When most people would run out of a burning building, my dad is among the many who do the opposite. Trips to the firehouse and sitting in the firetrucks were just routine errands when I tagged along with my dad. I’ve grown up around men and women who risk their lives everyday to protect others. This one goes out to my dad and all of the firefighters in my life.
What many people don’t see are the countless hours of training and work that goes into being a committed member of a fire department. Every Monday night growing up meant my dad had to miss events to be a part of drill. On occasion, he would have to miss weekend events to do daylong training classes. It was hard to accept that my dad couldn’t be at every soccer game, but now I understand more than ever why each hour of training is crucial. Each “live burn” and “mock accident” ensure that each member will be completely prepared to apply these skills in real life.
Being the daughter of a firefighter has truly shown me that the fire service is a brotherhood. I know under any circumstances that members look out for one another. This extends past the boundaries of the members of the department itself. I don’t just have one dad and one brother; I have a whole family full of dads and older brothers who have my back in any situation. Each family is looked after and protected. Being a member of any department creates a mutual bond under the same understanding.
It’s easy to stand there from the outside and criticize only what you see. However, I’ve experienced the fear that comes with being the child of a firefighter. Every time my dad backs out of the driveway to head to the firehouse, I’m not always sure how severe the call is. I was in elementary school when my mom got a phone call that my dad was being taken to the hospital from the scene of a house fire. At the time, we weren’t sure how badly he was injured. Days later, we were thankful that my dad’s injuries weren’t worse than some burns on his hands. Even after being injured, my dad still finds passion protecting others with every call that comes in.
There are parts of being a firefighter that get overlooked because people don’t want to talk about them. Being the daughter of a firefighter, I know my dad has seen things that no one wants to see. Whether it is the outcome of a car accident or seeing a family lose everything they owned in a fire, I give my dad the upmost credit for seeing these examples first hand. For an outsider, it can be difficult to understand. Many people don’t want to picture their loved ones in these situations, but it is a reality that I have come to accept as the daughter of a firefighter.
My dad has always been my hero in more ways than one. Being the daughter of a firefighter isn’t always easy, but I couldn’t imagine my life any other way!
Thank you to all the first responders who protect and serve us everyday.