thank you from private citizen

[crackerjack]

i would just like to start out by saying thank you to all firefighters and anyone else in related fields of service. people like you are an ispiration to us all. you are all true heros, and my heart goes out to you and all the victims. i have always dreamed of what it would be like to be a firemen. to be in such a noble proffesion must be a gratifying experience. unfortunately, i also realize that at times like this, it can also a be heartbreaking. i was born and raised in the field of construction (brick and block mason) and in the last year have been looking to get out. working with family can be rough sometimes, especially if you dont agree on how the company should be run. being the youngest at 29 yrs old, my opinion seems to get stepped on. anyway, i have tried other proffesions but just dont like being in an office, and more importantly, i dont get that satisfaction of having done something real with my work that i did with construction. watching this recent attack on us as a society and watching the brave response of people like you, has got me thimking i may have found something worth doing. i am hoping that you can help me with any info on what it takes to be a firemen. am i to old at 29? i would think not but i really dont know. i am a strong and intelligent man, with a highschool education, that could be of great service to my community. god bless you and god bless america.

[SFDSmokeEater]

Thank you for the kind words, but I cannot post myself as a hero. Heroes are those who go forward into battle, placing their personal needs aside for the good of others and do not return to their own families and friends when the job is over. The real heroes are the Veterans from Gettysburg to Pusan, from an apartment fire in Fraser to the WTC... all those that went and did not come back are Heroes!

As far as getting a job... you are probably not too old. Check out your local community college ans see if it has any fire science degrees. Also look into a local fire academy for you basic firefighter certification training for the state you live in. Also, the military has firefighting. Most departments have a cut off age of 35.
I hope this info helps.

SFDSmokeeater

[firedog11ku]

I agree with smokeater 100%. If you are really interested, start testing for departments. The more you test, the better your chances are. Get on with a volunteer department if you think that will give you a better idea of whether or not you will like it.