Firefighting Roles
Firefighters' roles at the scene of a fire are as variable as in any job. Some carry hoses, connecting them to hydrants. Others are climbing ladders, others have axes to break down doors. Some are studying the floor plans while others ensure that stability of the structure. In wildfire areas, you may see other roles, such as smoke jumpers, digging trenches, piling sandbags or dropping retardant from helicopters.
Besides fire training and medical skills, some fire fighters also have to deal with hazardous materials. It is a good idea for all fire fighters to have a basic understanding and knowledge of dangerous chemicals, but there are specialized firemen who maybe called in for industrial accidents or chemical spills—where a standard local fire company would be ill equipped to deal with the danger.