What It's Like to be a Firefighter

Being a firefighter is difficult, frustrating, brave, and selfless. My dad is a firefighter, and he loves it so much that he puts other people before himself. He has been a firefighter ever since my oldest brother was born and to prove how long that is, my brother is now 17 years old. When my dad was younger, he always dreamed of being a firefighter and now he is wonderful and amazing at his job. 

A Call

Last Christmas, my dad went on a structure fire call, which is a call about a building or house on fire. When my dad got on the call and arrived at the fire, he saw smoke coming out of the windows. When they have a house fire, they have to go on top of the roof and cut holes through the roof because they need to get all the smoke and hot gases out of the house, so it can be easier for the firefighters. The cause of the fire was because of a real Christmas tree catching on fire because it wasn't watered. After the fire, they need to stay there and help clean up all the ashes and wood from the house. Moral of the story: always water your real tree. 

Free time

Firefighters don’t always get a call every second they are at work, so that means they get to do things around the station. They get to work out, clean the truck, get things ready for the next call, or go to the store to get groceries so they can make their lunches and dinners. They can also watch TV or just clean up and relax for a while. They have a hangout room, and they call it the “day room.” They have rocking chairs and a big TV, so they can relax, or even sometimes they just fall asleep on the chairs. The firefighters always want to be in the day room because they are always tired after a big call. 

Patience 

Patience is an essential quality for every firefighter, guiding them through the unpredictable and often chaotic emergency response. It allows firefighters to stay calm under pressure, think clearly, and make deliberate decisions even when lives are on the line. Whether waiting for the right moment to advance into a burning structure, carefully assessing a dangerous scene, or supporting victims in distress, patience ensures that firefighters must trust one another and move in coordinated steps rather than rushing ahead. In a profession where seconds are a virtue, but a critical tool for keeping communities and firefighters themselves safe.

Training

Training is the foundation of a firefighter’s readiness; it helps them become better at being a firefighter. When firefighters train, they get to practice everything, like putting out fires and more. Physical training is learning more about how to climb a lot of stairs with equipment and gear, carrying the heavy hoses, and being able to aim where to get the fire out, and practicing rescue lifts. Fire behavior is when the firefighters have to understand how the fire can spread quickly and easily, the smoke patterns, and different types of fires. Teamwork is also an important thing for firefighters, learning how to communicate better, trust, and coordinate movements during emergencies. 

Sacrifice

Firefighters show sacrifice every day by putting the safety of others above their own. Risking their own lives, they enter burning fires to go save other people and make sure they don’t suffer in the burning building. The buildings can collapse or explode, and toxic smoke fills the air. Firefighters are always there to help us before anything worse could happen. Firefighters often sacrifice their own lives to save others. 

You can now see what it is like to be a firefighter and how hard and complicated it is. My dad has to work hard every day and go help save people's lives. It is awesome to know that my dad goes to work almost every day, knowing he is helping people more and more over the years. 

Written By: Madeline Arias

Editted By: Arya Sladen-Suarez

Photos By: Madeline Arias