Firefighter Narrative

In 2012 I joined the Harlan Fire Department continuing my long standing commitment to my community as a volunteer firefighter EMT.  As a member of the fire department I respond to many different types of calls.  Some of these calls include but are not limited to wildland fires, structure fires, car accidents, and medical calls.  As an active member I was qualified as a Firefighter/EMT, confined space rescue technician, and technical rope rescue technician.   We have a wide range of equipment ranging from type one to type six engines, a heavy rescue truck, UTV, and a 75' ladder truck. With the equipment and training I was a part of a successful grain bin rescue saving the life of one local farmer and part of a successful rescue of a trapped

Firefighter III Joseph K. Wilson is a valuable member of our crew, and his teamwork is apparent in his eagerness to lend help whenever needed. For example, Firefighter Lieutenant Charles Eggers conveyed how impressed he was with Firefighter III Wilson's performance at a structure fire on August 15, 2015. He praised Firefighter III Wilson for being instrumental in the quick stabilization of the incident, in which crews were able to prevent a significant amount of property and content loss for the homeowner. Similarly, Firefighter III Wilson has demonstrated grace, patience and restraint in dealing with difficult personnel issues over the past year, showing maturity in handling conflict. When frustrated, Firefighter III Wilson is able to remove

It was a Sunday morning and my family and I had just gotten back from church. I was sitting down in the living room when we got toned out to wires down in Ohio. This was going to be my brother’s first call he would go on. He had just turned 16 and was now a junior member in the department. Peter and I hopped in the car with our firefighter gear and my mom drove us down to the firehouse as we listened to the scanner to get

The day of 9/11, I remember waking up to hearing the news on television that the Twin Towers were purposefully struck by jetliners. Then, I remember the news anchors on the television being dead silent as the towers crumbled to what is now known as, Ground Zero. I continued to watch in disbelief holding my mom’s hand asking what was exactly going on. She then walked me to elementary school down our block and it was the most eerie feeling of silence I have ever heard to this day. Wanting to be a Firefighter/Paramedic since the age of four years old, this event in history has impacted me in a drastic way. Three hundred forty three firefighters were killed by trying to answer the 9-1-1 call from hell. Each and every one of them did not question what they were up against. They knew that their duty was to respond and resolve the situation. In the video World Trade Center Dispatch 9/11/01, from the one minute mark of the dispatcher saying, “send every available unit you got to the World Trade Center” to the forty six minute mark of the dispatcher giving response to every company that was at the scene with none of them responding back; the audio was surreal and unnatural the entire time. This point is vital to include because it shows the extent of what was taking place. The New York City Fire Department needed an army of firefighters to be at the scene and

Most firefighters are known to not be open with sharing how they feel because it can possibly ruin their reputation as a firefighter and in the firehouse. It was not until military personnel were presenting symptoms that are currently known to be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Meroney presents the article with a list of the most common signs that can be observed in the firefighter. Signs such as substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, and loneliness, once these signs are present try to talk with the firefighter and see what is affecting them. They need professional help to cure this disorder. The fire service is known to be a large family that watches out for each other, the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation created the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. In which, number 13- behavioral health, this initiative helps prevents firefighter’s deaths. Meroney basically goes over the basics of

Firefighter Lee has to learn to consult his manual before he asks his commanding officer's advice. Firefighter Hendricks should of aggressively pursued additional training when the Captain innovated this program. Before Firefighter Johnson takes the June 2007 exam, he will have passed several shorter tests. Recruit Henandez could have been the best student at the fire academy if he had studied

As someone who has no working experience as a clerk, especially in a library, I feel that I am sufficiently qualified to perform well in this position. First, I have had customer service experience during my job as a dietary technician, where one of the main duties of my job was interacting with our customers and performing tasks that they requested from us. I also have several years of experience working small increments on a winery where some of my duties required helping new customers find what they were looking for and explaining winemaking processes.

As a first responder who arrived to respond to a small fire downtown. Upon my arrival, I see 20 people with foam-like substance emanating from their mouth. The first thing I would do is to make sure that I’m secured with the proper equipment and using my proper training that I’ve learned as a first responder before entering a contaminated area and before approaching the people who have already being exposed to hazardous material. Also, you want to make sure you test what type of substance it is to determine how dangerous it is before approaching the people. However, it’s human nature to be more cautious on how you going to approach the situation. It’s very important as a first responder to ask questions and have the full understanding of what

343 firefighters were killed on September 11, 2001. That does not even compare to the amount that died years after due to cancer. Being a firefighter is a dangerous job and it is not to be taken lightly. Firefighters put their life on the line each time they get on a truck. Whether it is a structure fire or a vehicle accident, every time they go out there anything could happen. Firefighting is not an easy career choice, but it proves rewarding when you help another.

A new national holiday I would like to honor is National Firefighter day. A national holiday is usually a day off of school and-or work. We take these days off to honor their accomplishments and impacts on society! Firefighters have been around for God knows how long and have put out more fires than you can count!!

“In the midst of the heartbreak and wreckage of 9-11, the world also witnessed what is America’s greatest strength. Firefighters,nurses, police officer, first responders, and local residents worked around the clock to rescue and care for those injured”. This quote was said by Dan Coats, he is the director of National Intelligence, talking about how first responders where during 9-11. Firefighters control and put out fires and go to emergencies where their life, others, property, or the environment is at risk. Firefighters duties are to clean and maintain equipment, prepare reports on emergency incidents, conducts drills, and physical fitness training, and go to emergencies. Pursuing a career as a firefighter is a solid choice for one who wants an exciting job that is physically challenging, and benefits society.

The alarm sounds. Fire fighters scramble into coats, and helmets, and boots. Fire trucks roar into the street loaded with fire fighters and their equipment. Every minute counts. Lives and property could be at stake. A fireman has to be of great physical and mental stature, they are minutemen and have to be ready at all times. No one can dispute that a firefighter should be a well-educated and well prepared individual. Because of the rigorous and dangerous caliber involved in the fire academy, an applicant should be well prepared, by obtaining a college degree.

We are the most technically advanced nation in the free world but yet we have not been able to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities over the years. Its one of the great mysteries of the world today. Our gear is better than what they wore thirty years ago, its better than what they wore ten years ago and we still lose an average of one hundred firefighters every year. I know that not all are dying in structure fires but just one is one too many.

After a long December night, I was in my room the next morning getting ready for school. My parents had already left for work and left my brother and I at home. My brother was taking his time in the shower while I was brushing my hair in the upstairs bathroom patiently waiting for him to finish. After I was done with my hair, I went downstairs and knocked on the bathroom door and said,

I woke up one cold, fall morning in September. I went and checked on my kids. They have been kind of sad since my wife, which was their mother as well, passed away in a car accident. They were still asleep, I woke them up one by one, to begin with I woke up Carman, then Christy, and finally, Jessie. Next, I woke up Jessie last because he is the only boy, and his room is the farthest from mine. Today being a firefighter would be hard because there is training. Then, my kids off at school and headed off to work with my trusty dog, Rover, but not before I got something to eat.