The Life Of A Firefighter

7 Pages 1701 Words

The Life of a Firefighter

Firefighting is a trade that is as virtually as old as civilization. Whether it be through the

old bucket line techniques, or the modern tactics used with machinery and highly trained

individuals, it has always been a necessary part of our society. Firefighters are often

applauded for their sacrifice and we often conjure up heroic images of these men when

we think about them. But what does it really take to be a firefighter, what does a

firefighter have to endure on a daily basis, and what kind of commitments and sacrifices

does a firemen have to make? Firefighters are a select few who have the determination,

courage, and selflessness to always be on the call to save another life in whatever way

possible.

Anyone can apply to be a firefighter simply by visiting your local fire station and

picking up an application. However just applying does not guarantee that the applicant will be accepted; the fire department looks at the qualifications and former experience of applicants and selection can be pretty competitive. Volunteering in the community and a solid education are strong points that will increase an individuals chance of being accepted (Williams 91).
Once an applicant applies and is accepted into the fire department they are sent off to the Fire Academy. The Fire Academy’s job is to take fresh recruits and transform them into highly skilled firefighters who know absolutely everything they need to know to become the best and safest firefighters that they can be. Training starts first thing in the morning and finishes at around six in the evening, five days a week for twelve weeks. Every morning trainees run a mile and a half, do sit-ups, pull-ups, and all sorts of other workouts. Once they are done with there physical training they then clean up and go into the classroom to learn the fundamentals of fighting fire; then they have the opportunity to go ...