There are times I really get tired of my job. You probably know the feeling; you wake up one particular morning and your head hurts at the prospect of another day at the office.
Yet though I might complain from time to time and have days where all I want to do is stay in bed and watch TV, I never have to worry about my work putting me in harm’s way.
There’s a lot to be said for that, even if it’s not something most of us stop to consider every day. Indeed, it’s easy to forget that there exist professions out there that aren’t just mentally challenging, but also actively hazardous for the people who do them.
Being a firefighter is one. Personally, I don’t think firefighters get enough credit for the bravery they show simply in turning up for their shift each day, but there’s a photo doing the rounds online at the moment that quite rightly pushes firefighters – and awareness as to the insane conditions they’re sometimes expected to operate in – to the fore…
When I was younger, I dreamt of being a firefighter – if my NBA career never took off, that is – but these days I’m rather happy to have other people doing it in my stead.
Call me cowardly, but there are few things I’d relish less than the task of charging headfirst into a burning building.
Fortunately for society, not everyone is of the same mindset as I am. There are brave souls who regularly risk their lives to save others and limit casualties whenever fires break out or serious accidents occur.
And we’re not only referring to pulling people out of burning cars of entering apartment blocks engulfed in flames – both heroic acts, it must be said – but also those times when firefighters are tasked with combatting one of nature’s most terrifying, destructive forces: wildfires.
If you live in a country where wildfires occur, you’ll likely be all too familiar with the damage they can cause. Of course, they don’t simply stop burning on their own, and left to run riot they will destroy virtually everything in their path.
That’s where firefighters come in. Instead of fleeing the affected areas, as everyone else is advised to do, they charge in to do their utmost in an attempt to halt the advance of the fires, saving countless lives in the process.
A few years ago one such wildfire was raging in Portugal, requiring the skills of a combined 1,150 firefighters to slow its spread.
The apocalyptic scene was frightening to behold, but it did produce a rather incredible photograph that paid testament to the incredible work firefighters do to keep people safe.
As per reports, a man named Pedro Brás posted the image, along with the caption: “After a night and a day fighting the Góis Forest Fire we were entitled to 25 minutes of river beach, although it was covered by smoke.”
The picture in question showed a group of firefighters sleeping on a lawn, so overcome by exhaustion that they had pretty much dropped where they stood in order to get some rest.
According to Pedro, the firefighters took a short break of 25 minutes after working nonstop for 24 hours to fight the wildfire.
I don’t know about you, but I think firefighters everywhere deserve more praise and credit for what they do.
Here are five compelling stories of bravery and sacrifice by American firefighters, demonstrating their courage in the face of danger:
- The 9/11 World Trade Center Attacks (2001)
On September 11, 2001, one of the most devastating tragedies in U.S. history occurred when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York. Amid the chaos, 343 firefighters lost their lives as they rushed into the burning towers to save civilians. Among them was Captain Patrick Brown of Ladder 3, who led his crew up into the North Tower to rescue those trapped on higher floors. Despite knowing the building’s condition was worsening, they pressed forward, sacrificing their lives in an attempt to save others when the tower collapsed. - Firefighter Brian Carey of Illinois (2010)
In 2010, Brian Carey, a firefighter from Homewood, Illinois, tragically lost his life while trying to rescue a man trapped in a burning home. As Carey and his team entered the building, a flashover—a sudden, intense burst of fire—engulfed the room. Carey stayed committed to saving the man, but both he and the victim perished in the flames. His ultimate sacrifice exemplified the commitment firefighters make to protect others, even at the cost of their own lives. - Firefighters Michael Kennedy and Lieutenant Edward Walsh in Boston (2014)
In March 2014, a powerful wind-fueled fire swept through a brownstone on Beacon Street in Boston. Lieutenant Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy responded to the blaze, entering the building to combat the fire from inside. Unfortunately, as they battled the flames, conditions rapidly deteriorated. They became trapped and ultimately succumbed to the intense heat and smoke. Their deaths were a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers firefighters face when trying to save lives and property. - Firefighter Steven Pollard of New York (2019)
In January 2019, firefighter Steven Pollard, 30 years old, died while responding to a vehicle accident on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Pollard fell 52 feet from a gap in the overpass while trying to rescue crash victims. Despite the horrific fall, Pollard’s actions were part of his unyielding commitment to helping others in danger. His death was a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers that firefighters face, even in non-fire emergencies. - Firefighter Cory Barr of Wisconsin (2018)
Cory Barr, a firefighter and business owner in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was killed in a devastating gas explosion in 2018. After being alerted to the gas leak, Barr and his fellow firefighters quickly responded to evacuate nearby buildings. Unfortunately, the gas ignited, causing a massive explosion that claimed Barr’s life. His heroic actions in the face of the explosion helped save many others from injury or death, showing his dedication to serving the community. - These stories highlight the immense bravery of American firefighters, who willingly place themselves in harm’s way to save others, often at great personal cost.
