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>First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience
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
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job Training
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.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $43K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $59K
Median Salary: $78K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $103K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $129K
Demand
Core Tasks
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.
Inspect and test new and existing fire protection systems, fire detection systems, and fire safety equipment to ensure that they are operating properly.
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.
Monitor fire suppression expenditures to ensure that they are necessary and reasonable.
Participate in creating fire safety guidelines and evacuation schemes for nonresidential buildings.
Drive crew carriers to transport firefighters to fire sites.
Maintain required maps and records.
Evaluate fire station procedures to ensure efficiency and enforcement of departmental regulations.
Inspect stations, uniforms, equipment, or recreation areas to ensure compliance with safety standards, taking corrective action as necessary.
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.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Public Safety and Security
90%
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
83%
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.
Administration and Management
80%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Education and Training
79%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
79%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical
75%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Personnel and Human Resources
75%
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Law and Government
74%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Clerical
70%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Building and Construction
66%
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Top 10 Skills
Critical Thinking
80%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
80%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
79%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
78%
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.
Complex Problem Solving
78%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination
78%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making
78%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning
75%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Management of Personnel Resources
74%
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Time Management
74%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Top 10 Abilities
Problem Sensitivity
83%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
79%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Written Comprehension
77%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Far Vision
75%
The ability to see details at a distance.
Information Ordering
75%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision
75%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity
73%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Top 10 Work Activities
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
92%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
92%
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Performing General Physical Activities
90%
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Getting Information
89%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
89%
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Assisting and Caring for Others
88%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Developing and Building Teams
88%
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
88%
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
88%
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
87%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Detailed Work Activities
Request emergency personnel.
Direct fire fighting or prevention activities.
Rescue people from hazardous situations.
Administer first aid.
Assess characteristics of fires.
Relay information about incidents or emergencies to personnel using phones or two-way radios.
Operate firefighting equipment.
Train employees in proper work procedures.
Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
Maintain fire fighting tools or equipment.
Evaluate employee performance.
Direct employee training programs.
Prepare activity or work schedules.
Develop fire safety or prevention programs or plans.
Maintain operational records.
Drive vehicles to transport individuals or equipment.
Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.
Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.
Write operational reports.
Direct criminal investigations.
Recommend improvements to increase safety or reduce risks.
Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with fire regulations.
Determine operational procedures.
Locate fires or fire danger areas.
Monitor environmental conditions to detect hazards.
Perform forest firefighting activities.
Prepare operational reports.
Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
Supervise employees.
Hire personnel.
Recruit personnel.
Majors
Major
Interests
Enterprising
100%
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.
Realistic
81%
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
58%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional
50%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
41%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
17%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Dependability
92%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
92%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
91%
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Stress Tolerance
90%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility
89%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Concern for Others
89%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attention to Detail
88%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
88%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self Control
87%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Initiative
86%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Work Values
Independence
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Support
79%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement
77%
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.
Working Conditions
75%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Relationships
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
