Firefighters Are Heroes

6/12/2020 (Permalink)

firefighter fighting a fire

Since 1678 firefighters have been saving the lives of Americans.  Although their techniques have changed since then, firefighters are still saving thousands of lives nationwide each year.  This is very heroic, no dispute here, but is this the only thing that makes a firefighter a hero?  Not by a longshot and here is why.

Firefighters Are Heroes Because They Run Towards the Danger

Fires and explosions make most people flee and run away or stand by and watch.  Not true for a firefighter, they run towards the fire. When disaster strikes, firefighters are one of the first officials to reach the scene.  Even in medical emergencies, firefighters are responding to the call.  It takes raw courage to be a firefighter.  They know that there’s a chance that things might not go their way. They have family and friends they hold dear just like all of us, but they push through anyway.  General Norman Schwarzkopf once said, “True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that’s what courage is.”

Firefighters Are Heroes Because They Never Give Up

On average, firefighters will work 10, 24-hour shifts per month.  Firefighters don’t get holidays or their birthdays off.  When you’re with your family around the Christmas tree waiting for Santa, firefighters are out there keeping you safe.  While your family is enjoying the fireworks on the Fourth of July, firefighters are standing guard to keep you safe.  The threat of coming into contact with Covid-19 does not deter them, they still work tirelessly to keep you safe. 

Firefighters Are Heroes Because They’re Also Scientists

Not every fire starts with a match.  In some cases, fires start when certain chemicals collide or when an electrical wire gets too hot.  There are six known classes of fires. Some include gases, liquids, metals, and oils . Each one requires a different approach and it’s up to the firefighters to decipher which type of fire they’re dealing with.

After subduing the flames, firefighters are tasked with finding the cause.  They discover the starting point of a fire by using their knowledge of fire and deductive skills.  They use their scientific knowledge of chemistry, physics, and engineering to deduct where and when a fire started.  Besides pinpointing the origin, firefighters can also determine if a fire was accident or arson.  Honing these skills can help prevent future fires.

Firefighters Are Heroes Because They Inspire Others

Think about all the little boys and girls on Halloween strutting around town in plastic red firefighter hats.  Even when you were young, there was always one classmate or friend who wanted to be a firefighter when they grew up.  Firefighters are inspirational.  Every day they face new dangers and every day they find ways to fix them.

It takes a special kind of person to become a firefighter.  They throw themselves out of windows, run through burning buildings and cut people out of cars.  Firefighters see and experience things that affect them both mentally and physically.  Despite this, they continue to do what they do.

Firefighters Are Heroes Because They Do More than Fight Fires

Being a firefighter means more than just battling blazes.  Firefighters save people. Whether you’re hurt, stuck in a car, or stuck in a building, firefighters are there to help.  They answer the call in every catastrophe. They even act as emergency medical technicians in some situations.  Firefighters care for the sick and injured.  They rescue pets, pull animals out of trees, and are very active in their communities.  You could make a case that they are the glue of the community.   

Firefighters also work to prevent future fires from happening.  They install fire alarms, create fire regulations, and teach children fire safety.  Firefighters work tirelessly to ensure that their community is taken care of.  Because being a firefighter isn’t about the glory or the money, it’s about how many lives you can change.  We here at SERVPRO of Champaign/Urbana are so grateful for our firefighters who work tirelessly to make a difference in our communities.