Have you ever wanted to help someone? Do you want people to depend on you? Firefighting can do that for you, but it’s not nearly as easy as you think. Dangers and tasks always come along with the job.

Training and difficult jobs have to be done when you are on duty, or there may be dangerous problems. You have to clean and do inventory on all the fire trucks to make sure they are in proper running condition.

Can you imagine having to clean the monstrous ladder truck? That would take a long time.

Firefighters also have to do daily training. You might practice fire-fighting methods, driving the trucks or undergo medical training.

Even before these challenging tasks, you have to meet the requirements to become a firefighter. You have to be 18 or older with a high school diploma.

Also, you need to be in good physical condition, with 20-30 vision. You also have to have your driver’s license. But that’s not all. A written test comes first and then, if you pass the test, a training program begins. This will take about two months. Programs include fire behavior, fire strategy, rescue techniques and medical skills. These have to be performed as a team.

Finally, you get hired. You will work a 24-hour shift. Firefighters eat, sleep and, of course, work at the fire station. Firefighters must get along with other people. You need to listen very carefully, so you know what to do on calls.

Also, being comfortable around others is very important, because you need to be able to trust them when you are in danger. I think that trust is extremely meaningful.

Some firefighters drive the trucks, and others are just “ride alongs.” Drivers either drive the pumper truck, the ladder truck or the quints. The pumper trucks carry a fire hose, fire foam to put on the fires, and fire pumps. The ladder truck has a 100-foot ladder and carries cleaning supplies.

Lastly, the quint is like both the other fire trucks. It carries a 75-foot ladder and a fire pump. If you sat in a fire truck, you would feel very small.

When called by an alarm to go a fire scene, jobs will vary for everyone. Besides controlling the fires, firefighters also rescue victims, apply first aid to injured people and act quickly in cases of life and death.

Death may be the greatest chance that firefighters take, but there are many more dangers, like breathing smoke or hazardous gases, touching hot surfaces or getting hit by falling objects.

Those seem like extreme dangers, but can you imagine walking through flames or risking your life for any other person? Most people don’t realize how much firefighters do for us, and how we need to appreciate them a lot more.

There are more than 2.5 million fires each year. Firefighters sure risk their lives in the line of duty a whole bunch. The next time you see a fire truck speeding by you, remember what all the firefighters do, and how they would risk their lives for you.

You don’t usually realize how much firefighters do, especially if you live with one. I know from experience. It doesn’t seem like they’re going out and risking their lives, but just going to a normal day at work. With all of the training and hassles they have to do, they sure do keep us all safe. We need to respect them a whole lot more because they really are the true heroes.

 Jaymie Hardtarfer has finished her sixth-grade year at Wakarusa Valley School. Her father, Dan Hardtarfer, is a Lawrence firefighter.