
There are no formal qualifications required, but you must be able to show competence in maths calculations.
You must be at least 18 years of age, and legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom.
Recruitment is through the myjobscotland website. You can also check the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website for information on upcoming recruitment campaigns.
Entry for wholetime vacancies is very competitive.
There are seven stages in the recruitment process: online application form; first psychometric test (calculation); second psychometric test (Situational Judgement Test); fitness assessment; practical selection test; competency based interview; and conditional offer (medical assessment and final stage fitness assessment).
You will require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.
A driving licence is useful.
Firefighters usually work for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), but some are employed at airports and some by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). However, the recruitment process for jobs outwith the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is different. You would need to check the MoD or airport websites for job vacancies and requirements.
think quickly and use your initiative in emergency situations
work as part of a team and keep calm under pressure
take and carry out orders quickly and precisely
cope with distressing situations
reassure casualties in a compassionate way
deal with onlookers, or even troublemakers, who may be in the way, in an assertive manner
handle tools and equipment
work at heights and in dark, confined spaces.
All new recruits now complete a three year Modern Apprenticeship in Firefighting.
You would attend a 14-week training course at either the SFRS College at Gullane in East Lothian or the SFRS College at Clydesmill in Cambuslang. 7 weeks of this is residential.
You learn basic core competence skills including the operation of fire service ladders, fire appliances, pumps and other pieces of fire and rescue service equipment. You are trained in how to deal with road traffic collisions and learn basic first aid skills.
Successful completion of the three year Firefighter Training and Development Programme will lead to a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Emergency Fire Services: Operations in the Community at SCQF Level 7.
You do further training at your fire station over a 2-year probation period.
Training is ongoing, including specialist training throughout your employment.
If you are a retained firefighter you attend a two week residential training course in either Gullane or Cambuslang, followed by a further week in the first few months of employment.
With experience and after passing in-service training courses, you may be promoted through a series of set grades to senior positions, perhaps rising eventually to Chief Officer (for wholetime firefighters) or Watch Manager (for retained firefighters).
You can take specialist in-service qualifications, such as the LGV licence for driving the fire service vehicle.
It is helpful if you are willing to move.
If you complete certain professional exams you can become a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
We recommend that you do a lot of preparation before you apply. Many applicants do not get past the initial application stage because they have not prepared properly for the selection process. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have practice tests on their website. You can also visit the UK Fire Service Resources website for detailed information on the Services application and selection process.