Fire Service Careers

Today's firefighters are men and women of all races and creeds who provide public safety services to the citizens of Waukesha. These firefighters fight fires and perform related public safety tasks which may include the following essential functions:

• Operating all types of fire and rescue equipment, including fire extinguishers, forcible entry tools, aerial ladder equipment, emergency medical equipment, and hose lines with nozzles.

• Responding to emergency medical incidents, analyzing patient needs and administering advanced emergency medical assistance.

• Responding to a variety of general emergency rescue calls such as auto accidents, gas system leaks, and public assistance (helping the elderly and disabled individuals with a problem).

• Performing search and rescue of individuals in hazardous environments including fire situations, collapsed buildings, automobile accidents, hazardous materials spills, and confined spaces.

Firefighters report to a Fire Lieutenant who supervises and works alongside his or her Company. Each Company works a 24 hour shift, with rotating days off. Firefighters live at the fire station when they are on duty and spend their days responding to calls, training, participating in public relations assignments, and performing general station housekeeping duties such as cooking and cleaning. Just as with family members, good communication skills are a must while working in these close quarters.