firefighting
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photo by steed media service
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Firefighting continues to rank as one of the nation’s most noble
professions. Now, more than ever, the presence of African Americans in
this field is being felt in a major way. From Seattle, Washington to
Washington, D.C., impressive numbers of brave souls of color have been
signing up to serve.
Characteristics
Many people wonder what it takes to be a great firefighter. The following characteristics are vital:
- Honesty and dependability
- Physical fitness and committment to a healthy lifestyle
- Ablility to function well as part of a team
- Concern and respect for coworkers and members of the community
- Ability to communicate and listen
- Dedication
- Capacity to use common sense
- Emotional stability and ability to deal with stress appropriately
- Open-mindedness and flexibility
- Willingness to listen and try new ideas
SALARY
In addition to figuring out what it takes to be a firefighter, many
also wonder about the quality of life firefighters enjoy, as it is such
a dangerous career. Perhaps the most popular question is,
“Exactly how much money does a firefighter make?”
Like most careers, the higher you climb up the corporate ladder, the
more earning potential you enjoy. Below are the annual base salaries
for various officer levels.
| Office | Minimum | Maximum |
|
Fire Chief |
$68,701 | $89,928 |
| Deputy Chief | $63, 899 | $79,803 |
| Assistant Fire Chief | $57,860 | $73,713 |
| Battalion Chief | $58,338 | $73,487 |
| Fire Captain | $49,108 | $59,374 |
| Fire Lieutenant | $44,963 | $53,179 |
| Code Inspector | $43,297 | $54,712 |
| Engineer | $41,294 | $52,461 |
TESTING
Now that you’ve decided to become a firefighter, it’s time
to take the first step to realizing your dream. Below are local
departments in major cities that can provide necessary information on
the testing and physical qualifications that are needed to complete the
process.
Houston
Houston Fire Department
www.ci.houston.tx.us/fire.htm
New York
New York City Fire Department
www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/fdny/html/home2.html
Chicago
Chicago Fire Department
www.cityofchicago.org/fire
Atlanta
Atlanta Fire Department
www.atlantaga.gov/citydir/fire.html
Los Angeles
Los Angeles City Fire & EMS Bureau
www.lafd.org
Dallas
Dallas Fire Department
www.dallasfirerescue.com
CONTACTS
If you would also like to find out more about black firefighters on an
international level, contact the International Association of Black
Professional Fire Fighters at [email protected].
