Firefighting Statistics

• According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, firefighters from the 157 departments throughout the state responded to 61,863 incidents in 2008. More than 5,000 of those were fires; another 31,000 needed emergency medical help. There were 51 fire-related civilian injuries in the state and six civilian deaths. No firefighters died in the line of duty in 2008, although 11 were injured. The state reported fire losses of $39,372,077.
  
  

Requirements

• Firefighters must be 18 years old and hold a current emergency medical technician certification, according to the city of Murray’s requirements, which are similar to most other cities' in the state. Previous firefighting experience is helpful, and candidates must pass a civil service exam and a physical agility test.
  
  The top 50 to 60 scorers on the civil service exam are invited to take the physical agility part of the test, which is pass-fail only. Those who pass are placed on a hiring list that is ranked in order of test scores. These tests are given every two years.
  
  

Fire and Rescue Academy

• Utah Valley University in Orem offers a fire science program that includes a number of different courses for people interested in a career as a firefighter. The basic 40-hour course is designed to build teamwork and help departments train how to safely and effectively fight structural, wild land and automobile fires and how to respond to hazardous material incidents.
  
  More advanced courses offer training in live fire components, salvage and overhaul, vehicle fires and extrication, ground cover fires, firefighter survival techniques, responding to mayday conditions, communicating with other firefighters, evacuation, fire inspection and so on.
  
  

Firefighter Certification

• The Fire and Rescue Academy also offers certifications at a number of these levels, including firefighter I and II, but those must be attained outside of the class.
  
  

EMT Certification

• Because firefighters frequently respond to accidents and other emergency situations besides fires, most cities in Utah require firefighters to be certified emergency medical technicians as well. According to the Utah Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, candidates for this certification must take a class and then pass a computerized test before becoming certified.