Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James today announced the release of revised job standards for thousands of federal fire fighters in recognition of their expanded role in providing emergency medical services and hazardous materials response to protect government employees, military personnel and their families on military bases and at Veterans Administration Medical Centers across the country.

"Federal fire fighters provide professional preventive and emergency services of the highest caliber for American men, women and children on federal facilities and military installations across the country," said OPM Director Kay Coles James. "With the issuance of standards, we recognize the significant contributions fire fighters make to our national security as first-responders, especially since 9/11."

The revised Position Classification Standard for the Fire Protection and Prevention Series (GS-0081), which applies to structural fire fighters, recognizes the real-life duties and inherent dangers of this professional cadre of employees across the country. The new standard likely will result in salary increases for approximately 2,500 employees in grades GS-5 through GS-7. The last changes to the fire fighter series had been made in 1991.