Views of a Volunteer Firefighter

By Zach Smith, Emergency Management Specialist, First Responder Network Authority

I am a volunteer firefighter for my community. My firehouse is a group of teachers, accountants, program managers, computer developers, and even a helicopter pilot, with personalities as diverse as our professions. Despite these differences, we all share a common objective: helping those in need.

The firehouse kitchen table is a special place. At that table, it doesn’t matter where you come from, how old you are, how much you make, or what you do for your “real job.” What matters is how hard you work, how well you train, and how willing you are to make sacrifices for your community. READ MORE