Fire Protection Technology

There continues to be a demand for college-trained people in the various fields of Fire Protection. The Fire Protection Technology Degree addresses the needs of those of you who want to be an entry level firefighter, those desiring advancement within your fire career as well as those of you seeking fire-related jobs within companies.

Firefighters use high-pressure hoses to suppress structural fires. Firefighters protect the public by responding to fires and other emergencies. They are frequently the first emergency personnel on the scene of an accident.

Firefighters’ duties may change several times while they are at the scene of an emergency. In some cases, they might remain at disaster scenes for days, rescuing trapped survivors and assisting with medical treatment. Some firefighters work in hazardous materials units and are specially trained to control, prevent, and clean up hazardous materials, such as oil spills and chemical accidents.  

What’s the Job Outlook for Firefighters?

Firefighters typically work long and varied hours. Many work about 50 hours a week. Some firefighters work 24-hour shifts and are off duty the following 48 or 72 hours. Employment of firefighters is expected to grow 5 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Continued population growth will increase the number of emergency calls requiring firefighter responses. The majority of situations that firefighters respond to are medical— rather than fire—emergencies, and the aging of the population will lead to an increased demand for emergency responders. In addition, jobs will be created as volunteer firefighters are converted to paid positions in areas where population growth creates the need for a full time workforce. An increase in urban populations, where full-time firefighters are more common, also is expected to increase the demand for firefighters.

_{Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, April 2020, Firefighters, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/protectiveservice/firefighters.htm}