Casula Fire Officer Philip Lindsay, was honoured with the Australian Fire Service Medal —
the highest honour an Australian firefighter can receive.
(Source: Daily Telegraph)

Duties and Tasks

• Establishes administrative and operational procedures by taking account of the organisation's operating environment.
• Makes policy decisions and accepts responsibility for operations, performance of staff, achievement of targets and adherence to budgets, standards and procedures.
• Establishes lines of control and delegates responsibilities to subordinate staff.
• Represents the organisation in dealings with other organisations and the public.
• Controls the collection and interpretation of management information to monitor performance.
• Controls the use of, and accounting for, the assets and facilities of the organisation.
• Prepares budgets and other management plans.
• Prepares reports, authorises the release of information and handles public relations activities.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You will need to have extensive experience as a fire fighter and progress through the ranks of your profession to advance to the rank of a Commissioned Fire Officer. Commissioned Fire Officers often have university qualifications.

Fire protection officers examine buildings to detect fire hazards and ensure that fire codes are met. They also commission, install, and maintain fire protection systems and equipment in buildings and other facilities.

Alternative names: Fire Prevention Officer; Fire Safety Officer, Fire Protection Technician

ANZSCO ID: 441212
  

Specialisations: Municipal Fire Prevention Officer
  

Knowledge, skills and attributes       

To become a fire protection officer, you would need:

• to enjoy practical work

• good communication skills

• a neat personal appearance

• mechanical aptitude

• the ability to interpret and apply technical regulations, codes and standards

• a safety-conscious approach to your work

• to be able to cope with the physical demands of the job.

Did You Know? When Capt Eyre Massey Shaw was appointed Chief Officer of London Metropolitan Board of Works' "Metropolitan Fire Brigade" in 1866, one of his first tasks was to create a uniform that was practical from a working point of view, and would "distinguish our men from those who come to render voluntary assistance". His main task was directed at creating the "perfect" helmet for his men. He determined that a front peak was required to "shade the eyes without much interfering with the sight", and a back peak was required to "protect the neck and ears from molten lead, etc., without preventing the men hearing". The comb on top was required to be "constructed as with a light weight to bear a very heavy blow". The projecting ends of the comb and front peak were to be "so arranged that when a man falls forward they both touch the ground before any part of his face touches". The upper part had to be kept "well clear of the temples, pole and crown of the head". When the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was formed in Sydney in 1884, the London Fire Brigade uniform, including the brass helmet, was adopted. Senior Officers' helmets were nickel plated to give a silver finish. When MFB expanded to become the NSW Fire Brigades in 1910, the front plate was changed from MFB to NSWFB. Daily routine of polishing brass helmets Originally, the helmets were imported from England. Following the outbreak of the Second World War and the formation of a new Fire Brigade system in the UK, Brass Helmets became unavailable. In 1940 the New South Wales Fire Brigades sort expressions of interest from local Sydney firms to produce Brass Helmets. Eventually Ryder & Bell was contracted to produce them. From May 1964, the brass helmets in NSW were replaced by an American design made from polycarbonate. In some other states, they continued in limited use up the late 1970s. (Source: Museum of Fire, Penrith, NSW)

 

Duties and Tasks

As a fire protection officer, you would typically:

• search for fire hazards

• ensure that buildings comply with fire codes

• review building plans with developers

• test fire alarms, sprinklers, and other fire protection equipment

• commission, install, and maintain fire protection systems

• keep detailed records that may be used in a court of law.

Working conditions

Fire protection officers typically work during regular business hours. Fire protection officers work in both offices and in the field.

Education and training/entrance requirements

Fire protection officers or technicians who work with scheduled extinguishing agents, such as ozone-depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases, will need an Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence. Contact the Fire Protection Association of Australia for more information.

Fire protection personnel may require an electrician's licence to work on fire alarm systems, a plumber's licence to work on sprinkler systems or a building contractor's licence to work on infrastructure such as fire doors.

Most employers also require a valid drivers’ licence.

   
Employment Opportunities

• Protects human life and property from fire damage, using fire prevention techniques.
• Reads and understands complicated technical documents.
• Keeps up to date with fire protection measures against terrorist threats or natural disasters.
• Analyses existing protection measures and designs up-to-date fire protection systems.
• Consults with architects or other industry experts to design safe buildings or transportation vehicles.
• Researches new issues in fire prevention and develops solutions, sometimes with the use of advanced computer modelling systems, to predict the occurrence and spread of fire.
• Tests the ability of particular chemicals to suppress fire or performs research on existing fire prevention techniques.
• Conducts analysis of fire risks and develops appropriate safeguards.

Working conditions
    
Fire Protection Equipment Technicians typically work during regular business hours. They work in both offices and in the field.

Education and training/entrance requirements
    
You can work as a Fire Protection Equipment Technician without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. Your employment prospects may be improved if you have qualifications. You may like to consider a VET qualification in fire protection or fire protection inspection and testing. Fire protection personnel may require an electrician's licence to work on fire alarm systems, a plumber's licence to work on sprinkler systems or a building contractor's licence to work on infrastructure such as fire doors.

Fire protection officers or technicians who work with scheduled extinguishing agents, such as ozone-depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases, will need an Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence. Contact the Fire Protection Association of Australia for more information.

Most employers also require a valid drivers’ licence.

Fire investigators determine the origin and cause of fires and explosions. They may also inspect or examine buildings to detect fire hazards and ensure that fire codes are met. Fire investigation is the analysis of fire-related incidents through the use of fire dynamics. When a disastrous fire occurs, investigators must determine where and how the fire started, and whether it was accidental or intentional. If an intentional fire was set, the investigator’s findings could lead to criminal charges. If the fire resulted in deaths, then a person could be charged with murder.


ANZSCO ID: 139112

Alternative names: Arson Investigator, Fire Inspector, Forensic Fire Investigator
    
Knowledge, skills and attributes

• an aptitude for numbers and calculations
• sound judgement - must be able to inspect evidence at a fire scene, determine what happened, and recognize possible violations and how to eliminate them.
• able to pay attention to detail - investigating a fire, determining its cause, and inspecting the site for possible code violations requires the investigator have an excellent eye for detail.
• good communication skills - must be able to clearly provide property and building owners with information on fire code violations and laws. Interviewing witnesses and speaking with colleagues requires the ability to communicate well.
• physical strength – arson investigators are often required to move heavy items and debris to find the underlying cause of and have a better understanding of the fire scene.
• able to work as part of a team
• willingness to keep up to date with professional development and new investigation methods.

Fire investigators at Dunalley, in south-east Tasmania.
(Source: ABC 2013)

Duties and Tasks

• collect and analyse evidence from scenes of fires and explosions
• reconstruct the scene of a fire or arson
• send evidence to laboratories to be tested for fingerprints or an accelerant
• document evidence by taking photographs and creating diagrams
• determine the origin and cause of a fire
• keep detailed records and protect evidence for use in court proceedings
• testify in civil and criminal legal proceedings.
  

Working conditions
 
Fire investigators must be ready to respond when a fire happens, so often work evenings, weekends, and public holidays. Fire investigators work in both offices and in the field.

      
Education and training/entrance requirements
      
Fire investigators usually have previous work experience in a fire or police department. They attend training courses and receive on-the-job training in inspection and investigation. Fire investigators must have at least a Graduate Diploma of Fire Investigation or an equivalent Graduate Diploma completed at an Australian university or overseas equivalent.


Employment Opportunities

Employment of fire investigators is projected to grow slower than the average for all occupations. Because government bodies employ the majority of all fire investigators, the growth in number of roles available is generally determined by government funding.

Fire Investigation
https://youtu.be/SmmAh87Anh8

Emergency Service Workers attend the scene of emergencies to minimise risk to community safety and security. Sometimes called "First Responders", Emergency Service Workers include firemen, paramedics, and others called to scenes of crisis or crime. Emergency Service Workers attempt to minimise risk after an event and provide assistance to those individuals at the scene.


ANZSCO ID: 441211

Alternative name: Emergency Response Officer; First Responders

Specialisations: Industrial Paramedic,

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Ability to listen closely to and interpret the speech of those individuals affected by the emergency
• Basic medical competence
• Physical strength
• Quick thinking
• Use of logic and critical thinking to determine the most appropriate and safest course of action for any given emergency

Duties and Tasks

• Attends the scene of fires and other emergencies.
• Rescues and evacuates people stranded or trapped in dangerous situations.
• Operates pumps, sprays water, foam and chemicals from hoses, portable extinguishers and other appliances to extinguish fires and to disperse or neutralise dangerous substances.
• Cuts openings in buildings and crashed vehicles to free occupants.
• Maintains site security systems.
• Administers first aid - providing first aid to those at the emergency
• Attends and participates in training activities, rescue classes, drills, demonstrations and courses in emergency and fire-fighting techniques.
• Trains recruits in emergency procedures and practices.
• Minimizing risk by dousing fires or taking other steps as needed
• Participating in in-service events and drills to hone rescue and reaction skills
• Rescuing, freeing, or evacuating those trapped in dangerous conditions
• Rushing to scenes of fire and other emergencies
• Studying building maps and plans to become familiar with access points and escape routes
• Visits buildings and potential fire hazards to study access points and locations of hydrants.
• Maintains tools and equipment.

Working conditions

While Emergency Service Workers may be based at a station house, hospital, or other headquarters, the workplace is mobile as emergency service workers must respond to called-in emergencies. Sites are often dangerous and may often include fire and smoke.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as an Emergency Service Worker without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. A course in public safety might be helpful.  (Source: Behindtheseen)

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs

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Paramedic	Police Officer	Security Consultant	SES Officer
WHS Officer

Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Fire Fighter; ] ,
Air Services Australia
Emergency Services Agency ACT [Firefighter; ]
WebArchive Only - CareerHQ [Fire Protection Officer; Fire Investigator;  ]
Open Universities [Emergency Service Worker; ]
College Educated [CSI-Careers; ]
 Your Career [Fire Fighter; Fire Protection Equipment Technician; Commissioned Fire Officer  ];