I was once told by a seasoned fire manager that the job of a firefighter was 90% boredom, 7% excitement, and 3% sheer terror! Sure, there are some slow days waiting for assignments or mopping up hot spots on a dying fire, but make no mistake about it, the job is not an easy one, physically or mentally, and requires a fearless attitude to be successful.
A firefighter goes on the offensive, using a driptorch to ignite the unburned fuel between the main fire and the fireline, thereby starving the advancing wildfire of its fuel.
My town is bordered by forest; twice I’ve watched those forests burn. Among the chaos I’ve met unsung heroes—wildland firefighters who brave smoke & flame to protect communities in their path. Arriving under a shroud of darkness & leaving weeks later with little fanfare or recognition, they work in the shadow of anonymity, sacrificing family time, health and even their lives for strangers who will never know their names.
