Firefighting is a competitive field. Thousands of candidates apply for the few posts of firefighters. Candidates having some additional degrees stand a better chance of being hired for this job. The fire science degree is an important asset for any candidate who has plans to apply for the fire department posts. A candidate with this degree has a higher chance of being selected for the job of a firefighter. It opens up many other career opportunities in the firefighting field. This degree program is offered by many colleges. There are both offline and online classes that students can attend to obtain this degree.

A student studying the fire science program learns why the fire starts and how to stop it. A professional trained in this subject is better equipped to deal with the fire emergencies. Students of this training program gain more knowledge about different types of fire accidents. It is especially useful for professionals who want to crack criminal cases of arsons. They have to sift through the rubble and find out how the fire was started. Their report is used as evidence in the court of law. Such reports reveal how the fire started, if it was started deliberately, the substance used to start it, the substances or materials that led to the spread of fire, and other such issues. It helps establish the culpability and prevent future fire incidents.

Individuals who have attended the fire science associate degree program receive introduction to the fire engineering, fire prevention, fire suppression, arson investigation, departmental leadership and code inspection. The applicant becomes prepared to take complete responsibility of the fire investigations. Candidates who have obtained this degree have a better knowledge of these subjects. They have a better prospect of passing highly competitive firefighter exams. They become eligible for many other posts of the firefighter department.

A fire science course can be a foundation for getting admission into more advanced firefighting related educational programs. Students having this degree can also work in the fields of consulting, management and teaching. A 2-year associate fire science degree course makes the student knowledgeable about the fundamental causes of fire. The person can find out the fire pattern of a fire incident and guess the expected pattern of an active fire. Their services and expertise are needed when dealing with the active fires in large buildings and forest. They can devise emergency tactics quickly based on their knowledge of fire science. They can predict with high accuracy where the fire is going to spread next, what will be its intensity, and how far it may spread before it is contained with the available firefighting resources. This subject covers some aspects of chemistry, physics, psychology and computer science.