I have been in the fire service for 3 years now. I've seen a lot of shit in these short years from helping someone who just fell on the ground stand back up, to working major accidents with multiple deaths. The one thing I have come to realize during my time as a firefighter is that it is not a job...it's a calling. It takes a certain kind of good hearted person to be able to deal with the chaos of death, fire, accidents, stress, etc. You have to be quick, decisive, and calm under pressure. But most importantly, you have to be aware of your surroundings. You gotta look after yourself and your crew. You also have to be willing to put yourself in danger for some random stranger, that the building you are about to run into to drag some poor victim out may be the last building you ever enter.
I won't lie, it's a tough job to do. Nights are long, days are tough. No matter what the weather is like, if it's a holiday, or even just a weekend, when that call comes in and I jump in my rig with lights flashing and sirens blazing, I know that someone is in need and it is not only my duty but also my calling/destiny to help that person. There are times when the job is lonely (being away from home so much takes a toll on me since I am a fulltime single father also), but I wouldn't change it for the world. I love what I do and I know when my boy gets older, he'll be proud of me (he loves firefighters and firetrucks already lol). I love the rush and feeling I get when I make a difference in someone else's life. I don't do it to be called a hero. I do it cause it makes me feel good that I can do good in this world, which is full of hate and violence, and just simply help someone in need.
