Profile of a CFD firefighter

When I think back to how I got into firefighting, it feels almost serendipitous. Growing up, I never really imagined myself as part of the firefighting world. Firefighters weren’t exactly a common sight in my neighborhood, and I didn’t personally know anyone who did that job. It wasn’t until I ran into an old acquaintance from high school whose dad was a lieutenant on the force that I began to consider it. Then, in 1995, I saw an ad for openings, and something clicked. I remember the stats vividly—35,000 applications were submitted, but only a fraction actually made it to the training phase. So yeah, the odds were definitely stacked against me. But I got lucky and made it into the second batch, which started a year later. Honestly, I expected there’d be some sort of probationary period before jumping straight into action, but that wasn’t the case. From day one, it was full-on firefighting.

My first few calls were nerve-racking, to say the least. It takes time to adjust, but once you do, you start to feel more confident. Even during intense situations, like seeing flames or responding to emergency calls, you learn to manage your adrenaline and focus on the task at hand. My very first fire sticks out in my mind. At that point, I’d been on the streets for maybe three months, working in a quieter area. We handled car accidents, train derailments, hazardous material spills, and plenty of medical emergencies—but no fires yet. That changed when I finally responded to my first blaze. Flames everywhere, thick smoke, and a single-engine response. We were waiting for backup to help ventilate the building. When we turned the corner, everything was pitch black except for the flashing red lights. Adrenaline surged through me, but I wanted to stay focused. Once it was over, there was this incredible sense of accomplishment—I felt like I’d earned my place.

Of course, not every fire ends well. Some days, despite your best efforts, you just can’t save everyone. I’ve been in situations where we couldn’t rescue someone, and those moments weigh heavily on you. But there are also victories—like pulling people out of dangerous situations or performing CPR and knowing you gave everything possible to save a life. It’s humbling to realize how quickly things can change. Before I had kids, I didn’t fully grasp the emotional weight of incidents involving children. Now, having two young ones of my own, it hits differently. If I ever encounter a situation where a child doesn’t make it, I can’t help but think of my own kids. It’s heartbreaking, but it also motivates me to keep pushing forward.

One of the hardest experiences I’ve faced was a high-rise fire back in 2002. We were on the 14th floor, and the wind was really strong, making the fire spread fast. Things got chaotic quickly, and we had to evacuate the floor to avoid injury. Unfortunately, I got burned—not too badly, thankfully, but enough to need skin grafts and spend ten days in the hospital. Coming back to work afterward was tough mentally. I had to confront that fear again, but in some ways, it made me better. I learned to recognize warning signs earlier and became more cautious without losing sight of the urgency needed in the moment. That incident taught me that firefighting isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about mental toughness too.

Despite everything, I genuinely love what I do. Every day I step onto the job, I remind myself how lucky I am to be part of such a vital mission. Helping people, saving lives—it’s not just work; it’s fulfilling. There are bad days, sure, but there are also countless moments of pride and gratitude. For me, it’s simple: if you can wake up each morning feeling fulfilled by your job, you’re already ahead of the game.

Thanks, Dan!

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