"There are many aspects to firefighting that make someone great in their field. Continuing education and training consistently improve a Firefighter's skills. I think it is important to strive to be better constantly. I also strongly believe that empathy and compassion make a great Firefighter. We see individuals on their worst days, and we must be capable of putting ourselves in their shoes, trying to experience how they are feeling."

A great Firefighter is not simply one who uses the firefighting skills and knowledge they possess. While that is important, Firefighters must have soft skills that make the community trust them. They must have integrity, morals, interpersonal skills, sympathy, and excellent communication with the public and their crew. You should mention these soft skills in your response.

You should also avoid answering with a few characteristics that make a great Firefighter without expanding on the reasons why. For example, you should not say that experience and compassion make a great Firefighter and leave it at that. Instead, explain that great Firefighters must have training and experience responding to different types of emergencies. Firefighters are working with people experiencing crises, and they must show respect and empathy during these situations.

"I believe great Firefighters are honest, have a strong work ethic, are dependable, and have excellent interpersonal skills. Firefighters must be honest because their crew and the public rely on them and put their trust in them. They must work hard in the worst conditions and never give up. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential because they need to actively listen, be patient, communicate well, and use their problem-solving skills. In addition to these soft skills, years of experience, training, and being mentored by senior Firefighters make a great Firefighter."