Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers

Supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers oversee and coordinate the activities of personnel involved with fire fighting and fire prevention and control. They serve as the leader of a fire, helicopter, hand or engine crew. Some supervisors are involved with forest environments, whereas other supervisors work in municipalities. The vast majority of fire fighters supervisors are employed by government agencies.

Supervisors of firefighters protect the public and property from the dangers of fire. While on duty, firefighters and prevention workers supervisors need to be prepared to immediately respond to a fire. Supervisors assign specific tasks to fire fighters. A firefighter's duties can change several times while the crew is at a scene.

When a forest fire occurs, forest fire fighting and prevention workers supervisors oversee fire fighters suppressing the fire with heavy equipment and water hoses. They also supervise the construction of fire lines which includes cutting down trees and removing appropriate combustible types of vegetation in order to deprive the fire of fuel.

Responsibilities

  • Evaluate the location, size and condition of fires
  • Provide the details of fires to subordinates and superiors and interagency dispatch centers
  • Position equipment in order to contain fires effectively and safely
  • Keep fire suppression equipment in good condition
  • Monitor prescribed burns to make sure they are performed effectively and safely
  • Determine staff training and development needs and arrange for appropriate training
  • Stay current with fire laws and fire prevention strategies and techniques
  • Determine best strategies for rescuing people
  • Provide emergency rescue services
  • Evaluate the performance of fire fighters

Job Characteristics

Fire fighting has a high risk of injury or death. Municipal supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers may also come into contact with radioactive materials and flammable, poisonous or explosive gases and chemicals which can have immediate or long-term negative effects on their health.

Many firefighters work about 50 hours per week or more. In some agencies, firefighters are on duty for 24 hours which is followed by being off duty for 48 hours and they get an additional day off at intervals. Other fire fighters have different work schedules. Fire captains and lieutenants often work the same hours as the firefighters they supervise.

Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 19 percent employment growth for fire fighters between 2008 and 2018 which is faster than average for all occupations. The employment growth of fire fighting and prevention workers supervisors may be linked to the employment growth of fire fighters. In addition, the median annual earnings of first-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers in 2008 was $67,440.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Candidates for fire fighter jobs are typically required to have a high school diploma. Completing some secondary education or acquiring an associate degree in fire science may improve an applicants chances for getting a fire fighters job. Numerous colleges and universities offer two-year and four-year degrees in fire engineering or fire science.

Promotions to supervisors and other positions depends on job performance, the results from written examinations, seniority and interviews. Increasingly, fire departments are utilizing assessment centers which simulate various job performance tasks, to screen for the best candidates for promotion.

Many fire departments require candidates for positions higher than battalion chief to have a bachelor's degree in fire science, public administration or a related subject. A master's degree is necessary for executive fire officer certification from the National Fire academy and also for State chief officer certification.

Resources

Major Employers

The top employers are local governments.

Schools for Supervisors Of Fire Fighting And Prevention Workers are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Skills

Below are the skills needed to be supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Complex Problem Solving44
Coordination44.12
Critical Thinking44.25
Monitoring44.5
Active Listening3.884

Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Problem Sensitivity4.254.38
Deductive Reasoning44
Information Ordering43.88
Oral Comprehension44.12
Oral Expression44.25

Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Public Safety and Security4.765.54
Customer and Personal Service4.286.11
Building and Construction4.194.58
English Language4.094.6
Administration and Management4.014.28

Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Assisting and Caring for Others4.755.93
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.736.15
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material4.695.25
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.696.12
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.675.16

Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Integrity4.61
Dependability4.55
Stress Tolerance4.5
Leadership4.45
Adaptability/Flexibility4.43

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach1,690$98,210
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue1,500$109,890
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale1,210$81,580
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson1,100$98,060
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington850$93,400
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land710$80,700
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn680$77,860
Oklahoma City660$87,230
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater640$79,650
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood630$103,500

Compare Total Employment & Salaries for Fire Prevention Supervisors

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Employment
Salary

Total employment and salary for professions similar to fire prevention supervisors

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Supervisors Of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.