Why did you become a firefighter?

[firefly37]

Its a preety simple question really. But why?

The major reason I'm looking for this is recruiting of younger (16-20) firefighters in our area for our volunteer company. Some of our guys are getting older and not a lot of good fresh blood is coming in.

Thanks for your help in advance
firefly37

[Tom Lafleur]

My dad was a call ff for 37yrs. I started running with him when I was 15. By the time i was 18, when i could join i knew the job prety well. Been at it for 33 yrs. hopefully one of my kids will take my place.

[Kramer1075]

The reason i joined the fire department was bewcause my dad has been on the job for 29 years. I always liked going to see him at the firehouse. I joined a volunteer department about 1 1/2 years ago. I started out as an explorer. I love being a firefighter. I like the rush i get when the tones go off. I love hearing the federal and the air horns. I like the fire service because you never know if in 10 seconds you are going to a fire or to a person trapped in an elevator. I like the feeling of uncertanity. I am always thinking about scenorios in school, at home, at the firehouse, in bed, every where I am. Thats why I think I'm prepared for evrything I encounter. Currently I am 15 years old and am the Chief of my explorer post.

[ksFIRE]

I joined my local Volunteer Fire Dept. one year ago because I see it as a way to help your fellow man and have a fun time doing it. I am 15 yeas old and Captain of my Explorer Division. I love to go to our weekly meetings for the training we do that helps me learn what I need to know to do well as a firefighter. In everything we do wrecks, fires, etc. I always learn somthing and thats what makes it so cool. You never know what to expect because no two fires are alike. It keeps you on your toes

----------------
ksFIRE
NC

[This message has been edited by ksFIRE (edited September 12, 1999).]

[DLewisARFM]

Hello -

Didja' ever want to be a firefighter when you were a child?

What are some of your earliest childhood recolections of firefighters?

Did you play with toy fire engines or perhaps even pretend games of “fireman”?

Why do you think popular American society associate young children, (especially boys), with wanting to be firefighters?

Indeed do children look upon firefighters as role models and objects of aspiration, and if so why? These are the central questions to be addresses in the traveling museum exhibition tentatively entitled "Didja' Ever Want To Be a FIREMAN?"

I am currently collecting artifacts and information for, "Didja' Ever Want To Be a FIREMAN?" and I need YOUR help. . . .

An "on-line" survey has been posted on the Fire Museum Network's web site along with more detailed information on the project and a brief summary of my research to date. Please take a moment to fill out the survey, and peruse the related information. Any comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, would be greatly appreciated!

The info is posted at:

<A HREF="http://www.firemuseumnetwork.org/didja.html">Didja Ever Want To Be A FIREMAN?</A>
<A HREF="http://www.firemuseumnetwork.org/didja.html">www.firemuseumnetwork.org/didja.html</A>


Thanks for your assistance. — David Lewis —


[This message has been edited by DLewisARFM (edited September 27, 1999).]

[firefly37]

DLewisARFM,

I filled out the survey. I'm glad to help. Have you posted this somewhere else on Fire House so more people will see it. Maybe the Fireman's forum. I think more people will see it there.

I'm was soon going to repost my question. Just haven't had a chance.

Firefly

[Tiger]

Do you want to know why most people really become firefighters?

Check out the Volunteers Corner article in the September 99 issue of Fire Engineering titled: The volunteer fire service as "Deep Play" by Carl Wesler.

If that's not the real answer, they're probably in it for the wrong reason.



------------------
Tiger Schmittendorf
tiger@onscenemarketing.com
OnScene Marketing Services
"Mutual Aid for Marketing Your Fire Department"
www.onscenemarketing.com
716.549.2885

[firefly37]

Tiger,

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

Firefly

[StLRes2cue]

bringing it out of the depths.... BUMP !

[avfdjunior05]

The reason I want to be a firefighter isn't because my dad or anyone else was a firefightter but only because my dad told me that everyone should do their part to give back to America. Firefighting has always been an interest of mine and I figure if you can save a house from burning down or maybe even saving some people I'm definetly giving back to America. Please don't get me wrong being a firefighter is SOOOOO AWESOME!!! I wouldn't have it any other way...But that's the reason why I became a firefighter.

[ewelk33]

Pay Days & 4 Days! HA!!

[ScottH214]

goin 100 feet in the air,cleanin up after a boiler blew up,gettin young kids interested in the tools the truck has.sitting 15 feet from a fully involed building with a handline,dispatching, learning something new

[cwwarriors81]

I need to know what fire departments in Illinois have Explorer Posts so I can join. I wanna be a firefighter bad!!!

[stm4710]

Someday after highschool I want to be a firefighter so I can have the chief sign a light permit and then work 4 paper routes to go to town with the Galls catalog.

I want to have the best dam Huffy and ride to calls with my turnout gear on. And I will have a LED dashlight on my bike and all my freinds will think I am cool when I get my license and show up to prom in my explorers class A uniform cause I will have the best powder blue and bondo 81' Honda CRX with a nice $2000 light package.

I cant wait for the day I pull over some Harley riders in my turnout gear cause they threw a ciggeratte and its dry brush season.

[Jodie130]

Um.........okay

[Tooanfrom]

Wages--it was only after a couple of years in the job, doing what I was paid for that I realised ---I WAS A HERO!
And if those misunderstood terrorists(oops-sorry) freedom fighters the IRA, had killed me--- a bloody dead hero.

[ENG4RillA]

I wanted to be a firefigther ever since I was a little kid. The first time the fire department came out for fire pervention week. They would come pull the fire alarm and then we would go out and look at the truck. Ever since I was able to remember it was a dream to be a firefighter helping people out in what ever way I could. It is all I have right now and I am glad that I am able to help my community out!
Stay Safe
Tom

[tbwarrior]

jodi wtf is that supposed to mean???? Thats not a correct statement. I live in a pretty good size town with 4 fire dpts. We have tons of calls a year but the town doesnt have enough money to be able to have a paid fire dept. so r u saying that because we are a volunteer service, we dont make a difference??? and if u mean like a volunteer ff who has training then u should change it so it makes sense otherwise that is a ridiculous statement to make. Sry if u think its a good "quote" but it is quite unnecessary!

[cgerdes97]

Well... I enlisted in the Air Force as an Aeromedical Evac Squad, but they didn't have any availablity, so I put Firefighter as like my last choice. Turns out, they gave me my last choice on my dream sheet. After completing the Fire Academy, I found a passion for the job. Now that I have been serving (both my country and community) for 2 years, I love it more and more everyday. I definetally want to join on a municipal/county civilian department once my Air Force term is up... even if I have to start at the bottom again, it doesn't bother me.

[shvfr4]

i joined, b/c i knew i liked to help people and i like trucks...and 2+2=4

[mgvfdjrff]

I joined the fire department cause my mom was already in it for a little more than a year. I had started going to the station around October of 2003 & I've been there ever since. Our Junior program didn't really start till January of 2004. Overall, it's been a great experience. Every program will have it's downfalls I guess, but I don't think I'll be able to just give any of it up. Not anytime soon anyways.

[doughesson]

Didn't start out to be a firefighter.
Became one in the Navy on my ship's Inport Mobile Repair Party and learned about firefighting when you have to be the fire department as well as a sailor watching the open sea go by.
I got on my volunteer department two years ago while looking for a job.I didn't realize at the time that it wasn't a paid on call but by then I was in it enough not to back down from it.
I guess now,my reason for joining is to "be the best that I can be",even if my Navy recruiter,ironically from here,is our next cardiac call if he reads this.

[swimgrl5889]

I just joined my FD in july, im a junior memeber. I joined cuz my cousin did it since he was 16.. hes 23 now nad in the army. But most of all because i've had a few friends die becasue of house fires or becasue of some type of medical emergency where they died in the ambulence. i wanted to be able to help ppl like them and make sure that no one else loses anymore friends or family.

[TJMiller]

I've known since I was five...haha I was one of those little girls who's friends all wanted to be ballerinas and princesses and I would just say I want to be a "firefighter and a paramedic!"

It really started to set in when I was attacked as a teenager, the police officer was very cold, one of those who just wants his report written and get the guy in handcuffs. I was in very bad shape and I just remember being in the back of an ambulance and the paramedic was extremely gentle and he kept telling me that everything would be okay. Since that day I knew I wanted to be there for people who had something horrible and life changing happen to them. To be the first person they come in contact with after a tragedy, can change everything.

[mgvfdjrff]

My mom used to be a volunteer firefighter. Right now she's going to AIT for the Army. In October of 2003, that's when I first started coming up to the station. I started getting really interested in it & stuff, but at the time there was no Junior Firefighting program available. In January of 2004, we started a program & I've been with it ever since. Since then, several other stations in our county have also started Junior programs.

[Dave1983]

So I could sit around with the boys, play cards, drink beer then drive a big red truck real fast, blow through stop lights and make ALOT of noise. And dont forget the babes, babes like firemen:D









;)

[lenny91]

Being a firefighter wasn't something I had always wanted to do. About 10 years ago, myself and 6 of my friends joined our local dept. because they were down to 10 or 12 guys, and the dept was falling apart. We figured if we didn't do it, nobody else was going to. Now that we have gotten into it, we all really enjoy it.

[pfd4life]

And dont forget the babes, babes like firemen

AND HOW!!!!

My favorite run to date is when I did a ride-a-long with a friends company..location..alarms off at a strip club. We did a THOUROUGH investigation.