My Firefighter Nation
Jason Edwards
Male
Cincinnati
United States
Profile Information:
- Type of Organization
- Fire/Rescue Department - Paid
- Job Function
- Firefighter / EMT-Basic
- Years in Fire/EMS:
- 8
- Primary Fire/EMS Department:
- Cincinnati Fire Department
- Years With Department/Agency
- 5
- Dept. Web Site:
- http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityfire/pages/-6664-/
- Web Site:
- http://www.coleraintwp.org/fire.cfm
- Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations
- Green Township Fire Department
- My Training:
- EMT Basic, Firefighter, Rescue, RAT, State Certified Fire Inspector, HAZMAT, Ice Rescue Tech, High Angle Rope Rescue, etc, etc.
- About Me:
- Started out as a graphic artist with aspirations to go into advertising. Couldn't stomach the inherent lies in ad work, so I settled for a job in printing where I remained trapped for almost 12 years. After much prayer and soul searching, my wife made the comment driving home one night "have you ever thought of becoming a fireman?"
It was like a bolt of lightning hit me, though I had never considered it before that moment. I have never looked back. Got into the service at 29 yrs old.
I have a wife and two sons aged 9 and 13. We also have a cat and 2 dogs. I am among the fortunate few that can say I love both going to work and also coming home.
I have a vintage Kawasaki 900 motorcycle (1975) that is built to drag race, I love to hunt, fish, shoot, camp, and just about anything else you can do outside. I also play 5 string banjo, drums (self taught, so not very well) and absolutely LOVE a good rock n roll jam. I am absolutely addicted to reading, listening to music and I'm working on becoming at least a tolerable cook. Life is just way too good... - Day Job:
- This IS my day job!
- Relationship Status:
- Married
- Why I Joined Fire/EMS
- I worked 12 years as an artist before realizing I hadn't helped even one person, other than the creep that owned the company.
- Why I Love Fire/EMS
- It is the greatest job in the world. Somewhere that you can make a real difference for someone.
- Top Issues Facing Responders:
- Safety and funding to do real life training.
Jason Edwards
Glad to hear from you. We're pretty much getting back to normal, but it's been a strange feeling since things aren't normal - if that makes sense. All the well wishes from our community and brothers abroad have been really healing and helpful. What amazes me is how sincere people are in their condolences. You can see in their eyes that they really mean it when they say they're sorry and they wish there was something they could do. It's touching to know so many people are grieving with you in some way.
Investigations are continuing; we had a meeting to disseminate the latest information, but I was working at Cincinnati and missed it. I'm hoping to catch up on the latest, but haven't gotten any further info as of yet. Everyone is kind of focused on the latest hiring process (Colerain and the City are both hiring) and have been really concentrating on our R.A.T. training. (Ha! My nose is all busted from the Denver and Nance drills and muscles I forgot I had are screaming at me for all the recent abuse - I feel OLD!)
Hope all is well in the great state of Texas... Stay safe, bro!
~J~
May 12, 2008
Troy Thompson
Stay safe brother.
Oct 8, 2008
FETC
I need to forward the mayday audio from outside of FFN.
Oct 10, 2008