Firefighter Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Mike Minerva
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA 12345 | LinkedIn
Profile
Motivated and resourceful Firefighter with 2 years of experience. Focused on raising public awareness and knowledge of fire prevention and safety topics. Effective at calmly assessing situations, responding with solutions, and following instructions from senior firefighters. Equally effective working solo or on a team.
Key Skills
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Community Outreach & Education
- Emergency Response
- Equipment Maintenance
- Fire Prevention & Safety
- First Aid
- Rapid Problem-Solving
- Team Collaboration
Professional Experience
San Francisco Fire Department, San Francisco, CA | February 2021 to Present
Firefighter (December 2022 to Present)
- Control and extinguish fires, handling up to 14 calls per week
- Help quickly respond to 911 emergency situations
- Evaluate safety hazards and conditions
- Assess victims’ needs and administer first aid or CPR to those injured by fire, trauma, or smoke inhalation
Junior Firefighter Internship (February 2021 to November 2022)
- Helped contain and extinguish fires in buildings and car accidents
- Learned firefighting methods, treatment protocols, and prevention strategies
- Maintained equipment and vehicles
Education
Basic Firefighter I Training Course, CAL Fire Academy, Ione, CA | September 2019 to March 2020
Certifications
Fire Prevention & Safety | 2023
California State Firefighter | 2021
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | 2021
Cristina Mason
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Los Angeles, CA 12345 | LinkedIn
Profile
Dedicated Firefighter & EMT with extensive experience in fire prevention and helping victims of house fires and road traffic collisions. Fully certified and highly trained on various firefighting methods and safety measures. Committed to continuous learning.
Key Skills
- Emergency Response
- Fire Prevention & Safety
- First Aid
- Group Leadership
- Quality Assurance
- Rapid Problem-Solving
- Risk Assessment
Professional Experience
Firefighter / EMT, Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles, CA | October 2018 to Present
- Help quickly respond to disaster situations, evaluate risk, and contain and extinguish fires, handling ~10 calls per week
- Perform first aid or CPR on victims of smoke inhalation or other injury
- Lead a team of 4 responders as needed
- Help maintain ladder truck, 2 ambulances, and 6 fire trucks to high standards
Firefighter / EMT, City of Fountain Valley Fire Department, Fountain Valley, CA | December 2012 to October 2018
- Maintained and safely drove emergency response vehicles to provide prompt disaster assistance
- Carried out risk assessments to help contain fires and other emergencies
Education & Professional Development
Associate of Science in Fire Science Technology, City College of San Francisco, CA | 2012
Emergency Medical Technician Training, Orange County EMT | 2012
California State Fire Marshall Courses
- Firefighter I and II National Certification
- Firefighter Survival
- Fire Control 3B
Helen Bentley
(123) 654-3210 | [email protected] | Mound, MO 64470 | LinkedIn
Profile
Safety-focused Firefighting Professional with 10+ years of experience. Strong knowledge of NREMT emergency medical services, EMT-B, EMT-I, and EMT-P procedures and treatment protocols.
Key Skills
- Emergency Response
- Fire Prevention & Safety
- Rapid Decision-Making
- Regulatory Compliance
- Reporting & Documentation
- Team Collaboration
Professional Experience
Firefighter I, City of Branson Fire Department, Branson, MO | January 2019 to Present
- Ensure personnel (4 onsite firefighters and 6 volunteers) and equipment are ready to respond promptly to EMS calls and fires
- Help inspect and repair department apparatus and equipment including ladder truck, 2 ambulances, and 2 fire trucks
- Administer first aid, life support, and other emergency medical care
- Draft weekly reports on department activities
Wildland Firefighter, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Rolla, MO | March 2016 to December 2018
- Gained strong knowledge of fire suppression and fuels management practices
- Assisted in backfire, burnout, and tree falling operations for 3 major wildfires and 50+ smaller burns
- Employed specialized tools, techniques, and equipment while actively managing wildfires
- Maintained and repaired fire engines, tractors, hand tools, and chainsaws
Probationary Firefighter, Springfield Fire Department, Springfield, MO | February 2013 to February 2016
- Helped control and extinguish fires in commercial and residential buildings
- Performed rescue/extrication operations
Education & Credentials
Associate of Science in Fire Technology & Administration, Three Rivers Community College, Poplar Bluff, MO | 2012
EMT License | 2012
CPR Certificate, American Red Cross | 2012
Memberships
International Association of Firefighters
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Firefighter Resumes
Hiring managers look for key skills and applicable action verbs to evaluate job candidates, so it’s important to highlight these in your resume. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are often used to scan resumes. They filter resumes based on the number of keywords and phrases that meet the posted requirements for the position, highlighting the most suitable and passing them on to hiring managers. By sprinkling your resume with the necessary skill keywords, you have a greater chance of a hiring manager seeing it and giving you an interview.
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Ability to work under pressure | Ability to remain calm in stressful situations |
| Adaptability | Agility |
| Attention to detail | Communication skills |
| Compassion | Confidence |
| Courage | Decision-making skills |
| Driver’s license | EMT certification |
| CPR certification | Mechanical skills |
| Patience | Physical stamina |
| Physical strength | Problem-solving ability |
| Quick thinking | Resilience |
| Teamwork skills | Understanding |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Act | Adapt |
| Analyze | Assess |
| Communicate | Coordinate |
| Direct | Examine |
| Execute | Focus |
| Investigate | Lead |
| Problem solve | React |
| Resolve | Respond |
| Support | |
Tips for Writing a Better Firefighter Resume
Include details of all your firefighting/medical training and certifications
Firefighters should list all relevant training and certifications on their resume — or when they anticipate receiving them if in progress. Depending on the resume template you use, certifications can be added in their own separate section or included in the additional skills section.
Entry-level firefighters typically need a high school diploma and must hold an emergency medical technician (EMT) certification, so include details of these. If you’ve received any further classroom instruction, academy or state training, practical training, or on-the-job-training under the supervision of experienced firefighters, make sure to include these in detail.
Example #1
Good
International Association of Arson Investigators Fire Investigation Technician (FIT) certification
The National Fire Academy, Fire Investigation Essentials, January 2018
- Completed a 10-day course on the skills and techniques required to conduct an arson investigation
- Carried out multiple activities, written assessments, and group projects
- Learned how to process a fire scene and identify arson successfully
Bad
International Association of Arson Investigators Fire Investigation Technician (FIT) certification
The National Fire Academy
Example #2
Good
Emergency Medical Technician Training
Albany Community College, 2016
- Completed 150 hours of training over a 6 month period
- Passed with a 95% score
Bad
Emergency Medical Technician Training
Albany Community College, 2016
Quantify your firefighting experience
Hiring managers can get a clearer picture of your skills and abilities if you quantify your firefighting experience on your resume. Use your resume bullets under professional experience to put numbers to your past accomplishments. Try to be as specific as possible. Answer questions like “how much?” or “how many?” For example:
- How many engines or dozers were you responsible for?
- How many individuals did you supervise or manage in your crew?
- How many call-outs have you been involved in?
Example #1
Good
Supervised and led five to six individuals on an engine crew daily, including an engine operator, two senior firefighters, and three seasonal firefighters
Bad
Managed a crew.
Example #2
Good
Responsible for supervising and leading six heavy engines and three dozers for three-week shifts.
Bad
In charge of supervising equipment.
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
Hiring managers search through large numbers of job applicants to find the right person for the job, so it’s vital to highlight exactly how your skills and experience suit the description. Mirroring the language used in the job description can ensure you’re focusing on the right skills and help your resume stand out.
To decide what skills and experiences you should feature, look at the requirements listed at the start of the job description or those mentioned more than once. These are typically the most important requirements. Make sure your resume describes how you can deliver on the key requirements listed in the job description. Remember to focus on major attributes, quantify your notable contributions, and avoid using generic descriptions.
Example Firefighter Job Description
There is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Firefighter to join our municipality fire department team. The Green Creek Fire Department services 70,000 residents within the limits of the city of Green Creek. The position requires EMT certification and experience in emergency situations dealing with fires, rescues, medical incidents, and hazardous materials.
Responsibilities:
- Respond swiftly and safely to all emergency calls and requests for assistance
- Be available and ready to respond at a moment’s notice during on-call shifts
- Treat medical issues as needed, such as illness or injury
- Participate in physical fitness exercises and fire control drills
- Maintain a level of personal fitness necessary to carry out all the duties of a firefighter
- Clean, inspect, and maintain all fire equipment, including trucks and hoses
- Educate the public about fire safety and other important safety issues
- Undertake routine inspections of premises as part of a direct or indirect fire safety legislative requirement
- Take part in continuous training and learning programs by attending lectures, simulations, exercises, practice drill sessions and other training
Qualifications:
- High school diploma
- Emergency medical training such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification
- Successful completion of a training program at a fire academy
- Physical strength and stamina
- Technical skills to work with tools and fire equipment
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Proven experience of working within a team
- Quick decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Ability to remain calm in stressful or chaotic situations
- Ability to work methodically with attention to detail
- Willingness to work long hours
The job description shows that the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and experience:
- Have an EMT qualification and medical experience
- Have completed a training program
- Able to respond quickly and work under pressure
- Good physical fitness
- Able to carry out admin tasks such as report-writing and inspections
- Strong communication skills
- Good teamwork skills
- Quick decision-making skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
Using what you highlighted in the job description, craft your resume to include the experience and skills that match these keywords. The example below shows how to incorporate them into your resume:
Firefighter Work Experience
Firefighter I
San Diego Fire Station #30, June 2016 – Present
- Worked with a team of 15 resident firefighters and 30 volunteers, showing excellent communication skills
- Responded at a moment’s notice to calls – approximately 10 a week
- Operated technical equipment including fire hoses, breathing apparatuses, and water pressure gauges
- Completed daily personal fitness sessions to maintain physical strength and stamina
- Maintained a valid driver’s license and EMT certification
- Performed routine inspections to ensure all gear was safety-compliant