They Fight the 'Fires'!

When you hear the term 'firefighter', do your immediate thoughts follow the general dictionary definition: a person who extinguishes fires? In other words, does the first association that comes to mind center about a person whose duty is to fight a fire blazing away somewhere? There is more than one kind of 'fire'. Let's examine this role in our society a little more closely since... 

Today is...

 International Firefighters' Day

What is actually being celebrated on this day?

Firefighters’ Day celebrates the dedication, heroism and importance of firefighters from all over the world. Their duty is not a singular task. Firefighters respond immediately to varied emergency calls and needs for assistance. The circumstances surrounding such need require quick responding to unforeseen circumstances: fires in houses, businesses or factories, vehicle crashes on motorways or city/country streets/roads, flooding from rivers and river rescues, bomb incidents, spillages of dangerous substances, as well as rail and air crashes, just to list some that occur on an almost daily basis somewhere. Firefighters are always on standby during hostage crises or school shootings. They minimize distress and suffering understanding from the heart the devastation resulting from any of the aforementioned circumstances. Such caring is not limited just to humans but also includes rescuing and safeguarding animals.

AND, they do all of this with an immense amount of bravery often putting their own lives on the line in order to protect and assist others in distress.

Firefighters and fire apparatus at the scene of a factory fire in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Special Operations crews
work on the extraction of a buried construction worker.

Firefighters trying to save an abandoned convent in Massueville, Quebec, Canada

Decontamination after a chemical spill

Firefighters wearing PPE tackle an aircraft fire
during a drill at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas

Are they in it for the money? Because of the dangers involved does a firefighter's salary measure up to mega bucks? NO on either account. Salaries will vary from state to state, city to city but most do carry good benefit packages.

Average Firefighter salaries for job postings nationwide are 48% lower than average salaries for all job postings nationwide.

Many firefighters are volunteers who provide assistance during off-duty hours from other jobs and occupations. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 69 percent of firefighters in the United States are volunteers. The National Volunteer Fire Council represents the fire and emergency services on a national level, providing advocacy, information, resources, and programs to support volunteer first responders. The NVFC includes 49 state based firefighter associations such as the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) which provides information, education and training for the volunteer fire and emergency medical services throughout New York State.
Source: en.wikipedia.org 

Would you place yourself voluntarily in any of the situations photographed above?

Show your support today and any day by wearing red and blue ribbons tied together, symbolizing the combination of fire and water. Help raise the awareness and support for local firefighting operations.

Firefighters' Walk of Courage we all remember: 9/11

  To all firefighters, thank you for your dedication and support today and every day!