Where I Went
For career day this year, I was lucky enough to have a connection to a place that many a kid dreams to be, a firefighter. The station that I visited was Cal Fire Escondido. It is one of the oldest fire stations in the San Marcos/Escondido area, and is one of the only ones with an actual name, Miller Fire Station. The daily life a fire fighter is very routine based, that is, without any calls. One call could mean missing a meal or two and have the fire fighters occupied for sometimes hours on end putting out a fire or resolving a chemical spill on the freeway. I found my day at the fire station fun and interesting throughout the time I was there. The amount of hard work that the job of a fire fighter requires is underestimated by many. I think that what appealed to me about this job the most is the fact that work days are different each time, I could never see myself working a job that required me to sit at a cubicle all day without feeling like I accomplished much. With the job of a fire fighter, that sense of accomplishment is always there, knowing that you helped people in need is a very good feeling.
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What I Think About Pursuing the Career of a Fire Fighter
Pursuing a career as a fire fighter is definitely something that has peaked my interest since my day of shadowing Cpt. Danny DeViso and his crew. It definitely gave me a lot more perspective on how fire fighters operate as a team. A college degree is definitely recommended when trying to pursue a career as a fire fighter, a degree that is relevant to what position you would like to pursue, that is. Becoming a fire fighter is just as hard as it is to be a fire fighter, and it is challenging, the good thing is I like a challenge.
Interview
This is the interview that I did with Cpt. Danny DeViso:
1. What in your educational background most prepared you for this job? I have a AA Degree in Fire Science, I went to the Fire Academy, as well as some other certifications that include EMT (some are paramedics) and a 25 year experience. 2. What specific skill training helped you prepare for this job? State Fire Head Training. It taught us all of our skills and how to use the equipment, drive the equipment and operate pumps. 3. How do you interact with other people during your work? Leading my team and managing the people around me is essentially my duty as captain. 4. To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling? In terms of interesting, I would have to say the scale of possibilities and the scale of what needs to be done keeps this job alive for me. As a public servant, I get to help people. 5. What are the ,ost important practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional? Like I showed you earlier, we have core values so any of those can pretty much sum up my answer. 6. Is this a typical work day for you? If not, what is a typical work day? This is a typical work day,with the routines that we go through. Of course there will be calls that we need to respond to that may or may not ruin the daily routine. |
Core Values of a Fire Fighter
- Integrity - We are committed to honest and ethical behavior and will lead through an ability to be trusted.
- Competency - We strive for excellence and demonstraate a high level of professionalism, training and education as our foundation.
- Safety - We are committed to protecting our own health and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our team and those we serve.
- Custumer Service - We respect each person as an individual and treat all volunteers and customers with the utmost consideration.
- Accountability - We take responsibility for our actions and provide undivided commitment to the goals of the department.
- Leadership - We will be strong and effective leaders.