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Firefighter Resume Template & Examples (+Writing Tips)

You’ve got the best career in the universe and the camaraderie is off the charts. But how can you get hired? Use this professional firefighter resume template to show your skills.

Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Career Writer at ResumeLab
Firefighter Resume Template & Examples (+Writing Tips)

Below, you’ll see a station-worthy firefighter resume template.

But—

It’s hard to get a firefighter job. Like, HAZMAT-fire-hard.

The team won’t let just anybody in. Their lives depend on you. They’ve got to know you can handle the pressure before they hire you.

You can prove it to them with the right firefighter resume. In a moment you’ll see you how to write yours fast.

In this guide:

  • A firefighter resume template better than most.
  • How to write a firefighter resume that gets noticed like a PASS.
  • How to prep the perfect firefighter job description.
  • Why you can’t just list firefighter skills (and what to do instead).

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder for free. Start by choosing a resume template.

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I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.”
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My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
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Don’t need a resume for firefighter jobs? See our guides:

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples.

Firefighter Resume Template You Can Copy and Use

Don Hiltz

Firefighter & EMT

Personal Info

Phone: 512-739-9410

Email: donzhiltz@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/donzhiltz

instagram.com/donzhiltz

twitter.com/donzhiltz

Summary

Dedicated firefighter with 6+ years of experience in emergency response and side work. Seeking to provide safe, efficient rescue, cleaning, and maintenance at Fire Station 22. At Fire Station 20, responded to 15+ calls weekly for collisions and fires.

Experience

Firefighter & EMT

Austin Fire Station 20

2015–2020

  • Responded to 15+ calls per week for fires, collisions, and medical emergencies, providing fire suppression & First Aid.
  • Received the "Silver Toilet" Award—a joke award for doing the most dirty work around the station without complaint.
  • Appeared and spoke at local schools and youth fairs about fire safety.
  • Trained 15 volunteer firefighters in fire suppression, safety, fire behavior, victim rescue, and fire hose and equipment care.
  • Conducted 10 media appearances as public education outreach.

Key Achievement:

  • Awarded the Medal of Merit for helping to extract a victim from a rollover collision and fire while off duty.

Volunteer Firefighter

Jollyville Volunteer Fire Department

2014–2015

  • Responded to 2 calls per week for fires and vehicle collisions.
  • Maintained 95% KPI scores from Chief in all graded areas, including cleaning, maintenance, documentation, and emergency response.
  • Cleaned and maintained the equipment, vehicles, and station house, including pumper trucks, quints, and initial attack trucks.

Education

Basic Fire Suppression Certification, TCF 

Texas Fire Academy

2014–2015

  • Recognized by instructors for speed and attention to detail.

BA Business Administration

Rice University

2010–2014

  • Commended by professors for work ethic.
  • President, student weightlifting club.

Additional Activities

  • Member, NFPA.
  • Fundraised $5,000+ through organizing annual Fireman's Ball.
  • Volunteer builder, Habitat for Humanity.
  • Built solid IT skills thanks to school job in IT.
  • Deliver meals 2x per month for Meals on Wheels.

Hard Skills: pump operator, emergency medical response, leadership, vehicle repair

Soft Skills: interpersonal skills, cool under pressure, teamwork, communication

Here’s how to write an on-deck firefighter resume:

1. Start with a Clean Firefighter Resume Format

It’s go-time.

You don’t fight fires with olive oil.

And you don’t apply for jobs with resume formatting that is poor.

To get past the first HR hurdle and get hired—

Use these tips:

Firefighter Resume Format

Expert Hint: Writing a wildland firefighter resume? Showing past work in the forestry or agricultural fields can be a big boost. Also, any kind of outdoor recreation job or bioscience gets you off to a flying start.

2. Write a Firefighter Resume Objective or Summary

Every second counts.

Don’t make the chief waste time hunting reasons to hire you.

Your firefighter resume needs its key points right up top.

So—

Write a blazing job objective or job summary.

Add:

  1. An adjective (hard-working, efficient)
  2. “Firefighter”
  3. Years of experience (1+, 5+)
  4. Who you’ll help and how (provide efficient rescue & cleaning at Fire Station 22)
  5. Best firefighter resume accomplishments(responded to 15+ calls weekly)

See these firefighter resume examples:

Firefighter Resume Summary—Example

Good Example
Dedicated firefighter with 6+ years of experience in emergency response and side work. Seeking to provide safe, efficient rescue, cleaning, and maintenance at Fire Station 22. At Fire Station 20, responded to 15+ calls weekly for collisions and fires.
Bad Example
Experienced firefighter, skilled in emergency response and rescue. Can respond to all types of calls in an efficient and safe manner, including fires and vehicular collisions. Also, willing to chip in and clean the station and vehicles.

Either of those works.

But the first of those firefighter resume samples gets real with specifics.

“Well just a second there, perfessor. Maybe that works for a battle-hardened chief. What about a newbie fresh out of fire suppression school?”

You’ve still got great options. See these entry-level resume samples for firefighter jobs:

 Firefighter Resume Objective—Template

Good Example
Efficient firefighter with Firefighter I certification and skills in custodial work and driving. Seeking to do more than my fair share of work at Station 20. Responded to 2+ calls per week as volunteer firefighter at the Jollyville Volunteer Fire Department.
Bad Example
Entry-level firefighter with skills in pump operation and confined space entry. An asset on emergency calls who is cool under pressure and an expert at teamwork and communication. Also, skilled in vehicle repair and maintenance.

Neither of those will burn you.

But the first of those entry-level firefighter resume examples with no experience adds proof.

Why did we emphasize “more than my fair share of work?”

Because Chiefs hire hard workers—not heroes.

3. Customize Your Firefighter Job Description and Skills

What skills are required in a resume for firefighter jobs?

Check out this list of skills for a resume:

Firefighter Resume Skills

Hard Skills

Soft Skills

Qualified Pump Operator

Interpersonal Skills

Driving Skills

Teamwork

Swiftwater Rescue

Honesty

Vehicle Maintenance

Leadership

Computer Skills

Communication

Light Carpentry

Physically Fit

Cleaning and Custodial

Problem Solving

Inventory Management

Time Management

Sprinkler Specialist

Perception

Electrical Work

Listening

But slow it down—

Don’t spray them all onto a resume for firefighter jobs. That’s obvious.

Custom-fit your resume with resume keywords found in the job description.

These firefighter resume samples show how:

Let’s say you’re applying to a job that needs skills in collision response, cleaning, and training.

Firefighter Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

Good Example

Experience

Firefighter & EMT

Austin Fire Station 20

2015–2020

  • Responded to 15+ calls per week for fires, collisions, and medical emergencies, providing fire suppression & First Aid.
  • Received the "Silver Toilet" Award - a joke award for doing the most cleaning and dirty work around the station without complaint.
  • Trained 15 volunteer firefighters in fire suppression, safety, fire behavior, victim rescue, and fire hose and equipment care.

Key Achievement:

  • Awarded the Medal of Merit for helping to extract a victim from a rollover collision and fire while off duty.
Bad Example
  • Responded to calls for fires and medical emergencies, providing fire suppression & First Aid.
  • Operated pumper and initial attack apparatus.
  • Administered medical care, including first aid and CPR.
  • Appeared and spoke at local schools and youth fairs about fire safety.
  • Conducted 10 media appearances as public education outreach.

Hmm...

Both those firefighter resume examples impress. But—

The second drops out the metrics and the skills they want.

Next—

Are you an entry-level firefighter?

Entry-level resumes can work like a Clean Agent system.

See these resume for firefighter jobs examples with no experience. They’re for an opening that wants cleaning, maintenance and documentation skills.

Volunteer Firefighter Resume Job Description [Sample]

Good Example

Volunteer Firefighter

Jollyville Volunteer Fire Department

2018–2019

  • Responded to 2 calls per week for fires and vehicle collisions.
  • Maintained 95% KPI scores from Chief in all graded areas, including cleaning, maintenance, documentation, and emergency response.
  • Cleaned and maintained the equipment, vehicles, and station house, including pumper trucks, quints, and initial attack trucks.
Bad Example

Retail Associate

The Look Clothing

2015–2020

  • Managed 7 tables per shift.
  • Opened and closed store. Took out trash.

Want a tip?

The second of those entry-level firefighter resume samples could add firefighter skills. Think teamwork, communication, efficiency, and work ethic.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

4. Pump up Your Education Section

How much education do you need in a resume for firefighter positions?

It’s not how much.

It’s how you show it.

Your resume education section needs firefighter skills.

Take a look at this freelance firefighter resume sample:

Firefighter Resume Sample—Education

Good Example

Education

Basic Fire Suppression Certification, TCFP

Texas Fire Academy

2014–2015

  • Recognized by instructors for speed and attention to detail.

BA Business Administration 

Rice University

2010–2014

  • Commended by professors for work ethic.
  • President, student weightlifting club.

Sizzle!

That applicant didn’t just get a degree. She’s fast, detail-oriented, a hard worker, and a good leader.

Do that with your firefighter resume and you’ll get noticed like a tot finder.

Expert Hint: According to research by Fire Rescue 1, 70% of career firefighters work in towns or cities with 25,000 or more residents. If you’re having trouble finding work, consider looking in a more populated area.

5. Add Bonus Sections to Your Firefighter Resume

Consider this:

The chief wants someone great to work with.

How can he tell if that’s you?

By checking out what you’ve done besides work.

So—put a bonus section in your resume for firefighter jobs.

Choose from:

See these firefighter resume examples:

Firefighter Resume—Other Sections

Good Example

Additional Activities

  • Member, NFPA.
  • Fundraised $5,000+ through organizing annual Fireman's Ball.
  • Volunteer builder, Habitat for Humanity.
  • Built solid IT skills thanks to school job in IT.
  • Deliver meals 2x per month for Meals on Wheels.
Bad Example

Additional Activities

  • CrossFit
  • Running

Both examples work.

But the second of those firefighter resume samples isn’t bombproof.

It’s better to say, “Stay in shape through weekly running and CrossFit.”

Then add other pursuits that show firefighter skills.

Expert Hint: Do you know how to write a cover letter for your resume for firefighter jobs? Talk about your passion for firefighting, but also show your top few wow-getting accomplishments.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Some cover letter examples that may be useful to you:

Key Points

Here’s how to write a firefighter resume:

  • Start with a firefighter resume template. Arm it with your best emergency-response moments.
  • Add firefighter skills like pump apparatus driving or vehicle maintenance. Quantify your talents with percents or numbers of calls.
  • Write a firefighter resume objective that turns a klieg light on your best attributes.
  • Include a few bonus items like an NFPA membership or volunteer work.

Got questions on how to write good resumes for firefighter jobs? Not sure how to put firefighter on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply! 

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

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Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.

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