What is the best part of being in the fire service to you?

[dammitangie]

I'm writing a research paper for a class (and to those of you who haven't heard from me in awhile, I'm only a month away from that first degree now), and I pose this question to you:

What do you feel are the benefits, perks, and overall best reasons to be a member of the firefighting and emergency services? It can be personal, financial, or anything else you wish to include. I really appreciate your help!

[EFD840]

Right now, it would be missing the end of the NASCAR race to go put out 3 acres of pine forest because a knucklehead just HAD to burn their brush pile this afternoon, despite the fact that the entire southern part of the state is under a fire alert and the added bonus today of 10-15 mph winds. Did I add it is the third time this year for these folks?

I knew I should have put a tape in the VCR!

[stm4710]

overall best reasons to be a member of the firefighting and emergency services?

Sifting through ashes to gather evidence to convict and lock up scum bag arsonists!

benefits, perksHmmm for personal perks..... haveing the cleanest,shinyest car around and getting out of tickets I would say are the best.

The best personal perk I can think of though is the one most of us share........a true love of "the job".:)

[hwoods]

I'm probably the only one to admit it, but I like running calls. Period. Any type of call. Fires. Floods. Rescues of ALL kinds. I must be hooked on adreneline and caffine, but regardless, I'm at my best when the pressure's on. I'm selfish I guess, but I'm doing this for me, because I like it, not for my community, not out of concern for others, not because "someone" has to do it, just because I love what I'm doing. I get bored VERY easily, I hate TV and movies, I can't sit still long enough to watch the whole thing, and most are so phoney that I get disgusted and get up and walk out. Probably not the info you want, but that's me. Stay Safe....

[Weruj1]

I too like running on all calls, when practical. I have been on job 17 yrs POC .......it really is about everything Harv says it isnt.......but I think he has to feel some of that as they all usually go hand in hand.

[firespec35]

I guess since I'm in a different area of the job, y'all gonna think my answers are off the wall. I like my job because We rarely, very rarely get to help right at the beginning of the new car design process to find any safety problems with the new models (ie a car has a fire on one of our tracks and maybe through the investigation we may find a design flaw and catch it before it goes to market. Like
I said rarely ever happens but it's great when it does.


As far as personal perks

Can't beat the money
Close to home
And It's overall just a cool job

[draco9]

As first, to give a little more sense to my life;
as second, I like to see the world in a deeper way than the usual; i am very curious.
ciao

[swede75]

Running calls, the friends at the house and the fact that allmost everything I do at work puts a big smile on my face and fils my body with joy :rolleyes: :p :D

[dammitangie]

Thanks for the warm welcome hwoods :) I know I've been gone for quite awhile. Thanks so much to all of you who have answered so far. I encourage you to ask your friends in the fire service and EMS to answer as well :)

I really appreciate the help! I'll probably wind up using the best responses as quotes in the research paper. If I choose yours, I'll let ya know. Thanks again!

[ullrichk]

There are so many things to like!

I like running calls, too. Just like hwoods, an AFA is just as good as a medical is just as good as a working fire. Any run is an opportunity to teach and to learn.

Speaking of teaching, I like teaching kids - especially the younger ones. Like kindergarten through second grade. Sooooo many questions and so little time. They can ask some of the strangest questions, but there's always a reason for it (usually a good one, if you can follow kid logic!).

I like just shooting the breeze at 0430 after a call, when it's too late to bother to go back to bed, but the rest of the world is still asleep.

I could go on, but I don't think I'm narrowing the field any for you!

Good luck with the paper.

[firegurl1849]

Im new to firefighting but I think it has nothing to do with money (even thought its nice) you cant put a price on saving a child from a burning building or hearing a heartbeat after everyone else thinks its over.
The smiles and the happyness that firefighters/EMS bring to the world is what makes me happy

Like a poster in my Department says:
Children dont want to grow up to be accountants! (sorry cant spell)

I love teaching children and seeing there smiles when they learn something new and if I can teach a child something that might save their lives then that makes me happy

[MalahatTwo7]

I have to agree with the teaching part, but mostly it's knowing that when we go out to help someone We do the best we can with a bad situation. In nearly all cases, those same persons are still upright with a heart beat, and that's what it's all about:

Helping others to get back into a normal, or almost normal life again after something bad that has happened to them.

At the end of the day, that's what I come away with, and its a good feeling.

[Medic162]

BROTHERHOOD

[StoveBolt]

Good Food and Day Time Runs .. SB (local 1355 retired)

[EastKyFF]

Watching the plume go from black to white--I love makin' steam. I even like it when it's not me getting to do it; I remember just a routine vehicle fire like that once when I was approaching in second engine and could see the first due was hitting it. Waaay up high the plume was still black, but the steam was taking over. Ahhhhhh.

I also like that satisfaction in the split second before you open the nozzle that says, "I'm about to hit this thing." That feels niiiiice. While I don't subscribe to the "Backdraft" school of "fire is alive, it's an animal, blah blah blah," I do feel like I'm putting it in its place when I spray water on it.

I think if we had to boil it down to a common denominator, we like creating order out of chaos. We like taking a situation that is creating its own destiny and forcing it to do what we want.

[ff7134]

I am in it for the Money:rolleyes: (Please Note: Sarcasm

I love setting around talking to the guys one minute...the next crawling in the bowels of hell to put the wet stuff on the red stuff. And I love the Brotherhood and the Traditions of the Fire Service.

[ndvfdjrff]

Definately the brotherhood and friendships you make through being in the Fire Dept...Knowing theres always someone there to talk to if you need to vent and that they know the same about you....Also the satisfaction of knowing you just made a difference in someones life...

Like others have said..I too like to run calls whether it be a medical or fire alarm sounding...The adreniline rush you get when the tones go is like no other.

[Drathe]

I remember when I would watch the Fire trucks go by, blues and twos screaming past to fade of into the distant crevices of the town. I was bearly taller than the wheel arch, looking up at the fire fighter who was looking back at me with a smile.

Now the sirens do not fade, I hear them whale all the way to those very places I never used to see. The blue lights flash and stain the walls as the the breeze from the open cab window plays my hair. That smell of soot and sound of reving diesel engine as I smile at the kid no taller than the wheel arch of the pump as we pass on route to a call.

I know now, as I am sure many of you do, that the smile is not one of a polite passing hello, but an unstopable warm raising of the corners of the mouth for pride in yourself, your crew and the good looking woman we are just about to pass.

Like the others said, I am all with them but to simpley ride the truck with a purpouse to be on there... simple things hard earned.

[NJFFSA16]

Originally posted by dammitangie

What do you feel are the benefits, perks, and overall best reasons to be a member of the firefighting and emergency services?

Best reason? Hands down.....saving lives.

[tanker5117]

Best reason? Hands down.....saving lives.

Ed, thats the best reason yet.


Tanker

[Flochief]

I like helping people. I like the Big Red Truck, I like helping my community. I feel like we (dept) has made a differnce in our community.