Occupation Details
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$92,940.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$135,510.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$143,540.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
4,630
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
5,310
+68 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
386
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Aerial lifting apparatus
- Air bag lifting systems
- Air chisels
- Air purifying respirators
- All terrain vehicles ATV
- Aluminum ladders
- Ambu bags
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Automatic blood pressure cuffs
- Backboards
- Backfiring fusees
- Backpack pumps
- Body harnesses
- Bolt cutters
- Bomb response vehicles
- Carbon dioxide CO2 fire extinguishers
- Ceiling hooks
- Chain saws
- Chemical protection footwear
- Chemical protection gloves
- Circular saws
- Claw hammers
- Crew transport buses
- Desktop computers
- Drip torches
- Dry chemical fire extinguishers
- Electrocardiography EKG machines
- Emergency suction kits
- Equipment transport trailers
- Evacuation stretchers
Technology
- BIO-key FireRMS
- BehavePlus
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- ESRI ArcView
- Email software
- FARSITE
- Fire incident reporting systems
- FlamMap
- Geographic information system GIS software
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Incident command system ICS software
- Mapping software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- analyze existing evidence or facts
- analyze existing evidence or facts
- interpret employee's medical evaluations
- interpret employee's medical evaluations
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
- estimate materials or labor requirements
- estimate materials or labor requirements
- determine crew or company requirements to fight fire
- determine crew or company requirements to fight fire
- estimate size or characteristics of fire
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
- maintain records, reports, or files
- prepare reports
- write business project or bid proposals
- develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
- communicate technical information
- communicate technical information
- make presentations
- confer with authorities or community groups
- work as a team member
- direct and coordinate fire prevention and suppression activities
- direct and coordinate fire prevention and suppression activities
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- direct loading of fire suppression equipment
- direct collection, preparation, or handling of evidence
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use public speaking techniques
- maintain production or work records
- conduct training for personnel
- conduct training for personnel
- understand English for aviation communications
- recognize public safety hazards
- recognize public safety hazards
- control and extinguish municipal or forest fires
- control and extinguish municipal or forest fires
- parachute from aircraft
- consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
- observe fire to note changing conditions
- observe fire to note changing conditions
- evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
- monitor worker performance
- monitor worker performance
- give directions to crew on fire line during forest fire
- read maps
- read maps
- gather physical evidence
- gather physical evidence
- make decisions
- make decisions
- determine best method for attacking fire
- determine best method for attacking fire
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Analyze burn conditions and results, and prepare postburn reports.
- Evaluate size, location, and condition of fires.
- Maintain knowledge of fire laws and fire prevention techniques and tactics.
- Plan, direct, and supervise prescribed burn projects.
- Recruit or hire firefighting personnel.
- Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
- Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
- Assess nature and extent of fire, condition of building, danger to adjacent buildings, and water supply status to determine crew or company requirements.
- Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
- Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
- Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
- Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
- Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel.
- Direct the training of firefighters, assigning of instructors to training classes, and providing of supervisors with reports on training progress and status.
- Perform maintenance and minor repairs on firefighting equipment, including vehicles, and write and submit proposals to modify, replace, and repair equipment.
- Schedule employee work assignments and set work priorities.
- Inspect and test new and existing fire protection systems, fire detection systems, and fire safety equipment to ensure that they are operating properly.
- Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
- Participate in creating fire safety guidelines and evacuation schemes for nonresidential buildings.
- Maintain required maps and records.
- Drive crew carriers to transport firefighters to fire sites.
- Inspect stations, uniforms, equipment, or recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
- Evaluate fire station procedures to ensure efficiency and enforcement of departmental regulations.
- Direct firefighters in station maintenance duties, and participate in these duties.
- Recommend personnel actions related to disciplinary procedures, performance, leaves of absence, and grievances.
- Perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence.
- Study and interpret fire safety codes to establish procedures for issuing permits to handle hazardous or flammable substances.
- Direct investigation of cases of suspected arson, hazards, and false alarms and submit reports outlining findings.
- Recommend equipment modifications or new equipment purchases.
- Supervise and participate in the inspection of properties to ensure that they are in compliance with applicable fire codes, ordinances, laws, regulations, and standards.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Firefighting occupations
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More