Will AI replace Firefighters?

AI can do 13% of the work Firefighters do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 3 of them. Robots can technically handle 8 physical tasks. 19 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next3 · 13% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.7% of time
  • Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.3% of time
  • Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.3% of time

Robots can technically do this8 · 24% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.Robots: purpose built settings14% of time
  • Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time
  • Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.Robots: purpose built settingsunder 1% of time

Still needs a person19 · 63% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.16% of time
  • Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.10% of time
  • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.7% of time
  • Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.7% of time
  • Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.6% of time
  • Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.4% of time
  • Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.1% of time
  • Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.1% of time
  • Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.1% of time
  • Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.1% of time
  • 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.1% of time
  • Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.1% of time
  • Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.1% of time
  • Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.1% of time
  • Train new employees to control and suppress fires.1% of time
  • Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.under 1% of time
  • Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.under 1% of time
  • Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.under 1% of time
  • Search to locate fire survivors.under 1% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI or today's robots. Most tasks depend on hands, presence or people skills.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 3 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 8 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 19 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Fire Inspectors and Investigators45%Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists62%School Bus Monitors16%Bailiffs17%Fish and Game Wardens23%Animal Control Workers26%

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