Questions for veteran Firefighter.

[ballistic27]

I'm going for my Associates Degree in Fire Science at my local college and for my Intro to Fire course I need ask a veteran firefighter five questions. I would really appreciate if anyone could answer the questions below.

1. What is the most rewarding part of being a firefighter?

2. What is the hardest or least enjoyable part of being a firefighter?

3. Do you think there is a limit to how many specialties firefighters can be expected to handle effectively? If so, how many and what type?

4. What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a firefighter?

5. What was the most memorable incident you have been involved in?

Also, if it's not too much, would I be able to have your name and the F.D. you work for?

[Salman1]

1. The most rewarding part of being a firefighter is the satisfaction you get from helping someone out of an intolerable or bad situation and knowing that you didn't take the job for the money. It is really something when you can be in mixed company at any dinner or event and after various conversation's are going around the table, it seems no one is usually more interested in hearing from the financial advisors, medical doctors or lawyers etc. because it's about money most of the time...Our job, is about the people and the communities we help protect...

2. The hardest or least enjoyable part of the job can usually be the tragic effects of a bad situation or event that you strive to prevent or make better...and sometimes can't.

3. We don't have any particular specialities in my particular dept. although many are trained in various disciplines... but I think specific companies or units should specialize and stick to the training needed for that/those specialties. There is no room for mediocrity (sp?) or jack's-of-all-trades...Find something you're especially good at and stick with it...FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION!

4. My advice would be to research the true reason you are interested and find a department or area of the country that appeals to you as well as a department that would benefit by having you. The job has many ups and down's and you need to balance those to be successful at what you do, what you provide to the department that you are in and the family that you have...

5. I can't say that I have a particular most memorable moment because the career of a firefighter is the most memorable moment in my life next to the accomplishment's that my family has experienced together. Each event culminates into the next until it gets blurry sometimes but as time passes, each event becomes clearer and you have a lifetime to pause and reflect on each one as you remember it...

Good Luck on your degree and aspirations in life...You only get one lap around the track...make it and give it your best!

Christian Frezza
Manchester Fire Rescue EMS
Connecticut IAFF L1579

[ballistic27]

Thank you!

[fireman4949]

1. The most rewarding part of being a firefighter is the satisfaction you get from helping someone out of an intolerable or bad situation and knowing that you didn't take the job for the money. It is really something when you can be in mixed company at any dinner or event and after various conversation's are going around the table, it seems no one is usually more interested in hearing from the financial advisors, medical doctors or lawyers etc. because it's about money most of the time...Our job, is about the people and the communities we help protect...

2. The hardest or least enjoyable part of the job can usually be the tragic effects of a bad situation or event that you strive to prevent or make better...and sometimes can't.

3. We don't have any particular specialties in my particular dept. although many are trained in various disciplines... but I think specific companies or units should specialize and stick to the training needed for that/those specialties. There is no room for mediocrity (sp?) or jack's-of-all-trades...Find something you're especially good at and stick with it...FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION!

4. My advice would be to research the true reason you are interested and find a department or area of the country that appeals to you as well as a department that would benefit by having you. The job has many ups and down's and you need to balance those to be successful at what you do, what you provide to the department that you are in and the family that you have...

5. I can't say that I have a particular most memorable moment because the career of a firefighter is the most memorable moment in my life next to the accomplishment's that my family has experienced together. Each event culminates into the next until it gets blurry sometimes but as time passes, each event becomes clearer and you have a lifetime to pause and reflect on each one as you remember it...

Good Luck on your degree and aspirations in life...You only get one lap around the track...make it and give it your best!

Christian Frezza
Manchester Fire Rescue EMS
Connecticut IAFF L1579

Those are excellent answers! They reflect many of my own feelings about the "job" as well. ;)




I truly love knowing that I am in a position to be able to help people when they need it most.
It may not always be in the most spectacular way...Extricating a critical accident patient, pulling someone from a smoky fire, or resuscitating a victim in cardiac arrest.

Many times it is by being there when someone's world has suddenly turned upside down, and they need a calming voice to reassure them that, despite the current situation, I (we) are there to help them. Being able to provide a shoulder to cry on when tragedy strikes their loved one. Showing compassion and understanding, when they themselves can't even begin to understand what is happening to them. It is during these times that I believe the true character of a firefighter is most evident to the people we serve. That's when we are at our best...Helping others out of a sense of love of neighbor, not because it's "just a job".




To answer to your second question; (as was stated above) Not being able to be the "Heroes" as it were. Despite our best efforts, not being able to avert or alleviate people's suffering...

Trying to explain to the woman who couldn't awaken her husband of 40 years, that he died in his sleep sometime during the night.

Having to see the incredible grief in the eyes of the child who's parent lay dead in the front seat of the car they were just riding in.

Seeing the little girl in her pajamas, clinging to the teddy bear a fireman just gave her, as she stares at the smoldering remains of her home that burned to the ground.

All too often, I can't help but see the faces of those I love in the faces of the people we are trying to help, as I pray to God that my family will never be placed in that situation.




So far as special training goes, no single firefighter can be all things for all calls. However, cross-training between specialized skills and teams is not a bad thing. In fact, knowledge of various aspects of the fire service is a very desirable quality to have. Many, if not all of the special divisions are related and intertwined.
Fire Prevention, Communications, Haz-Mat, TRT, Advanced Extrication, EMS, USAR, etc. all have common threads. Most people will have one or two specific fields that may excel in, and most of their specialized training will concentrate on them.



The fire service is as much a calling as it is a career.

Decide what your motivations for a career are.
Are they financial? Are they for status? Or do you have a desire to make someone's life a little better, simply because you can?

While the pay is not too bad, you will never get rich being a firefighter.
On the other hand, there are very few careers that offer the anticipation, excitement, the challenges and the rewards of firefighting. Not to mention the incredible "Brotherhood" which firefighters share that is like no other in the world!

If you are serious about a career as a firefighter, I suggest talking to people that have been on the job a while to get plenty of insight into the service.
Then concentrate your education in that direction. The days of just a high school diploma being sufficient are lost and gone forever.




Every call we go to is different and unique. Some will make the 6 O'Clock News, and some will never be known of beyond the company that responded to to it.
To pick a "most memorable" call is a lot like choosing the most memorable thing your kids have ever done. It's very hard to do.

The tragic calls stand out because of the emotions they evoke. However the funny and ridiculous calls stand out as well.

What stands out most in my mind is the love firefighters have for each other and for the "job". Through thick and thin, good times and bad, we are always there for one another. Sometimes we piss each other off over the piddly crap, but when it comes right down to it, we'll always go to the wall for each other!




Lt./EMT Kevin Coffey
Tallahassee Fire Dept.
Tallahassee, Florida:D

[doughesson]

While trying not to sound like the grizzled veteran that I am NOT after only 2 1/2 years:



1. What is the most rewarding part of being a firefighter?Working together with people you don't see day in and day out as volunteers to put out a fire or get someone quality emergency medical help.

2. What is the hardest or least enjoyable part of being a firefighter?Having a bad call where someone dies,or has died regardless of if you were able to start treating them or if it mattered if you did at all.

3. Do you think there is a limit to how many specialties firefighters can be expected to handle effectively? If so, how many and what type?
Yes.I'm on a volunteer department with no guarantees on who'll respond but I think the paid department practice of having different units handle different calls is an excellent idea.Fire/EMS/Hazmat is enough for me,right now.

4. What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a firefighter?Go for it,get as much training as you can get and if you have the opportunity,pass on your knowledge by training up to be an instructor.

5. What was the most memorable incident you have been involved in?My first fire where I screwed up by dragging the 1,200 foot LDH off the tailboard when we had two 50' lengths to use for short hydrant runs.I STILL get ragged over that.

Also, if it's not too much, would I be able to have your name and the F.D.
you work for?Doug Hesson Reidland Farley Fire Protection District http://www.reidlandfarley.com (The website's a work in progress)