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Firefighters
rescuing survivors from burning buildings, operating pumps connected to high-pressure hoses and maintaining contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies. If that's your week, this page is about your job.
The honest answer
AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: rescuing survivors from burning buildings is work software can't reach.
What shifts is preparing written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents: the paper around the work, not the work.
Your week, as this page understands it
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance. The job title says “firefighters”. The real job is the part underneath: rescuing survivors from burning buildings. That is the thing someone has to be right about.
The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But firefighters is not one task. It is 30 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is rescuing survivors from burning buildings, and the ledger below shows exactly why.
Where the work sits, by task weight
- shifting to AI
- 3%
- changing shape
- 0%
- staying human
- 97%
These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.
Whole-job exposure score 4 out of 100 (3–8 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 30 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.
How we know this
What is measured: Every published task statement for firefighters is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.
How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.
Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.
Your job, task by task
These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.
- 5 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
- Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.
Shifting to AI
1 taskTasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.
Preparing written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents
This is reading one thing and writing another: written reports in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 66 out of 100 (62–70 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Writing up an incident from notes and records is document work of a kind software drafts well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Changing shape
0 tasksTasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.
Nothing in this job’s scored task list landed in this group. That is the measurement, not an editorial choice, and it is worth knowing either way.
Staying human
29 tasksTasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.
Rescuing survivors from burning buildings
This work happens in the physical world: survivors, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Carrying people out of danger is physical work at the scene and cannot be done any other way.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Dressing with equipment, fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus
This work happens in the physical world: equipment, fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Putting on protective gear and breathing apparatus is something only the firefighter's own hands can do.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Responding to fire alarms and other calls
This work happens in the physical world: fire alarms, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Responding to an alarm means getting the crew and the truck to the address.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Assessing fires and situations and reporting conditions to superiors to receive instructions
This work happens in the physical world: fires, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 5 out of 100 (1–9 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sizing up a fire depends on standing there and seeing it, even though the radio report itself is words.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Moving toward the source of a fire
This work happens in the physical world: the source of a fire, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Working through a burning building towards the fire is physical movement in a dangerous place.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Creating openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance
This work happens in the physical world: openings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cutting openings with axes and saws is manual work on the building itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Driving and operating fire fighting vehicles and equipment
This work happens in the physical world: fire fighting vehicles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Driving and operating fire appliances requires hands on the controls at the scene.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Inspecting fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger
This work happens in the physical world: fire sites after flames, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · CoreSource: “Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Walking a burnt-out site to check it is safe means being physically in the building.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Positioning and climbing ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings
This work happens in the physical world: ladders, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Setting and climbing ladders is pure physical work at height.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Show the other 20 tasks
Informing and educating the public on fire prevention
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: the public, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Prevention material is easy to produce, but fire safety messages land through people talking to their community.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Training new employees to control and suppress fires
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: new employees, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance not publishedO*NET hasn't yet published importance ratings for this occupation's tasks, so the ordering here is ours, not theirs.
Source: “Train new employees to control and suppress fires.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Training materials draft well, but new firefighters learn by handling real equipment under supervision.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: contact, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 7 out of 100 (3–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping dispatch updated is talking, but what you report comes from being at the incident.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Maintaining knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: knowledge of current firefighting practices, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 7 out of 100 (0–14 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Reading up on new practice helps, but the drills that keep the skill real have to be done in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: buildings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 6 out of 100 (0–13 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Checking a building for hazards means walking it and testing the alarms, even though the findings end up written down.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Selecting and attaching hose nozzles
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: hose nozzles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting nozzles and aiming the hose is done by hand at the fire.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Collaborating with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: other firefighters, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Working as part of a crew inside a fire is physical teamwork on the ground.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Patrolling burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: burned areas after fires, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Walking burnt ground to find and damp down hot spots is manual work outdoors.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Collaborating with police to respond to accidents, disasters and arson investigation calls
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: police, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Turning out alongside police at an incident means being at the scene with them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Participating in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: fire drills, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Drills are physical practice; the point is doing the movements, not describing them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Participating in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: physical training activities, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitness training is your own body doing the work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Protecting property from water and smoke
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: property, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Covering property and clearing smoke is done by hand at the premises.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Salvaging property by removing broken glass
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: property, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Clearing glass, pumping water and airing out a building is manual labour.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Orienting self in relation
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: self, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Finding your bearings on a fireground and collecting dropped supplies happens on foot.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Cleaning and maintaining fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: fire stations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning the station and servicing kit is physical maintenance work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Taking action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: action, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Containing a chemical leak is hands-on work with the spill in front of you.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Extinguishing flames and embers to suppress fires
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: flames, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Putting flames out with a shovel, hose or pump is physical work at the fire.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Administering first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or providing emergency medical care
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: first aid, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance not publishedO*NET hasn't yet published importance ratings for this occupation's tasks, so the ordering here is ours, not theirs.
Source: “Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: First aid and life support are delivered by hand to a patient in front of you.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Operating pumps connected to high-pressure hoses
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: pumps, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · CoreSource: “Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Working a pump on high-pressure hoses is hands-on at the appliance.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Searching to locate fire survivors
staying humanThis work happens in the physical world: locate fire survivors, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance not publishedO*NET hasn't yet published importance ratings for this occupation's tasks, so the ordering here is ours, not theirs.
Source: “Search to locate fire survivors.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Searching smoke-filled rooms for people is physical work in a hazardous space.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
What this job pays, and how many people do it
- Median pay
- $59,280a year, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.bls-oews, 2025 · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
How we know this
Source: bls-oews
Reference period: May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
Rounding: Shown as published.
- People doing this job
- 345,990in the US, 2025.bls-oews · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.
Why this is shifting
The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: written reports in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: preparing written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where survivors get done. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.
Your move
Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend
Start with what does not change: rescuing survivors from burning buildings is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.
So, given all that: 3% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 0% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 97% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 30 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.
So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Preparing written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.
This week: one thing
Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to written reports, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.
- What you end up holding
- a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
- How long it takes
- ten minutes
If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether equipment, fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus are in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no license needed.
Over the next 90 days
Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near rescuing survivors from burning buildings. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.
Over the next 12 months
On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, use CareerOneStop - Find local training. It is free, it is the Labor Department's own service, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.
The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them
I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.
I checked the 12 nearest US occupations to firefighters (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers: only about 10% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 4/100 here, with only 3% of the task list in the top band, and “rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.
How that was checked: this job was compared against all 830 US occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.
3 moves I checked and rejected
These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using…, and their equivalent is to communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios. Across both published task lists that is about 10% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 10% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is…, and their equivalent is to instruct children about the dangers of fire. Across both published task lists that is about 9% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 9% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. And it is a narrow door: about 13,800 of those jobs against 345,990 of yours (OEWS May 2025), 4% as many seats.
Facilities Managers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, and their equivalent is to respond to medical emergencies, bomb threats, fire alarms, or intrusion alarms, following emergency…. Across both published task lists that is about 2% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 2% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
What I’d stop worrying about
A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.
The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 3% of its task weight, across 30 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like rescuing survivors from burning buildings arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.
You are reading the United States figures
The United Kingdom splits this work across more than one official group, of which Fire service officers (watch manager and below) is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.
Switch to the United Kingdom page →partial match
In UK official statistics this job is counted as Fire service officers (watch manager and below). Pay and employment stay on this page’s own group; the task list and the scores do not cross over.
Your route through this
Where to go next, and what it costs
Free, and complete
The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.
Anywhere in the US:
CareerOneStop - Find local training
Search what's running near you, from the Labor Department's own database, before anyone sells you a course.
Free to search; individual programs vary, and some are funded
Anywhere in the US:
An American Job Center will sit down with you for free. Find yours by ZIP code.
Free
Anywhere in the US:
CareerOneStop - Licensed occupations finder
Check what your state actually requires before you pay for anything.
Free
Anywhere in the US:
Free
Why there is no community here
Collab365, who build this site, run paid Spaces for a small number of subjects, and none of them is built for this job. We are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.
So the free services listed on this page are the whole answer, and it is the same answer we would give a friend.
Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for firefighters launches. Nothing else.
That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.
We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.
No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.
Questions people ask about this job
- Will AI replace Firefighters?
- Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 30 official task statements scored for Firefighters (United States, SOC 33-2011), 3% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 4 out of 100 (range 3–8, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
- Which tasks in “Firefighters” can AI already do?
- The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents” (66/100, high); “Inform and educate the public on fire prevention” (26/100, low); “Train new employees to control and suppress fires” (9/100, minimal). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
- Which tasks in “Firefighters” stay human?
- About 97% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Search to locate fire survivors” (0/100, minimal); “Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses” (0/100, minimal); “Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
- What should someone working in “Firefighters” do about AI?
- Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 3% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 97% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
- How is the AI exposure score for Firefighters calculated?
- Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 30 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.
Where these numbers come from
Worth knowing about these figures
- The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
- 5 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
- Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.
- Task statements
- onet-dbProcessing: catalogue-bridge → onet-im-rt-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
- Task weights
- onet-db (im-rt-with-imputed)
- Scores
- Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-04.
- Pay and employment
- bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))
Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.
The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.
The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.
Using these figures?
Cite this
Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.
Plain text
Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).
BibTeX
@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
title = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
author = {{Collab365}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
note = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published . Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.