Brotherhood of the Fire Service
The tones drop, everyone runs for their assigned truck. They pull out the doors, lights flashing and siren blaring at drivers to pull over. The truck pulls to a stop as firefighters hop off, pull an attack line, and rush into the burning building. They do not stop to question if their fellow firefighters are going to help them or watch their back. The firefighters have a unique bond in the fire service known as brotherhood. Brotherhood is found in many different careers such as the police, fire, emergency medical services, and all branches of the military. Any group that faces life endangerment has a special bond of brotherhood.
Brotherhood can be defined many different ways, all depending on who you where to ask. According to Webster’s Dictionary, brotherhood is defined as “the whole body of persons engaged in the same business" (Webster). I did not agree with this definition when applying it to the fire service. As firefighter I experience brotherhood, unlike any other, on a daily basis. I would define brotherhood as a strong bond formed between members to support and protect one another and the purpose of the group. The purpose of the fire department is to protect and save life, property, and the environment. In interviews with members of the fire service, I asked them to define brotherhood in their own words. Their responses were almost identical to my definition.
So you might be wondering why brotherhood this strong forms in the fire service. Firefighters have a long history of traditions that go back to the forming of the fire service in the late 1800’s. They used to race to be the first company there and fight over who would extinguish the fire. Soon firefighters realized that it would be better for everyone if they functioned together. They became a family all their own and formed a bond that has only grown stronger in the service as years pass. When men and women are working side by side in life threatening situations, seeing horrible situations of people in pain, and witness the fury of nature they form a special bond of relying on one another. Firefighters support one another physically, emotionally, and sometimes financially. Physically they work extremely hard beside one another on calls. Emotionally firefighters support one another after terrible accidents and lose. Financially they will raise money for a hurt firefighter to support his or her family while they are struggling. Craig Semon reflected on a fire call where he was trapped in a basement with a fellow firefighter. Running low on air, they sent out a mayday call over the radio. Within minutes almost a dozen firefighters came to their aid, leading them to safety (Semon, Craig). If the other firefighters had not answered the calls for help quickly, they may not have made it out of the fire alive.
In another instance Lydia Osborne reflected on her experience of brotherhood from the fire service. She was attending a funeral of a fallen firefighter to write a news story. What Lydia observed surprised her. Most firefighters there where from the United States, but scattered throughout the crowd were firefighters from other countries in full uniform. They came to pay respect to their fallen comrade. Lydia stated that “It was a heartwarming experience to see so many firefighters turn out from around the world" (Osborne).
In an interview I conducted with Andrew Byrd, a firefighter at Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Department, he reflected on a specific emergency call that he experience brotherhood on shortly after joining the department. The fire department was dispatched along with several others to a reported grass, woods, and brush fire on a fire a few miles from their station. When they arrived on scene, the firefighters found a massive woods fire approaching several barns. The barns were filled with hay and equipment. Unfortunately, before the firefighters could get ahead of the fire, it reached the structures and quickly spread inside. All responding departments spent several days battling the blaze. Many acres of crops and woods burned around the farm. It prevented the adjoining properties from being consumed; a large track hoe was used to cut a fire line, stopping the fire from reaching more fuel. Although Andrew was new on the fire department he was able to help in many ways. He fetched tools off the truck, pulled hose, and was even able to apply water on the fire. The firefighters that had been on the fire department for many years did not discriminate against him even though Andrew was new. They treated him as a brother, ensuring his safety and health. Andrew stated, “That experience is what led me into the career path I am pursuing now. I love being part of the brotherhood and supporting what it stands for" (Byrd). Andrew is now pursing an officer position at Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Department and is also applying to many paid departments in North Carolina. Knowing him, I can tell you that he lives for the fire department and to keep our brotherhood strong for future generations.
I also did an interview with firefighter Kevin Mckenzie. Kevin has been a firefighter in North Carolina for a few years. He experienced brotherhood during a time of loss. A fellow firefighter from his station, only a few months younger than Kevin, passed away in an accident while responding to an emergency call. While attending the funeral Kevin was overwhelmed with gratitude when he noticed firefighters from around the Nation were in attendance. He had never experience a situation as moving as this. The feeling of brotherhood he felt that day has stuck with him. (Mckenzie)
Brotherhood is an essential fragment of the fire service. It fits into everything firefighters do and stand for on a daily basis. Whether they are on a call, training, or giving each other emotional support after dealing with a death, brotherhood holds the fire community tight in an attempt to ensure all firefighters go home at the end of the day. I am personally fulfilled by my relationship with the brotherhood of the fire service. I love the feeling of family and sense of someone always having my back.
Resources:
· Byrd, Andrew. Personal Interview. 12 Oct. 2014
· Mckenzie, Kevin. Personal Interview. 12 Oct. 2014.
· Osborne, Lydia. FIREFIGHTERS SHOW MEANING OF THE WORD BROTHERHOOD'. Post-Tribune (IN) 27 Dec. 1999, ALL, EDITORIAL: A15. News Bank. Web. 8 Oct. 2014
· Semon, Craig S.. A life of service - After 44 years, firefighter calls it a career. Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) 28 Dec. 2006, SOUTH COUNTY, LOCAL NEWS: B1. NewsBank. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
· Marriam-Webster Dictionary. Brotherhood. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.