New Thinking for the Next Generation of Geography Education
Powerful Geography
Firefighters and Wildland Firefighters

Firefighters and Wildland Firefighters

Firefighters and Wildland Firefighters

I. JOB SUMMARY

Main Topic: Environment and Society
Secondary Topic: Physical Geography

Overview:  Firefighters are trained professionals who control and put out fires, and also respond to various types of emergencies such as car accidents and medical emergencies. Firefighters respond to fires in any type location from homes, office buildings, schools, to vehicle fires on roads. Firefighters also aid in search and rescue operations, and disaster responses. Some firefighters are trained to work with Wildland fires, or wildfires in remote locations. These firefighters must work in heavily forested areas, and instead of actively attempting to extinguish the fires, they work to cut down an area of trees to prevent the fire from spreading even further. They also conduct controlled burns to prevent future wildfires by burning any potential fuel beneath tree canopy. The use of GIS and Geospatial technologies in researching wildfires has become especially prominent in recent years. GIS can aid firefighters in analyzing the landscape in which fires are taking place, which can then be incorporated into their plan.

Geographers at work: Hazards and Disaster Geographers

Recommended College Courses: Meteorology, Introduction to Physical Geography, Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems, Climatology, Natural Resource Use and Management, Environmental Management, Environmental Hazards

Skills: Geospatial Technologies, Landscape Analysis, Hazards Research, Resource and Environmental Science

Occupation Group: Protective Services

Learn more about Firefighters from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm

Written by Ally Schlandt

II. POWERFUL GEOGRAPHIC KNOWLEDGE

Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.
Wildland firefighters are specially trained personnel who combat and contain wildfires in natural and rural areas, employing various techniques to suppress the spread of flames and protect ecosystems and communities.
Wildland firefighters are specially trained personnel who combat and contain wildfires in natural and rural areas, employing various techniques to suppress the spread of flames and protect ecosystems and communities.