Firefighters

Article by Pecolia Winfield, Andrea Brooks, Naz Green and Kalesia Spain

Published in Spring of 2023

A firefighter's job is not all stress-free and safe. Let's learn about the misconceptions and the profession of firefighters. Our groups chose to learn about firefighters because they really do more than just fight fires. We want more people to know more about firefighters and appreciate them more because they’re really important in our everyday lives in ways that many don't consider.

One misconception about firefighters is that they only respond to calls for fires. In reality, they really do a lot more than that. In Hopewell, our firefighters serve as local Emergency Medical Services. They respond to car accidents, treat sick or injured people, and treat hazardous spills such as gas leaks. An example happened at our school this year when we had a suspected gas leak. The fire department came and checked everything out and didn't let us in until they knew we were safe. Fire marshall Gomes even told us that the fire department used to be used as hearses.

The primary role of the firefighter is to respond to community emergencies and to help and assist others. Whether they are responding to a medical emergency or a structure fire with people trapped, the firefighter's role is to be prepared to assist anybody that needs help. Gomes also explained that 85% of what Hopewell's fire department does falls under EMS, and they work 24-hour shifts with 48 hours off between them. Most don't realize the toll that firefighting and EMS work can have mentally. Gomes explained that we are just now starting to make progress on the mental health challenges associated with that work and said that as of now, "I expect we lose more to suicide than fires."

Firefighters go above and beyond and put others before themselves to do their job and make sure everybody is safe and out of harm's way.