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I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I Check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try and save his life.

I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've become too familiar with.

I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a call, Is this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What Hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?" Or to call and ask what is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?

I wish you could be in the emergency room, as a doctor pronounces dead, the beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past 25 minutes, knowing she will never go on her first date or say the words, "I love you Mommy", ever again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the ambulance or engine or cruiser, the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the remains of her automobile. What if this was my daughter, sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parent's reaction going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in hand?

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come back from the last call.

I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers, firefighters and EMS out and when we call for them and our heart drops because no one answers back or to here a bone chilling 911 call of a child or wife needing assistance.

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally and sometimes physically abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their attitudes of "It will never happen to me". I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain of missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping save a life or preserving someone's property, or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy tugging at your arm and asking, "Is my Mommy okay?"! , not even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having CPR done on him as they take him away in the Medic Unit. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar with.

Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really means to us...I wish you could though.

KEEP SENDING THIS ON. APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS, EMS, 911 DISPATCHERS, and LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN YOUR AREA. ONE DAY THEY'LL PROBABLY BE SAVING YOUR LIFE. WHEN YOU SEE THEM COMING WITH LIGHTS FLASHING, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY, and THEN PRAY FOR THEM



When the fire trucks are delayed 40 seconds in traffic, People say:
"It took them 20 minutes to get here."

When the truck races at 40 m.p.h., it's:
"Look at those reckless fools."

When four men struggle with an eight-man ladder:
"They don't even know how to raise a ladder."

When firemen open windows for ventilation to reduce heat in fighting a fire:
"Look at the wrecking crew."

When they open the floor to get at a blaze:
"There goes the axe squad."

If the chief stands back where he can see and direct his men, people say:
"He's afraid to go where he sends his men."

If they lose a building:
"It's a lousy department."

If they make a good "stop" folks say:
"The fire didn't amount to much."

If lots of water is necessary:
"They are doing more damage with water than the flames."

If a fireman gets hurt:
"He was a careless guy."

If a citizen gets hurt:
"It's a crazy department."

If a fireman inspects a citizen's property:
"He's meddling in somebody business."

If he wants a fire hazard correct:
"I'll see the mayor."

If he gets killed and leaves a family destitute:
"That's the chance he took when he joined the fire department.






Firefighters Are.....



Firefighters are those crazy people who run into a burning building when all others are running out.

Firefighters are those people who wake up in the middle of the night to help an old lady, who fell out of bed.

Firefighters are those people who work on half eaten meals because someone needed their help.

Firefighters are those people who have a second family that seems just like a first family.

Firefighters are those people who never usually get thanked for doing such a good job.

Firefighters are those people who have to deal with people dying and people getting hurt.

Firefighters are those people who have hearts bigger than the whole universe.

Firefighters are those people who are always there in a moments notice when someone needs help.

Firefighters are those people who may seem scary to little kids.

Firefighters are those heroes that little kids always say that they want to be when they grow up.

Firefighters are those people who are the unsung heroes.

Firefighters are those people who very rarely get a "Thank You," but when they do it is always welcome.

Firefighters are those people who are just always there

Firefighters are those that lie their life on the line everyday for others.

Firefighters are those people who are never selfish.

Firefighters are those that are brave.

Firefighters are those who go into a building to rescue a brother, without even taking in the consequences that lie ahead.

Firefighters are those who are at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.

Firefighters are those who are constantly giving of themselves, and expectin nothing in return.

Firefighters are those who must rise above themselves to conquer the most overwhelming situations.

Firefighters sacrifice their lives so that others may live.

FIREFIGHTERS AREN'T HEROES! We are just doing our job!
But thanks to all who appreciate us...