5 Career Options in Fire Science

5 Job Options in Fire Science

• Firefighter
• Forensic Science
• Emergency Medical Services
• Law Enforcement
• Fire Inspection and Investigation

There are various career and job options to graduates with a fire science degree. While we typically think of firefighters when we hear the words “fire science”, this degree prepares the candidate for various types of jobs other than just firefighting. Earning a fire science degree can open doors to jobs in forensic science, emergency management, law enforcement, and homeland security, among others. Fire science professionals can also transfer to other areas. Here are five career options in fire science.

1. Firefighter

Firefighter is one of several career options in fire science and is probably the career choice most often considered by graduates of a fire science degree. The main duty of firefighters is to put out fires and respond to emergencies where people or things are at risk, but they also have many other duties. These include conducting physical fitness training; finding and rescuing victims in emergencies; driving emergency vehicles; treating injured or sick people, and maintaining emergency equipment. Although the increasing number of safety regulations and building codes has cut down on the number of fires, firefighter are still in demand to help fight fires, save buildings and save lives according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Forensic Science

In terms of exciting career options in fire science, forensics just might be at the top of the list. Forensic science technicians are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in fire science as well as specializations in forensic science. Forensic science professionals use their knowledge of forensics and fire science to help solve crimes such as who started fires, how they were started and similar investigative work. Forensic science professionals are often asked to provide their expertise as witnesses in court cases. With additional training, forensic science professionals may advance to become lab directors.

3. Emergency Medical Services

Emergency medical services is an important area of fire science. Individuals working in emergency medical services are the medical professionals who often have the task of providing emergency medical services to patients in fires and accidents. Students in a fire science program also obtain emergency medical services training to make them qualified to work as emergency medical technicians. EMTs may work for fire departments, ambulance services or even in hospitals. Many fire departments require emergency medical service providers to be on call at the fire department.

4. Law Enforcement

Graduates of fire science degree programs may begin their careers working for fire departments, then obtain some law enforcement training and become law enforcement agents, which might include police officers, deputies, fish and game wardens, detectives, sheriff and patrol officers. Fire science graduates working in law enforcement are multi-trained professionals and assets to their employers because of their advanced training. Law enforcement professionals with a fire science degree typically experience excellent career growth, salaries and benefits.

Related Resource: 25 Best Affordable Fire Science Degree Programs

5. Fire Inspection and Investigation

Candidates with a fire science degree may start their careers as firefighters but often advance to become fire inspectors and investigators. Their duties go beyond fighting fires because they are also in charge of inspecting the area where the fire took place and investigating how the fire was started. Individuals with a fire science degree who want to become fire inspectors or investigators typically have education in fire suppression as well as criminal investigations.

Whether an individual is working as a firefighter, police officer, EMT or some other job in emergency management, he or she will be working at a career that’s exciting, stimulating and very rewarding because the individual is helping others. With so many career options in fire science upon earning the fire science degree, it’s little wonder that this field is so popular.