Firefighting attracts many people because a high school education is usually sufficient, and earnings are above average.
Work hours are longer and vary more widely than hours of most other workers.
Firefighting is very hazardous. Nature of the Work Firefighters respond to a variety of emergency situations in which life, property, or the environment are at risk. They are frequently the first emergency response team at the scene of an accident, fire, flood, earthquake, or act of terrorism. Every year, fires and other emergency conditions take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars. Firefighters help protect the public against these dangers.