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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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42101.00 – Firefighters

Firefighters carry out firefighting and fire prevention activities, and assist in other emergencies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Airport firefighter
  • Fire captain
  • Firefighter
  • Firefighter lieutenant
  • Industrial firefighter
  • Shipboard firefighter

Core competencies

  • Critical Thinking and Decision Making to assess rapidly changing situations and make quick decisions about tactics and safety measures
  • Systems Analysis and Evaluation to analyze how fire suppression systems, building layouts or emergency response protocols interact to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies and adapt to different scenarios
  • Explosive Strength to have the strength to carry heavy equipment, rescue people and perform physically strenuous tasks in challenging conditions
  • Multi-Signal Response to react quickly and accurately to multiple visual and auditory cues during emergencies, such as alarms, flashing lights or verbal commands, while operating equipment or performing critical movements
  • Stress Tolerance to maintain focus, make clear decisions and perform effectively during emergencies and hazardous environments
  • Knowledge in Public Safety and Security to understand procedures that ensure public safety, such as coordination with other emergency services, compliance with safety regulations, crowd control and mitigation of risks during emergencies

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • 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.

Additional information

  • Progression to senior positions such as fire chief is possible with additional training and several years of experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

42 – Front-line public protection services and paraprofessional occupations in legal, social, community, education services

Sub-major group

421 – Occupations in front-line public protection services

Minor group

4210 – Occupations in front-line public protection services

Unit group

42101 – Firefighters

Occupational profile

42101.00 – Firefighters

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.