"Stop calling firefighters 'heroes.' " (A cush job most of the time)

Slate ^ | Oct. 31, 03 | Douglas Gantenbein

[Trampled by Lambs]

During the recent Ca. fires, some of the fire fighters were on the front lines for 60+ hours. No sleep, little rest, food or even water to drink. I've been close to large fires.. the heat is tremendous. One even layed his life down in the process. IMO, they deserve the cushy down time that they often get.

These guys have balls of solid steel (sorry) and if they don't deserve to be called heroes then who does? (aside from our military), football players? Guys who wear make-up and make-believe that they're heroes for our entertainment? Rock stars?

Grrr, after last week (I live in SD county) this article really ticked me off.

[Maria S]

"And it's for the ability to handle those situations--rare though they may be--that the transcontinental pilots get the big bucks."

The transcontinental pilots may be able to handle the unusual situations AND get the big bucks...but fireman don't! A few years ago, the wife of a 25-year veteran of our fire department STILL only made $25K a year! Of course, these guys CAN (and always do) have other jobs that fill in on their "days off". One terrific fireman mows yards in my neighborhood on his days off. These guys ARE heroes! Guys like Douglas Gantenbein are, IMO, a sorry excuse for 'male', and are grossly overpaid.

[halfdome]

So do you consider commercial fisherman, or pizza delivery guys, who have a higher chance of being killed while on duty than a fireman, to be heroes too?

[supercat]

To follow your logic, the short-haul or commuter pilot should be at the top of the scale since their trips are shorter with less time en-route and more spend during the higher-workload takeoff and landing phase.

No, my logic is that a commuter pilot is never seldom far from an available airstrip in case things go wrong. And I may be totally wrong on this, but it seems that the really impressive cases I've read about pilots landing very badly damaged aircraft have involved long-haul pilots.

[RightOnline]

"Very high-paying job, but on most flights with today's technology the pilot has to do little more than punch a few buttons to take off, set a course, and--a few hours later--land the plane."

Weeeelllllllllllllll it isn't quite that easy, mind you.:)......but here's one former military pilot who will agree with the tenor of your post here. Point well made and well taken. I think the same can be said of many other professions.......INCLUDING the military, by the way. Many here don't understand that.

[jmcclain19]

He's right in that most of the time it is a cush job.

However, we pay them for that 1-2 percent of the time when they do the dangerous work none of us are willing to do.

Don't forget as well that a good number of firefighter calls are health related as well, at least they are in my community. They spend quite a bit of time working accidents, heart attacks, considering the vast majority are paramedics as well.

[Pukin Dog]

I consider anyone who accepts a role in the service of their fellow man while KNOWING that there is a stronger than average chance of being killed in the performance of that role to be a hero. Is that clear enough?

[Maria S]

"Guys who wear make-up and make-believe that they're heroes for our entertainment?"

Great! Some of those chicken-littles like Georgie-Porgie Clooney, for example.

[OpusatFR]

Fine. You don't have to call them heroes. I won't call you a writer. In fact, if, in the centuries to come your writing surfaces, I hope to God that they don't judge us by your infantile screeching.

I have this mental picture of a jumped up two-year old with a load in his pants throwing a tantrum.

[clintonh8r]

While I condemn the writer's apparent vitriol, I frankly don't disagree with a lot of this. We had a firefighter here who refused to ride on a truck that showed the American flag. Hero? Where I'm from there are very few fires and the firefighters union is very powerful. There are many other occupations where the workers are in danger for a far greater percentage of their work day than are firefighters.

I believe the word "hero" is overused and therefore devalued. The firefighters and others who protect us deserve our respect and support, but nobody is a hero just for showing up to do his job. And being brave is not synonymous with being a hero. I believe most people have an innate amount of bravery, but there are very few heroes. Usually circumstances, more than character, dictate who becomes a hero. Having been in a combat situation for 13 months, I witnessed a lot of bravery, but never saw a single "hero."

[SandRat]

And when the Slate author's house cathes fire the Engine Company that cover's that area should show up with hot dogs and marshmallows.

[Billthedrill]

I hate to sound selfish, but the guy (or gal) coming up the ladder to save my own sweet @ss seems pretty heroic to me, and I really don't give a rip whether they're motivated by the adrenalin rush or an outrageous salary or the fame or the great sex life.

Yes, some of them are self-promoting jerks. So are some military people I know. So what?

[SSN558]

Firefighters are adrenalin junkies.

The only true statement in the whole article. I was a paid firefighter for four years, and despite watching comrades get seriously injured and a couple injuries myself, I liked it.

So why no more. When you watch a 50 year firefighter respond to the bell you see the fear in their faces. They don't have the same stamina. Injuries heal slower. They suck a scott airpack dry climbing one ladder.

oh yeh, since when and what departments work 24-48? If they are with civil service it is 24-24. You spend half of your day off just to catch up on sleep.

The author is a total jerk.

[supercat]

But the taxpayer foots the bill for men who spend the vast majority of their time doing very little. Granted, when they work, it's ugly and dangerous. That is, WHEN they work ...

I suspect that fire fighters can probably be divided into four categories:

• Those who will risk life and limb to save people, even when the odds don't look great, and who will also take some risks to save things like pets.
• Those who are competant, but seek to avoid risk to the fullest extent possible.
• Those who aren't competant, but at least try to avoid doing any harm.
• Those who set fires so they can make themselves "heros" by putting them out.

I think it's clear that the title "HERO" applies to some fire fighters, but by no means to all.

[TheBattman]

Such blather really get's my hackles up....

I don't care if firefighters only work 1 hr. per week - if they save a life or my property, then that makes them heroes in my book!

I do agree that the term 'Hero" is thrown around way too much. But in the case of firefighters, the risk is always present. They never know when the call will come in that will result in their injury or death - just ask those NYC firefighters who answered the call when the towers were hit - they could have stayed back and waited for the towers. No - they rushed in and tried their best to save lives.

In the case of the California fires - firmen from around the region showed up and put their lives and health on the line to protect lives and property. In my book- putting one's life or health in jeopardy to help others is a substantial sign of a "hero".

[Dan from Michigan]

BTW - A lot of firemen work side jobs in their off time because the pay is low.

[PaulJ]

I guess it all boils down to one's definition of a hero. The moment a rookie cop puts on his uniform for the first time, does he become a hero? Does the act of choosing fire fighting as a career make one heroic?

[Hat-Trick]

My money's on this:

Journalist Gantenstien or whatever the hell his name is had his homosexual overtures spurned by a fireman the night before his MSN deadline, or;

Pissed off because he got ticketed & towed for parking in front of a hydrant.

Further proof that those who can, do, and those who can't, report it as "news" Has there ever been a more useless profession than "journalism" as it is currently practiced?

[Skywalk]

I don't know everyone, you guys seem to jump on him without taking into account the fact that he worked in mountain rescue. He didn't do it for altruistic reasons(though I'm sure anyone would feel good about saving someone) but for an adrenaline rush.

This is not some limp-wristed journalist, he apparently worked in a dangerous job himself.

Beyond that, have none of you received phone calls from fire departments asking for money, despite the fact that they are heavily compensated in pay and benefits? They play on the popular notion of firefighters as heroes.

Just like there are cops who are more after an adrenaline rush or a steady paycheck, there are firefighters who are after the same.

It does NOT make them bad people, just like the doctor that saves your life to make a buck and because he likes to perform surgery as a mental challenge is not a bad person because he's not doing it for "heroic" reasons.

I think that's what the writer was saying, and it's true.

A little overreaction on this thread, I think.

[Cagey]

An excerpt from Dennis Smith's "Report from Ground Zero".....

When the basket is finally lowered, Mickey Conboy and the firefighters have two bodies with them. They call for the Stokes baskets and for flags. A chief comes over with body bags, but the bodies are already zipped in their plastic cases. The first one is in a folded-over bag that measures about thirty-six by thirty-six inches. It is a yellow plastic case, and it is square, yet we know it is a firefighter. The bag is placed in an orange Stokes basket with several handles along the rails on each of its sides. An American flag is draped over the Stokes, lengthwise, and a chaplain approaches. The men of Rescue 3 do not know the identity of this victim, but they are very certain of the other and stand back. The chaplain begins to pray over the remains. Everyone in sight removes his helmet and places it over his heart. Then Tom Conroy and I are asked to pick the Stokes up, carry it over to an emergency medical service golf cart, strap it in, and accompany it to the TM, the temporary morgue.

We do so, taking seats on either side of the Stokes, holding down the American flag as we make our way around almost the entire site, from near the quarters of Engine 10 and Ladder 10, down Libery, across West Street, and up Vesey Street. The medical technician drives slowly, with respect. A wave of police officers, construction workers, EMT's, and firefighters stand at attention and take off their helmets as we pass. On Vesey Street, a double line of firefighters has mustered, and as we drive through them they salute,

The cart stops at the entrance to the TM, and Conroy and I pick up the Stokes and carry it inside. Two police lieutenants who are sitting at a desk quickly rise to attention when they see us and salute as we pass them. All the while I am conscious of the fact I am carrying the remains of someone who was dearly loved and who will be dearly missed for so many years ahead. No matter that he is bound up in this odd plastic coffin, square, unsuited to any human body. Yet whatever the state of these remains, I know that the blood of its mind and soul still dwells in the physical form. Whatever the circumstances of its arrival, this is God's child leaving Ground Zero.