Firemen in Our Family
@DeborahDiane (40843)
Laguna Woods, California
December 6, 2018 10:22pm CST
Many of the younger men in our family have had successful careers as firemen / paramedics. My husband's nephew is now retired from being a fire captain in one of California's coastal cities. He has three sons and two of them are active firemen.
My nephew, pictured above, is also a fireman / paramedic / rescue diver / SWAT team medic in a major American city. Not only does he perform the regular fireman and paramedic duties, but he is also a SCUBA diver who tries to rescue people who have fallen into nearby lakes and rivers and, on occasion, recovers bodies. On his days off, he often works extra shifts by helping SWAT teams. They like to have a paramedic with them when they go into dangerous situations.
The picture above was of my nephew while he was fighting a fire. They found a bird in a cage in the burning house, so my nephew let it go. Later, the bird returned and landed on his helmet and one of the other firemen took this picture, which I love!
I also have a son-in-law who is a retired volunteer fireman in his rural community. It was never his full time job, but a way to help his community and earn a little extra money when he was younger. Volunteer firemen are usually found in rural areas and are paid per call rather than a salary, but they have to have the same training as regular firefighters both in fire fighting skills and paramedic training.
It seems unusual that we have had so many young men in our family interested in being fire fighters, but they all seem to love it!
23 people like this
24 responses
@Juliaacv (56208)
• Canada
7 Dec 18
What a great picture!
We have a couple of family members who serve as volunteer fire fighters in rural areas also.
I have a cousin who is married to a fireman in a large city. We've seen him on the news on television in the past-it always makes us proud, but I know that it worries my cousin who is married to him.
To the fire fighters reading this-thank you for your service.
6 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@Juliaacv - Yes, thank you for the service of the firemen. Their job is dangerous and they put their lives on the line for the rest of us.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169428)
• United States
7 Dec 18
It seems that in our area a huge number of the men are volunteer fire fighters. One family in particular. I think somehow these types of interests are inherited. Just as is nursing. I do not know for sure, but it seems that is another career that runs in families.
5 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@GardenGerty - Yes, it does seem that certain careers run in families. Teaching is another common career in our family.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@jstory07 - I agree. Fortunately, all the firemen in our family seem to love what they do. I'm proud of them all.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@wolfgirl569 - Yes, I think the bird wanted to thank him and, perhaps, he made the bird feel safe.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
7 Dec 18
You make me so proud. Our parent's garage fire was put out by Dallas firefighters a long time ago and here where we are now living, my wife and I had a fire in the attic from an electrical short to a ceiling fan and local Dallas Fire Department firefighters came quickly and put out that fire that saved our home. I am forever grateful and thankful to them all for their courage and strength.
4 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
8 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane , Well, I used to go with a friend to Highland Park Village theater to watch a good movie every now and again and enjoyed reading books casually, at Southern Methodist University, SMU. And one time when my friend was a student at University of Texas at Dallas, we both attended a Carl Sagan astronomy lecture back in the day. At SMU I went along with my friend who liked playing around with the computers out there working on BASIC programs just for fun. I have lived in Dallas, on the South side, in Oak Cliff, since 1963. We moved here from Indiana and I think Dallas is still a good city to live in although there are lots of improvements needed and see changes taking place. I forgot to vote in the early elections today so I will be looking at voting for a new City Council candidate I think on Tuesday. I supported Scott Griggs for I think it was District 1. That's a little about me. Back when Congressman Martin Frost was running for the 24th Congressional District, I was working in the phone bank to get him re-elected and it was a challenge. I worked the phone bank in the Oak Cliff Bank Tower near Jefferson at Zang, but that was back in the 70s I believe. His press secretary had to sign so many documents that I am afraid he had a case of writer's cramp. LOL
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
8 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane , I spent most of my time in the early years, either reading books or running errands for my parents. I lived a solitary existence and actually did not go out as much as it may seem. I spent long hours practicing the piano and lived a very modest lifestyle. But yes, in many ways, it is a small world.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@lookatdesktop - Firefighters save millions of dollars in property and untold numbers of lives every year ... including the life of the bird in this picture.
I just realized you live in Dallas. We lived in Dallas for 24 years ... seven years in Desoto, 15 years in University Park near SMU, and two years in far north Dallas on the north side of Frankford Road, almost in Plano. We moved to California 19 years ago. I was a Realtor in Dallas for 12 years and sold property all over the city and suburbs. Two of our daughters went to University Park Elementary School in the Highland Park School District. One went to high school at Hockaday (she took the place of one of the Bush twins when he was elected Governor and, later,she got to know the twins because of all the mutual friendships. She was even in a wedding with one of them). One of our other daughters graduated from University of Texas - Dallas. We have many happy memories of our years there.
I'd love to hear a little about your life in Dallas!
I'm glad to know that the Dallas firefighters were able to save your homes over the years. Firefighters serve a very important job and I am glad there are so many in our family!
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
7 Dec 18
i didn't notice the bird until i got to that sentence.
it's admirable that civic-mindedness/public service is so strong in your family
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@hereandthere - I am so proud of all these young men in our family. I know they perform an import public service.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (40020)
• Toccoa, Georgia
7 Dec 18
That is wonderful. Firemen and paramedics are people I very much admire.
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@LeaPea2417 - I admire firemen and paramedics, too, and I think they perform important jobs.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@akalinus - Yes, the bird seemed to be able to pick out which fireman was the one who saved him. I thought that was very impressive and showed how smart the bird was.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
8 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane I agree. My brother and I were friends with his two sons since we lived on the same street. I admire those who serve our country and even our town.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@KristenH - Yes, the world is a better place because so many people are willing to serve their communities and their countries.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@KristenH - Many firemen retire earlier than in other careers because they cannot do the physical work after a certain age, which makes it more dangerous for them to keep it up. It is a wonderful career while it lasts.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@JudyEv - Thank you for telling me that the bird is from Australia. What is it called? I started to write that it is a parrot, but I wasn't sure what it is. I don't think it talked to him that day, but it sure seemed to know which firefighter saved it. I think it must be a smart bird, since they were all dressed the same.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@JudyEv - Oh, thank you for sharing this. How interesting. I love the giant one in the picture you posted! I will have to tell my nephew that it was a galah sitting on his head! LOL
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381815)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane For some reason I thought you would have known that was an Australian galah. I've added a link to a post I did about a giant one. They're called pink-and-grey galahs.
Some years ago we bought our Leyland Tiger bus over the internet. Unfortunately it was 3,500 kilometres away and south of Melbourne in the Australian state of...
2 people like this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
7 Dec 18
I think being a fireman is a very honorable career to have even just on a volunteer basis. I have two nephews who were also volunteer firemen. Small commnunities don't always need a 24 hour force.
Love that photo, how awesome is that! Beautiful and your nephew don't look to bad either.
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@Nameless - Thanks! I think my nephew is a cutie, too! LOL I agree that volunteer firemen also have an honorable career. In fact, my nephew was a volunteer fireman before he was able to go full time on a city department.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@thelme55 - Yes, it is an honorable and respected job to be a fireman.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
7 Dec 18
You have a family that you must be so proud of. This public service is so strong in your family. God bless them.
They would have touched so many lives and would be always remembered and thanked in so many prayers.
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
Thank you! I am very proud of all these young men in my family.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
8 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane God bless these heroes.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (59645)
• Philippines
7 Dec 18
That is a good looking photo.
Thank you for all your contributions and service.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@allen0187 - I am very proud of the young men in our family. I think they have contributed a lot to the communities where they live.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
8 Dec 18
In my country, all firemen are volunteers. Nobody gets paid. They are all heroes.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
9 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane In my country, they have a special collection day to buy what they need. Everyone pinches in as we all know how important they are.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@marguicha - Yes, they are truly heroes if all the firefighters do it as volunteers. God Bless them!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Dec 18
@marguicha - That is wonderful that everyone helps them with their supplies. It is a very necessary occupation.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
8 Dec 18
The bird landed on his helmet huh? Creatures know how to show their gratitude, don't they? That's a wonderful story.
I had never met any firemen in my life and the first time I got to know a real fireman, the church was praying for him. In his attempt to save someone's life he nearly killed himself. Ironically he was rescuing someone from the water who was drowning. He managed to get them out to safety but it consumed most of his energy. He let out one yell, a cry for help and then then he went under the water. Another first responder had to jump in and save him. He was rushed to the hospital. We were all praying for him. He survived.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Dec 18
@cmoneyspinner - Oh, my! I am so glad that fireman survived. One of the tasks my nephew performs is to be a rescue diver. He recently rescued someone who jumped off a bridge into a river. I don't think these people ever consider the fact that they could be putting the lives of their rescuers at risk! Thanks for sharing your story.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Dec 18
That does seem quite unusual that there are so many.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Dec 18
@DeborahDiane Great to have so many involved in service to humanity.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Dec 18
@JamesHxstatic - Yes, it seems strange to me, too, especially since most of them have never even met each other. For example, my nephew does not know my husband's fire department nephews, and neither of them know my son-in-law. To have so many firemen in our family kind of surprises me, but I am proud of them all.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Dec 18
@JamesHxstatic - Yes, we need people like them in our society. We already have plenty of people who only serve themselves (like certain people in the White House). LOL
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
9 Dec 18
Absolutely outstanding @DeborahDiane . These guys are the toughest, most resilient men/women that we have. I absolutely love that picture.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Dec 18
@nanette64 - Thank you. I am so proud of them and I love this picture, too. It shows how sweet this "tough" firemen is!
2 people like this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
9 Dec 18
That bird felt safe with him. Our town only has a volunteer fire department. Our son’s friend became a volunteer fireman and worked for them during college breaks and summers when he was in officer’s training at the Naval Academy. I saw them practicing while I was on my morning walk at our local high school track. They were in full gear and had to run up and down the bleachers on a hot and humid summer day. I felt so badly for them. You must be very proud of them all.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Dec 18
@DianneN - Yes, I am very proud of them all. My husband's nephew who rose to fire captain in Santa Barbara is well known in the community. When we went out to dinner with him once in a Santa Barbara restaurant, it was almost impossible for him to eat because everyone wanted to stop by the table, say hello and pat him on the back! Firemen (and women) are a wonder bunch of people.
I know my highly successful sister worries about this career for her son, however. He's the one in the photo above. She paid cash to build a new home for him near his fire station so he would have a safe, convenient place to live. I know he could go to work in one of the businesses she and her husband own anytime he wanted to, but he loves what he is doing.
2 people like this
