The Chicago Sun-Times published an article that highlights the personal journey of a Chicago firefighter, sharing insights into his experiences and the challenges he's faced over the years.
"I didn't grow up in a neighborhood with firefighters. I didn't know any. A guy I knew from high school had a father who was a lieutenant on the fire department, but it wasn’t until I saw that they were hiring in 1995 that I showed any interest. There were 35,000 applications and around 25,000 actually showed up for the job. The odds were really slim."
"I was lucky enough to get called in the second class, which was a year later. I thought maybe I wouldn't be thrown into the fire right away, but no—once you're on the street, you're doing the job."
"The first few calls are always the most nerve-wracking. After that, you start to feel more comfortable. Even though your adrenaline still kicks in when you see a fire or respond to a tough call, you learn to push through and do what needs to be done."
"I remember my first fire. We were a single-engine company, and I had been on the job for about three months. I started out in a slower area, responding to car accidents, train derailments, and hazardous material incidents. But I hadn’t seen my first fire yet. Three months in, I caught my first fire—flames, heavy smoke, and a single engine. We were waiting for another truck to ventilate before we could proceed."
"It was pitch black when we came around the corner, and all I saw was red. There was a lot of adrenaline and excitement. You want to perform, to do everything right, and once it’s over, you’re on a high for days. You feel like you’ve earned your paycheck."
"Sometimes you have good fires, and other times you come up short, feeling exhausted and needing relief. Every day that you can come home to your family is a good day."
"In 2002, I was at a high-rise fire on the 14th floor. The wind was strong, and it was a wind-driven fire that roared down the hallway. We were on the landing with eight of us, and I was the one who forced entry. When we opened the door, there was someone behind it. As the fire rushed down the hallway, we had to abandon the floor to avoid serious injury. I ended up with second- and third-degree burns from just above my knees to halfway up my thighs. I needed skin grafts and spent 10 days in the hospital, off work for about three months. That was probably the worst day of my career."
"When I returned to work, the first fire after that was a bit mentally challenging. But I think it helped me in many ways. Now I'm more aware of danger signs, something I never considered before."
"I've seen a lot of sorrow—people not making it, kids in terrible situations. I’ve pulled people from under trains, rescued drowning victims, and dealt with tragic accidents. Over time, you become desensitized to it."
"Before I was married and had kids, seeing children in danger didn’t hit me as hard as it does now. Now, with two young kids, if I see a child in trouble, it hits me harder. I think about them every time."
"I remember the first time I did CPR on someone. I always asked, “Did they make it?†And I was surprised when they didn’t. That’s just part of the job. You can’t save everyone."
"I truly love coming to work. If you can do a job and not feel like it’s work, you live a pretty good life."
Thanks, Dan.
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