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Firefighters
put their lives on the line to save others. Like paramedics,
they must be ready to face anything when they arrive at the scene.
Most take turns staying overnight at the fire station in case of an urgent call for help.
Using heavy hoses and special equipment, firefighters battle smoke, scorching heat, and flames. Not only do they put out fires in forests and homes, but they also come to the rescue when there's a gas leak, a car accident...or even if a cat gets stuck in a tree!
So if you like physical challenges
and have plenty of courage, this could be the career for you.
Firefighters
can be many things such as:
Firefighter—As
a firefighter you often have to work for 24 hours straight or more.
The job is sometimes dangerous, especially when you need
to enter a burning building where the walls are caving in. But if the idea of racing into a blazing building gives you goosebumps, this could be a good job choice.
Fire
Marshals/Inspectors—Have a burning desire to help people prevent fires in the first place? Then being an inspector might light your fire. You'd make sure wiring is up to code in buildings and homes, and that the right tools (like fire extinguishers) are around to protect the property. You'd also travel to schools to teach kids about fire safety.
Smoke Jumpers—If jumping out of an airplane sounds exciting, this might be your job. Aside from the thrill of leaping from an airplane, you'd have to withstand
intense heat and work long hours. Depending on the severity
of the fire, wind conditions, and other factors, you could
be in the thick of the smoky forests for up to a week or two.
Interview
with a Firefighter: Todd Andrews
Todd has
loved fire trucks since he was about 8-years-old. It wasn't
just the fact that they were big or bright red that first
captivated him, but the best part was their wailing sirens.
"I
always stopped when I heard that noise, and watched them go
by."
Todd was
also intrigued with fire as a teen. Thankfully, he knew
to never play with matches, but he remembers sitting with
friends and family around the campfire, enjoying the colorful flames.
Later, after he graduated from high school, Todd
became plant manager in a local factory. But when the
factory threatened to close down, and he was soon to lose
his job, a friend—who is now a co-worker—approached
him.
"He
said I should check into becoming a firefighter."
And that's
exactly what Todd did. After completing
the state course, he became an official fireman. Though it's risky business, Todd looks back fondly at some of his most frightening experiences.
"One
of the worst fires we fought was at an elderly persons’
apartment complex. We crawled through, feeling our way, and
the ceiling was coming down on us. But the best part was my
buddy and I saved a lady who had collapsed on her back. We
found our way out, and toted her to safety."
Todd explains
that going into a burning building is an awesome rush, but
scary at the same time.
"It's
strange. Everyone else is running away from the building and
I can't wait to get in there."
But sometimes, by the time he and his fellow firefighters arrive on the scene, it's too late. "It's
hard because even if you save the people inside, most of the
time they lose everything they have."
Still,
Todd's proud of what he does, and doesn't mind endangering
his life for others. "I
do it because I love helping people and protecting my community," he says.
He also supplements his income by working as an EMT, and as a nurse tech at the hospital.
And what does he do in his spare time?
"I watch Emergency-51
and collect fire engines," he says.
In fact, Todd has over 100
different flashing, noisy toy fire trucks!
What You Can Do to Get Ready:
As in Todd's case,
you will definitely have to graduate from high school and
attend a state firefighting training. But in the meantime,
you might want to call your local fire department to volunteer,
or see if they have a junior firefighter program.
What it Pays:
The salary's probably
not enough reward for the risk, but as Todd knows, the
feeling of rescuing someone far outweighs
the pay. The average beginner firefighter can make a baseline
pay of around $9 per hour, while an engineer or fire marshal
can make as much as $30 per hour.
In Todd's case, he works
in a small community, so he gets paid strictly “on call”.
That means he’s compensated for the times he’s
actually on-the-job.
Other
Resources:
Another
Interview With A Firefighter: More job details and some
cool tips to get you going in the right direction.
Learn
The Ins & Outs of Firefighting: True stories of real
firefighters take you into the heat of
the action.
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