Career Options
Firefighting: More than a 'job'Wouldn't you love to wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work? Most people have a tough enough time finding a job, let alone liking a job. MICHAEL CHO |
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 [ 2002-07-24 ] |
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Jeff Bigham, truly at the wheel now.
Meet Jeff Bigham, a Toronto firefighter in his rookie year, and according to him he's got it all.
"It's the best job you could ever have," says Bigham. "After my first week at the station I had a few days off, but all I could think of was getting back to the station. I couldn't wait for Monday to roll around."
Firefighting is an exciting occupation, responding to a variety of emergency situations. Due to their quick response time, firefighters are usually the first at the scene of a medical emergency, or accident.
They have to be ready at any instant. In a emergency every second wasted could result in a life lost. "In my very first week whenever the alarm sounded, my heart would begin to pound so hard I could almost hear it," says Bigham.
But Bigham's excitement on the job doesn't impede his real purpose as a firefighter, and that's saving lives. Assigned at station 312 in the heart of Toronto, Bigham and his crew are exposed to people from all walks of life. And each life to him is as important as the next. "A life is a life. You have to treat every person the same, with respect," says Bigham.
In fact, already in his short career as a firefighter, Bigham has responded to a number of situations where lives were at stake. "I love the feeling that I'm making a difference, and when we're driving back from a call and people are waving or saluting...it's just a great feeling."
Jeff Lafaive, a Firefighter 1st Class stationed in Markham for the last six years, shares Bigham's passion for helping others. He believes helping people is the greatest reward.
"Whenever we get called, it means somebody is having a bad day," says Lafaive. "So every once in a while we can make a differene and make their day a little better. Sometimes it's just those little things that we do that make it all worth while."
In Lafaive's six years as a firefighter, he's been privy to some shocking scenes and is reticent about specific experiences but says firefighting is not for the weak of heart.
"This job can be emotionally draining because some of the things you see are pretty graphic, especially anything involving kids. Even holding someones hand to comfort them means so much," says Lafaive.
Aside from the personal gratification Lafaive derives from the job, he says the comraderie in the department make the rigours of the job a lot easier. "Once you get hired into the department you gain brothers and sisters, because you see and spend as much time with these people as with your own family. " says Lafaive.
Bigham also knows the importance of establishing close bonds with your team.
"You have to be close to your crew because your putting your life on the line, and you have to watch each other's back. You spend so much time with these people. You eat with them, sleep under the same roof as them. You have to be a sociable person to do this job."
Sociablity is not the only prerequisite to become a firefighter. Candidates must perform aptitude tests, physicals and a number of interviews to determine their eligibility.
Although requirements vary depending on the regional department, other basic prerequisites are:
For more information, visit Toronto Fire Services at www.city.toronto.on.ca
(Michael Cho is a freelance writer for Canoe.ca, and can be reached at michael_cho@rogers.com.)
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