Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing P4
Definition Essay
3/24/2010
Firefighting is a word hardly honored, however it has saved countless lives thanks to the nature of the word. At one point in most people’s lives, they admire men who put their lives on the line and risk everything to demonstrate a heroic deed in protecting a community. Firefighting is what these men do for a profession. Now think about the respect and gratitude these men should get because of what they do on a daily basis. They are usually the first responders on any scene of an accident, anywhere where an individual may be hurt, or even just an alarm going off. Of course they are the ones who put out all the fires. There are many statements that can be made to describe firefighting.
Some may ask, what constitutes the meaning of firefighting? According to a dictionary definition, firefighting is the occupation of attempting to control and extinguish fires (Dictionary.com 1). The verb definition of firefighting would be the act of using all available materials and skills possessed to extinguish a fire, while being able to preserve as much property as possible in the shortest amount of time. However, to me, firefighting is a whole different meaning. Firefighting is the job and passion of a man to be a symbol of protection in the community of which he serves. It is going above and beyond in any way possible to not only put out fires and to save the lives of citizens, but to show the community that they care and want to make an impact on everyone. It may be ordinary to know the dictionary definition of firefighting, but being painted a picture is an enhanced way of understanding the word.
While I have not actually been in the spot of a firefighter at the scene of a fire or other emergency, I do know the physical toll that the job takes on you. Twice in the past two years I have taken the firefighting combat test with the Longmont Fire Department. While doing this, I had to run through an obstacle course fit with ordinary skills and movements that a firefighter would have to do during any call. When it was all said and done I had to carry a ladder backwards across a marked line and back forward to the wall where I began. In addition to that there were bags, and a simulated tool, in which I was required to carry around cones and back. In sequence also came carrying fire extinguishers and a rolled up hose up and down three flights of stairs. I also had to drag a dummy and a hose a certain distance before I could return them to the original position. The last thing in the obstacle course was standing on a platform about shoulder length apart hitting a block in between my legs on the sled half way down the channel. However, there is no alternative to ever having the same sensation as doing the actual job. Just imagine the big ball of ecstasy and pride in the pit of these men's stomach for all that they are doing and planning to do for a community. The feeling of knowing that they are saving lives and property everyday to make the world an improved place. Also, with the job comes an immensely hefty feeling of accomplishment that could never be compared to anything else in the world. Just the uniqueness of the feeling is more than most can imagine and is a more than real feeling to many men and women around the world. Another thing that could never be truly felt is being in the spot and firefighting. Now just imagine stepping into the shoes of the firefighter. The initial alarm commences, and they rush to the engine. In an instant, the bunker gear seems to ascend on them as if it were a second skin, while the fire truck pulls out of the house. Looking out the window at the passing scenery, and preparing the mind for uncertain stroke with death. The vibration of the truck on their feet stops as the truck comes to a halt and is starring directly into the depth of the inferno. They step down with the helmet and oxygen pack adjusted to their body. The weight is cumbersome, but in a moment's time becomes part of them, and moisture starts to gather on their brow as they get to work extending the hose and attaching it to a fire hydrant. The limp hose fills progressively faster and faster until it is at full capacity in their hands as they walk towards the burning flames. They take position and pull the lever on the hose and there is a sudden rupture of water flooding from the charged hose. It feels like they are the one contributing the water; the way their hands shake, and how their mind loses reality they believe they have been given the power to summon water and expel it from their body at such a rapid force. Finally, at the end when all that is left is smoke they look at the rubble as their body starts to shut down. They start to feel a little fatigued, as they realize their adrenaline is starting to diminish. The ride back to the house is very uneventful. Their body is in the moment, but them mind is still at the fire, and it will be for the rest of the day. Firefighting would be nothing today if it were not for the original pioneers of the profession.
The act of firefighting can be traced back thousands of years before any of the modern technology was at the grasp of man. There is not much history in my life about firefighting. However, as stated, before I have done a two combat tests, and I have been around firefighters and seen the lifestyle that they live. The world on the other hand has seen much more history on firefighting. The foremost organized combat against fire dates back to ancient Egypt, where hand-operated pumps were used to douse the flames. One of the first fire brigades were formed in 6 AD in Rome. After the Great Fire in London in 1666, insurance companies formed fire brigades to protect building of the insurance company's clients. The invention of the fire hose came to be in 1672 when the Dutch inventor Jan Van der Heiden put together a flexible leather hose equipped with brass fittings every 50 feet. In 1725, the first fire engine was constructed. This innovative design was a cart that was pulled to the fire. The cart was equipped with pumps which in turn were hand-operated. These manned pumps could generate up to 160 gallons per minute at up to 120 feet. It is also a verity that one of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, was liable for creating the Union Fire Company in 1736 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Finally, the first steam engines used by firefighters were made in 1829, but lost interest once internal combustion engines came into the scene in 1907 (FirefightersBBQ.com 1). In modern day, firefighting is a very organized matter with the technology to match. Firefighters are equipped in today's world with respirator packs for oxygen, and all the tools crucial to put fires out while keeping property damages low. They also have very sophisticated fire trucks. These trucks are customized to the necessities of the department, and the standards are set by the individuals who know the most about them.
Firefighting is a captivating word. It is a word familiar to all of us, yet to me it presents a possible career and lifestyle. So next time you see a fire truck in your rear view mirror with the sirens blaring and lights flashing, please move out of the way, because they are just trying to protect you and me from danger. "You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself, and for the firefighter it is fire," - Larry Brown.
Works Cited
"Firefighter | Define Firefighter at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
"Firefighter Quotes, Firefighting Sayings, Fireman, Firemen." The Quote Garden - Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
"History Of FireFighters." Firefighters' BBQ.com Home Page. Chef Matt Llc. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
