Job Description

Firefighter

Have you ever considered having endless sleepovers, eating every meal, and having endless adventures with your best friends? Well, that is the life of a firefighter. It's not just about the tasks but our solid bonds and camaraderie. If that doesn't pique your interest, I do not know what will because who doesn't enjoy nightly pillow fights with their best friends?

A firefighter is a brave person who protects people and properties by responding to emergencies. I am almost positive you have seen them saving cats from a tree or blaring their sirens as they drive by your urban home. But I can assure you there are far more things we must do daily beyond what an Adam Sandler movie portrays. People quickly notice firefighters and the impact we have on our communities. We serve others around us almost every day, which is one of the main reasons why we sign up for the job.

Three descriptions help sum up the duties of a firefighter:

• Teammate

• Responder

• Advocate

Teammate

 The work of a teammate works in these ways:

• Collaborative Decision Making

• Coordinated Response

• Mutual Support

Imagine this scenario: “Station 1, you are responding to a TC (traffic collision) on Dog Avenue and Cat Way.” As we rush to our fire truck, filled with adrenaline and ready for any task, we constantly communicate with all team members (Fire Captain, Engineer, and other firefighters). This ongoing dialogue informs everyone about the task and our roles upon arrival. The first few minutes on an emergency scene are critical. As a firefighter, I gather more information about the emergency from my captain while coordinating with fellow firefighters to determine the necessary equipment. Knowing that it's a TC, we consider many factors, including the number of victims, types of vehicles, potential fire hazards, and risks to our lives.

As you can see, there are numerous variables to consider, and with the support of my teammates, we execute every task at the most efficient level. “Dispatch, this is Engine 10. We have arrived on the scene, all victims are safe, and we do not need additional resources.” As a team, we have everything under control!

Responder

This role is the most significant part of a firefighter’s identity. Without this role, the sole purpose of our job would be insignificant. The work of a responder works in these ways:

• Rapid Reaction

• Situational Assessment

• Life-Saving Intervention

In my department, you must always be on your toes, ready to act. This means setting up your day strategically to achieve the highest success rate when you arrive on the scene. First, we test all equipment to ensure it works correctly. We do this immediately after arriving at the station—okay, I’ll say what’s up to the boys first. Testing the equipment gives us peace of mind, knowing we are more than prepared for any situation that calls for us. Next, we discussed all the events from the previous day while the oncoming shift was off-duty. We do this in several ways, but my favorite is sitting with a nice cup of coffee and talking about all the cool stuff I missed. Lastly, we wait—but we don’t just lounge around until an emergency happens. Okay, maybe sometimes, but we also train hard to ensure we are in the best shape possible to complete the job.

“Station 1, Station 1, you are responding to a house fire on 5th and Western Ave…” Okay, that’s all the time I have today. Gotta go!

Advocate

The last role of a firefighter is the most important one. We must ensure that we spread our knowledge and compassion amongst everyone within our communities to ensure the safety of others. This is adequately done by doing the following:

• Fire Safety Education

• Public Awareness

• Policy Support

When most people envision a fire department, the first thing that comes to mind is a Dalmatian, right? You don’t picture a Dalmatian standing next to that beautiful, picture-perfect red fire hydrant in front of every station? No? Okay, well, since it’s just me, one of the best ways we show our Dalmatian spirit is by dressing up as one to teach all the children in the community how important it is to be safe around fire. Every October, a popular time within the fire department, is fire prevention month. We share this knowledge by bringing out “Sparky,” the friendly neighborhood firefighting dog. Sparky has a big personality and loves educating people on the dangers of fire and what it can do to your loved ones and belongings if not handled responsibly. This tradition has been one of the best the fire department offers. Not only does the community love it, but fellow firefighters enjoy watching the “Rookie” firefighters dress up as the beloved “Sparky” every fire prevention holiday.