| I am a firefighter with a municipal fire department | | | | this type of camaraderie. Very few people get to |
| and my name is Tom. I love my job. I have had | | | | experience this in their lives. |
| a lot of different jobs before I became a | | | | I could go on all day about why I like being a |
| firefighter, and none of them even come close to | | | | firefighter. It is a truly great job. |
| being as cool as a fire job. | | | | With every good thing, there is also a downside. I |
| Here are some of the things that I love about the | | | | believe many firefighters cannot comfortably talk |
| fire service, and I am sure if you become a | | | | about what has bothered them during their |
| firefighter, you will also appreciate them. | | | | career, but here are a few things I could do |
| I get to help people. There is a certain satisfaction | | | | without. |
| I get from knowing that my entire job is to help | | | | Getting up in the middle of the night to go on calls |
| other people during the times when they need | | | | after reaching a deep sleep. Firefighters have to |
| the most help. It gives me a sense of importance. | | | | go from a deep sleep to thinking clearly and |
| I love knowing this. | | | | making life saving decisions in about 30 seconds. |
| I get a lot of time off. Since I work for 24 hours | | | | This can be hard and stressful on the body, and |
| at a time, I get to have two entire days off after | | | | burdensome to the mind. |
| every shift. This is often in the middle of the | | | | Getting puked, peed on. 90% of the calls most |
| week when everybody else is at work. This | | | | firefighters go on are medical. Sometimes during |
| affords me time to do many things that other | | | | medical calls, it just isn't pretty. Patient's can smell |
| people cannot do because they are tied up | | | | really bad and be discharging anything you can |
| working 9 to 5 everyday. | | | | imagine, and you still have to help them, you can't |
| Women like firefighters. No explanation needed. | | | | say, "no thanks, I think I will sit this one out." |
| Every shift is a new adventure. Having each work | | | | Seeing dead people. Inevitably you are going to |
| day different from the last keeps things fresh, | | | | see many people who didn't survive the events |
| and makes you look forward to the unknown | | | | you get called to. |
| challenges that lie ahead. | | | | Seeing children hurt or abused. |
| I work and share 1/3 of my life with great | | | | Telling people their loved one has not survived. |
| co-workers. There is a reason that firefighters | | | | A friend of mine who is a fire lieutenant and has |
| refer to people they work with as brothers and | | | | been for many years said this about the fire |
| sisters. It is because after spending such a large | | | | service, "this is the best, worst, part time, full |
| amount of time with the other person, they | | | | time job you will ever have" I couldn't agree |
| become like another family member to you. I love | | | | more. |