Fighting Old Man Fire
Sean Ryan, 19, is the resident firefighter at the North San Juan Fire Protection District, Station 3, in the foothills of central Californias Sierra Nevada mountains. He begins his sophomore year at Sierra College this fall, where he is studying for a career in the fire service. He spoke by phone to WKCD this summer from his living quarters in the fire station.
Living a Dream
I officially joined the department when I was 16, during my junior year in high school. Many kids want to be a firefighter someday, and when I started I just saw it as a way to realize that dream.
Before the age of 18, I served as a junior firefighter. There are restrictions on your duties until youre 18: you cant drive the fire apparatus, you cant do direct patient care or make the initial attack on a fire. But you do get to respond to calls and fill a support role.
Right now Im the resident firefighter, so I live in the fire station. I have a bedroom, bathroom, and small kitchenette. Outside my living quarters is the bay with two fire engines, and right across the bay is the training room and department office. When my Captain and his wife moved out to their own house, the quarters sat empty. So I started spending some nights here, so I could go out on more calls. Eventually I asked the chief if I could live here permanently, and he said okay. So in return for free rent and utilities, I take care of the place, keep the quarters clean, cut the grass, etc. I love itits the best. Im having the time of my life.
Responding to calls and fighting fires give you an incredible adrenaline rush. Plus, I really enjoy the feeling of helping people in need. I also enjoy the camaraderie within the departmentwhich, no, is not at all affected by my age.
My most memorable call was probably my first structural firemy first real taste of fighting Old Man Fire. The house was considered a save even though about two of the rooms were burnt pretty badly. The resident was so appreciative, and the trust he showed in us to go into his homeit was just a great feeling. It pretty much got me addicted to the firefighting experience.
The worst call Ive gone on I cant really talk about: patient confidentiality. But lets just say that Ive seen heads cracked open and blood smeared on highways, and this was way worse.
Ours is a small department. We have 25 active firefightersall volunteersand our response area is 75 square miles of heavy woodlands and rural populace. The department receives roughly 300 calls a year. Of those, the vast majority (78 percent) are for medical aid, such as heart attacks or trouble breathing. The next most frequent are vehicle accidents; only 8 percent are actual fires, both structural and wildland fires.
Each firefighter has at least one 12-hour duty shift a week. (I have two, plus I attend any calls that come in while Im here at the residence.) During those 12 hourssay, from 6:00 Saturday night through 6:00 Sunday morningif a call comes in, you have to drop whatever youre doing and respond immediately.
Last February I was elected President of the Fire Association for the station by my peers. The job means I have to raise money to help support the firefighters and help represent the department in the community. Its for a one-year termI beat out one other guy in the electionand I can run again next year if I want to. As it stands now, Ill probably run again.
Plans for the Future
This summer Im answering calls at the fire station, and Im also working part-time doing maintenance, grounds-keeping at a local community center. I also work with another firefighter on high-end audio/video installation. Thats when wealthy people want their tv, stereo, and window blinds all on the same remote c0ntrol, so we wire the house to handle all that.
When I started classes last year at the community college, I intended on majoring in aeronautical engineering, but now Im planning on a career in fire service. I really enjoy what Im doing, so I figure I may as well have a job that I love.
At this point, I dont believe I have any interest in being fire chief one dayI really dont know how Id like that. Fire chiefs have to be involved in the politics of the department, and thats not what I like. Theres a lot of muddy water that can get stirred up in a fire station, which I try to stay clear of. Its the firefighting I really enjoy.
Interview with Gerardo Promise Vargas |