People Team AI Ask about a date

How exposed to AI is a Firefighter?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for firefighters, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 27 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Fire EngineerFire Equipment OperatorFire FighterFire Management SpecialistFire Technician (Fire Tech)FirefighterForest Fire Suppression SpecialistForestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech)Hot ShotWildland Firefighter
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
3%
hold a degree, from a survey of 83
317k
people do this job in the US
26 of 26
least protected in protective services

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents
  • Inform and educate the public on fire prevention

Only with software built on top

1
  • Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew

Cannot be sped up

27
  • Rescue victims from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards
  • Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus
  • Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios
  • Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties
  • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents
  • Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters
  • Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment
  • Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger
  • Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures
  • Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires
  • Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses
  • Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered
  • Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires
  • Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls
  • Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques
  • Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences
  • Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness
  • Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants
  • Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke
  • Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute
  • Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus
  • Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary
  • Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill
  • Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps
  • Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support
  • Search to locate fire victims
  • Train new employees to control and suppress fires
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET 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. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.