Do firefighters do nothing all day?

Many firefighters work on a 24/48 schedule. Meaning 24 hours on duty, 48 hours off duty. There are other schedules, but this one is pretty common. Assuming shift starts at 8:00 am, personnel usually show up 20–30 minutes before start of shift to get their gear together and prepare for the shift.

How much time do firefighters spend fighting fires?

For most paid and career staff, traditional firefighting shift is usually 24 hours on, and 48 hours or even 72 hours off. That usually works out to about eight shifts a month.

What do firefighters spend most of their time doing?

12 Things Firefighters Do [Every Day] When Not Fighting Fires

• Equipment Checks.
• Gear Inspections.
• Vehicle Maintenance.
• Continuing Education (Con-Ed)
• Physical Training & Drills.
• Station Maintenance.
• Writing Reports.
• Run Reviews.

What do firefighters actually do all day?

Firefighters sweep, mop, throw out the trash, dust, wash linens and windows, and clean the fire trucks. We also take care of small maintenance issues such as painting. Public Outreach – Firefighters often provide station tours for the public or speak at special events.

How often do firefighters actually fight fire?

For fire departments, building blazes — catastrophic or not — have become infrequent. Firefighters responded to 487,500 structure fires across the United States in 2013, which means each of the nation’s 30,000 fire departments saw just one every 22 days, on average.

Do firefighters have a lot of downtime?

THERE ISN’T MUCH DOWNTIME. Even on a “slow” day, firefighters don’t have much freedom to sit back and relax. Firefighters make time for non-emergency tasks when their schedule permits, which may include checking fire hydrants, conducting fire safety inspections, and completing training exercises.

Why do firefighters wear headphones in the truck?

What most people see are firefighters using headsets on fire apparatus. This is a communication device. While it does protect hearing, it also allows the firefighters to talk amongst themselves without yelling while in the apparatus. Most carry first aid kits to help people who are injured or hurt.

What happens when a firefighter arrives at the station?

Preparation – When a firefighter arrives at the station for a shift, their first priority is to check the trucks and personal protective equipment and get ready for the next call. Although they do not fix major mechanical problems with the fire engines, the firefighters often do minor repairs.

What do firefighters do for the public?

Public Outreach – Firefighters often provide station tours for the public or speak at special events. These talks cover many topics such as: babysitting safety, exit drills in the home, wildfire safety, fire prevention, and using a fire extinguisher.

Do Leander firefighters live at the stations?

Leander firefighters live at the stations 24 hours; it is their second home. The stations and trucks are viewed as the citizens property which the firefighters are responsible for maintaining and caring for. Firefighters sweep, mop, throw out the trash, dust, wash linens and windows, and clean the fire trucks.

How long does it take a fireman to complete a report?

Most reports take 15–30 minutes to complete. Also, each individual piece of equipment check or maintenance is documented and recorded. A Leander firefighter can often times spend between 2–6 hours a day on documentation.