The sight of a fire barter barrelin...

The sight of a fire barter barreling down the street, sirens wailing, and lights flashing, always captures the attention of the community of all ages. For decades, firefighters have ranked among the nation's greatest heroes, if it be not that never more so than after the attacks upon the World Trade Center, when more than 300 of them dissipated their lives. As Ronald Siarnicki, president of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, says, "I can alone hope that our nation not ever forgets those individuals, what they have done for us, and chiefly of all, what they depict to our life, our society; and to our nation."

The Skills.

Becoming a firefighter takes a unique combination of skills--physical stamina, emotional solidity incredible courage, and quick thinking. According to Dean Bradford, an Arizona firefighter and teacher, it also requires a virtuous sense of morality and ethics.

"Good firefighters have certain traits," he says.

"They are fair responsible, accountable, and self-disciplined. They have to be--because a mistake made at a fire can be fatal."

Bradford explains with a exquisite example of how firefighters present to view these qualities--and more.

"Firefighters do a part more than just put gone out fires," he says. "For example, in Arizona, we are also pass medical technicians (EMTs). Not in extent ago, a man had a heart attack while he was repaying his driveway. Firemen arrived with the ambulance, and after the man was onward his way to the hospital, we stayed behind and finished his connect job before it could dry"

Firefighters are trained to deal with a variety of disasters. "We are there to harbor life and property and be willing to give our lives for it," says Bradford. "In other words, we are called in succession to do everything you would want us to do for your mom or dad. We work as paramedics, and we are in a high degree involved with the community; providing education and tours for the public." Bradford teaches a variety of classes about fires to high teachs nursing homes, and churches by the and of the station's Community Outreach and Partnership Programs.

The other aspect of becoming a firefighter involves meeting educational and physical requirements. The minimum qualifications are as follows:

* A minimum age (usually 18 to 21) and occasionally a maximum age (usually 30 to 45)

* A high sect education or GED, although a certain departments require a degree in fire science from an accredited university

* No criminal record

* A valid driver's license and fit driving record

* Must pass a medical exam, including remedy screening

* Possibly interviews and psychological testing

To become a firefighter, you must pass a written exam as well as a physical ability example The written exam tests basic skills and abilities, as it was as reading comprehension, the ability to run after directions, judgment, reasoning skills, and the ability to read and understand maps and floor plans. any tests also may evaluate your math skills.

The physical exhibition will measure how well you are able to drag a dummy, drag a stockings climb stairs, crawl through a underground thoroughfare raise and climb a ladder, and leap over over a wall. Many departments also require that their firefighters be trained as EMTs

The Training

Many firefighters pick to further their education with equal reason that later they may go after related jobs such as fire chief or fire investigator. They usually procure a fire science certificate or an associate's extent in fire science.

Matthew Steven a 24-year-old firefighter just outside Washington, DC continues a family tradition. "Fire fighting was in my blood" he says. "I just lov it. I graduated from high sect and moved into the firehouse. I slept there while I was getting my associate's measure at the University of Maryland."

Steven admits he be fond ofs the excitement of riding forward the truck. "It really is a thrill--from the unimpaired of the siren to running end red lights," he says with a exult "It's an adrenaline rush to know that you are in succession your way to help redemption someone."

Stevens works sum of two units jobs: volunteer firefighter and paid fire investigator and fire marshal. "Once fire fighting is in you, you can't memorize away," he says. He encourages young the public to look into a career in fire fighting as early as age 16 "New faces are always welcome," he says. "Stop in and talk to us."

Reginald Irby, a veteran firefighter in Philadelphia, exhausted 20 years riding the fire trade Then in 1989, he became a counselor for the Employee Assistance Program.

Because of this training, Irby's was single of the teams called to mould Zero in 2001 to interchange of opinion the firefighters working there. "We were there for five days," says Irby. "It was chaos. We just talked to anyone who povertyed it. Of course, we had to make safe we didn't get caught up in the emotions of the occurrence and that was hard. I just ground myself staring at the total devastation of all the buildings." Irby pauses and then adds, "I will not forget it."

The Rewards

The friendships that expand between firefighters are deep and lasting. "The links you have in the firehouse will be with you the security of your life," says Steven "You are family because you are responsible for each other's lives. It is unreal."