Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Performing General Physical Activities 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.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

The Work

Firefighters fight fires and provide assistance at numerous other emergencies such as car, train and aeroplane crashes, tanker spillage, flooding, building collapse and explosions where people and animals may have to be rescued.  
 
After incidents, Firefighters are involved in cleaning up and checking the safety of the site. When they return to the station, reports are written, which may subsequently be used by accident investigators or insurance companies.  
 
Teamwork is vitally important as lives depend on it. The team is usually led by a sub-officer or station officer, but more senior officers attend and co-ordinate large scale incidents.  
 
In addition they must enforce legal regulations such as the provision of secure escape routes to reduce risks of injury by fire. On call-outs, fire-fighting teams may have to work in very unpleasant and dangerous conditions, often outdoors, exposed to the elements.  
 
Firefighters perform under the control and direction of the Chief Fire Officer and other appropriate supervisory officers of the Brigade. In Dublin they may be required to serve in any station from time to time as directed but in other Brigades it is normal to be assigned to only one station.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Rescue victims from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hasards.
• 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 nossles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.

Further Information

• Firefighter - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Firefighter - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Pathways to be a Firefighter vary, there are a number of requirements you must meet. Recruitment of Firefighters is through the Public Appointments Service and usually involve submitting an application form, a number of assessments, and an interview.  

Fire services are run under local authorities and entry requirement may vary slightly between them so you need to check the specific requirements in the area you live. Vacancies and Fire reserve opportunities may be displayed on Local Government/ Authority sites.  

However, these are the typical entry requirements:

You need to be a minimum of 18 years old, and typically, you need a full driving license.

Most authorities also require that you have either:

• At least Grade H6/O6 (or a pass) in five subjects, including Mathematics and English, from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education and Skills Leaving Certificate Examination or in an examination of at least equivalent standard. or
• A Level 5 Certificate (Major award) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or
• A recognised qualification (at level 5 or greater), deemed comparable to the above in terms of both level and volume of learning as determined by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

There are also strict requirements regarding: Physical fitness, hearing, eyesight, height and physique (which will be assessed during the recruitment process).

Where you live may also impact on your chances, in particular if you want to be a ‘retained firefighter’ as you need to live near the station and be able to respond to a call within 3-5 minutes of being alerted. Retained firefighters are usually self-employed and live near their station of operations as they are on-call. They often combine this work with other part-time employment.

It is likely that you will be required to undergo Garda Vetting. Garda Vetting forms are submitted through the employer and cannot be completed by the applicant prior to employment. You can read more about Garda Vetting here.

Having experience from other voluntary organisations such as: The Order of Malta, Red Cross, or Civil Defence will be very valuable.

Relevant courses which may be beneficial (but not required) include: First aid, Pre-paramedic and Pre-emergency services training (usually at level 5 in FET Colleges of Further Education) Search our FET Coursefinder 

Training & Development

Each fire authority is responsible for the training of their fire service personnel and they hold regular training in areas such as rescue techniques drills, breathing apparatus, hazardous chemicals and pumping operations. There are also specialised training for experienced staff in various different areas, such as swift water rescue, heavy driving (ambulances and fire appliances) and operating specialist appliances.

After a number of years as a Firefighter, you can apply for promotion to higher ranks in the order of: Sub Officer, Station Officer, District Officer, and Third Officer.

Experienced fire services staff can also study fire engineering or fire safety practice at third level (University, Technical University or an Institute of Technology) Search our CAO Coursefinder   

Professional development

Postgraduate Study Fire Safety Practice, Fire Safety Engineering, Development of Emergency Response Training Facilities for Alternative Vehicles under Fire - Research, Environmental Health & Safety, Management at NFQ level 9

Firefighters may be eligible to retire at 55 years of age.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €32k - €70k

Salaries vary by role, duties, shift pattern, and experience. 

Part-time fire service personal

Part-time firefighter
0 – 2 years     8,870
2 – 5 years     9,857
5 – 10 years 11,051
10+ years     12,145

Station officer
0 – 5 years   18,110
5 – 10 years 20,311
10+ years     22,320

Sub officer/driver mechanic
0 – 5 years   13,710
5 – 10 years 15,377
10+ years     16,896

Attendance rates
Drill rate 23.40

Day
1st hour 46.80
Subsequent hours 23.40

Night/weekend
1st hour 93.60
Subsequent hours 46.80

LSI 1 after 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum.
LSI 2 after 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum.

Data Source(s):
PublicJobs.ie/ County Council/ LGMA/ Forsa

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment in this occupation has been declining annually since 2020. Those working in this occupation are primarily employed within the public sector and, as such, any employment growth will be dependent on future Government funding. Budget 2023 allocated funding for an additional 100 prison service officers.

• Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• National Retained Firefighters Association

  • Click Here

• Women’s Fire Service Network

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Chief Fire Officers Association

  • https://www.cfoa.net/
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Emergency Services Ireland

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here