Debi

52, Female

Profile Information:

Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Firefighter

Years in Fire/EMS:

4

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

McLendon-Chisholm, TX

Years With Department/Agency

4

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Just this one!

My Training:

1 Story Structure, 2 Story Structure, Wildland Fire, Search and Rescue

About Me:

I am a 36-year-old very happily married mother of 2 boys who are very active in baseball while trying other sports (football and soccer). My husband has been a firefighter for 14 years and in 2002 I decided to join him. I originally joined the dept as an events coordinator, strictly admin, to show support for my husband and the community. I trained with the guys, I just didn't run calls. Then one day we got a call, it was mid day, hot and they needed manpower, so I loaded up and went. I was hooked. Did I mention my husband was Training Officer and Assistant Chief during my time on the Dept? Well then you see that not only did I have to start at the bottom and work my way up, I had to fight with everything I had to get respect. My husband will openly admit he was harder on me than "the guys" because he wanted me to be better than "the guys". It was very hard for me to see at the time, cause I was working my butt off trying to prove myself, but looking back now I know why he pushed me harder than anyone else and I am grateful because "the guys" respect me as an equal and treat me as such. I was promoted to Training Coordinator and then Captain eventually. This was not only an honor but also a challenge. It soon became a challenge I was not able to master. I lost my babysitter and was no longer able to make the mandatory meetings. I could not leave my children home alone as they were too young, and even though I have a passion for this I could not ask my very seasoned, experienced, Fire Academy Certified, 4 TX A&M schooled, 4 Longview schooled husband to walk away from his passion or our community so me and my 1 little Ft Worth weekend play school and 4 years of grass fires experience could stay. Who would you want to come to your fire him or me? Be honest! You would want him. I know if you saw me coming you would cringe and say, "They sent a girl?" Anyway that is where I am, not fighting fire but missing it, wanting back into it and waiting for the opportunity to go through the whole fight to the top again.

UPDATE AS OF 07/06/08:
Well, that was me up until a month or so ago. I have been diagnosed with Lupus. I am now working to accept that I will never return to the Fire Department as a Firefighter. Lupus has successfully taken away one of my dreams but I will not let it take anything else from me. I may never be a Firefighter again, but I am a FIGHTER and I will not let this beat me!

Day Job:

SAHM

Relationship Status:

Married

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/firelady75189

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

Originally to support my Husband, then I fought my first fire and it was all over, I was hooked.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

It is a passion, there is no other way to describe it.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

With Volunteer departments, recruiting members who are serious about the work and keeping them. It seems there is always one who stirs things up and runs good guys off.

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