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Every
Day Different for Firefighter [FEB. 26, 2000] For most of us, it sometimes seems like we live at our workplace. We may even feel like we eat, sleep and breathe our jobs. However, when 5 o’clock rolls around, we jump in our vehicles and head home. But for Fire Inspector Mark Miller and his colleagues, the day doesn’t end after an 8-hour shift. They still have 16 more hours to go. |
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Miller
began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Sherman 15 years ago.
For the past 10 years, he has worked for the Lincoln Fire
Department. Working at the fire department, he says, has been a
great learning opportunity. “It’s always challenging,” he
explains. “Every day can be different.” What makes his job challenging is the variety of responsibilities as both a firefighter and inspector. Miller is quick to point out that fighting fires is only part of the job. As inspector, he regularly examines public buildings and businesses to ensure that they meet fire codes. Additionally, he investigates fires to try to determine their location and cause.
[Firefighter Mark Miller]
Miller
explains that the fire department responds to many types of rescue
situations, about 1,400 each year. Non-fire emergencies include
automobile accidents, emergency medical situations, and occupational
accidents. When he is not responding to an emergency, investigating fires or inspecting buildings, Miller also works to educate people of all ages on fire safety and prevention, as well as provide training for other fire departments. He reports that one of the biggest problems in fire safety, is that many people do not maintain smoke alarms by replacing batteries regularly. He also adds that there are a lot of misconceptions about fires. “House fires can happen any time,” he remarks. “TV cannot depict how a fire really is." |
Life
as a fire fighter isn’t always non-stop action. Miller explains
that living in the fire house is much like living at home. “We are
like a family,” he says. And as with most families, there are
basic “household duties” to perform, including cleaning the fire
house and preparing meals. He also explains that there are “quiet
times” so the fire fighters can relax and prepare for a
potentially busy night of work. At these times, Miller says he often
finds a quiet spot and plays his banjo. He
adds that having a family of co-workers is very important when
it’s time to do his job. “When you are in an emergency
situation, you need to be able to count on your co-workers,” he
explains. “When the clock’s ticking, we can count on each
other.” Being
able to rely on your co-workers is vital, and fire fighters undergo
constant training to ensure that they are able to meet the many
on-the-job challenges. Each fire fighter attends a fire academy, and
is required to complete CPR certification, emergency medical
training, and hazardous materials and chemical training. Despite
all of the training and the long hours, Miller says that he loves
his job because it is an opportunity to help the community. “I
really enjoy it,” he says. “It’s the best job on the
planet.” Miller resides in Lincoln with his wife, Amy, and their 1-year-old son.
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