Protective ServicesO*NET: 33-2011.00
Will AI Replace Firefighters?
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.
36out of 100
Low Risk
AI Risk Score
36/100
Risk Level
Low
Job Zone
3/5
Medium
Total Tasks Analyzed
27
🤖 What AI Can Do
- â–¸Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- â–¸Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
- â–¸Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.
👤 What Requires Humans
- â–¸Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- â–¸Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- â–¸Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
- â–¸Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- â–¸Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
- â–¸Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (3)
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
- Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.
👤Requires Humans (11)
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
- Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
- Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
- Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
- Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.
- Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
- Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
âš¡AI-Assisted (13)
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
- 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.
- Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
- Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
- Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
Key Skills Analysis
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.88/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Related Occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
25/100 — Low Risk
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
35/100 — Low Risk
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
42/100 — Medium Risk
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
40/100 — Medium Risk
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
61/100 — High Risk
Future-Proof Your Career
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Firefighters have a low risk of AI replacement with a score of 36/100. This role requires significant human skills like creativity, empathy, and complex decision-making that AI cannot easily replicate.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research