For love of the job

I'll pause my story telling to say this. In my area alone...we have 9 miles of interstate, a county highway, hotels, schools, numerous misc businesses, restaurants, gas stations, apartments, and numerous other buildings. We are a group of 60 plus members, 4 battalions, 3 main response stations, skilled medical responders, and sometimes family. We answer almost every call you can think of with the exception of rail car incidents. With that being said, volunteer firemen such as myself and the others like me, are ready at the drop of a hat to put out your house fire, remove you from a wrecked vehicle, or come to your medical aid. These guys are skillfully trained and carry out their task no matter the hour, and sometimes the risk to themselves. They do this for free. The average speed on a highway is 55 mph. Accidents at these speeds can cause substantial damage to both a vehicle and a person's body. When driving on the highways...always have a way out in case you find yourself headed for a bad situation, scan the roads for hazards and always be aware of your surroundings, when you see emergency lights (whether they're blue, red, or a combination) move over, slow down, and give these emergency responders room to work safely. It's bad enough that someone may have been severely injured, but you definitely don't want to know that you injured an emergency responder when it could have been prevented. 

Another thing these fine folks are, is human. Some of these accidents can hit us hard depending on the circumstances. 2 things I ask of you. While you're sending up prayers for the victims...send one up for those that are working the incident for courage, strength, and guidance throughout the duration. Also, take time out just to say a quick thank you to those in your area that do these things. Sometimes, hearing appreciation for what we do, makes the job all that much more worth it. These guys leave their families, dinner, and even sleep to come to the aid of those that call for us. Show em you love em!