The responsibilities of a firefighter extend far beyond simply responding to fire emergencies. At many departments, responding to medical calls or car accidents is the most frequent activity, and a routine shift might also entail dealing with hazardous materials, gas leaks, structural collapses, floods, ice storms, wild animals, or the myriad predicaments from which local residents need to be rescued. There's also a ton of training involved, since firefighting is a tactical, technical job that requires intense discipline under pressure. The profession attracts its share of adrenalin junkies primed for action, but many firefighters also love the camaraderie, the sense of patriotism that comes from serving a community, and the creativity that's sometimes needed to solve confounding problems in a hurry. This article provides everything students need to know about careers for firefighters--wages, responsibilities, skills needed, career advancement possibilities, and more.