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Your Emotional Relationships With Fire Itself
Hello ...
I genuinely would like to hear some of you tell me about your emotional relationships (not with people) with fire itself. Will you share?
Rarely do I tell people this (... and now I've gone overboard and posted it on the internet) but I have an extraordinary respect and awe of fire itself. I used to wonder if my feelings about fire were somehow sick. I don't understand where these feelings come from. I am just attracted to it. Whether it is in a fireplace, or a warehouse. I feel drawn to the complexity of it. I have never, in my life, heard anyone else confess this out loud. Certainly, this must apply to at least some of you?
I don't think that 100% of you are drawn to firefighting "solely" because it's a job and it helps others. (I suspect it is often like a kind of calling from the soul.)
As a child, I figured I'd grow up to be either a firefighter or an arsonist. I just wanted to be around it. I was an underachiever in these two respects --- and did neither. I lacked the physical strength (I tried) to become a firefighter, and the destructive & criminal streak (thank goodness) to become an arsonist.
However, I feel that I've always had a relationship with fire somehow. Is it only me? (Of course, it just would have been wrong if I had been born as anything other than a fire sign!)
The duality of fire (it's simultaneous beauty and yet its tenacity to destroy) affects who I am, and how I look at life. It's quite the metaphor. I suspect that none of you could do your job without a tremendous level of "respect" for fire. So that's what I'm curious about. Do you have any other feelings about fire, or for it, that you will share?
It goes without saying that you see lots of injury, loss of life, property destruction, and ruined lives and natural habitats in what you do. Never (never) would I diminish the true devastation of that. But I wish to know what you "feel emotionally about fire" beyond being a hero doing a job, which is what each of you clearly are.
Is there anyone out there who will admit that they love fire and its power, without feeling it is blasphemy to your profession?
Let me know.
I genuinely would like to hear some of you tell me about your emotional relationships (not with people) with fire itself. Will you share?
Rarely do I tell people this (... and now I've gone overboard and posted it on the internet) but I have an extraordinary respect and awe of fire itself. I used to wonder if my feelings about fire were somehow sick. I don't understand where these feelings come from. I am just attracted to it. Whether it is in a fireplace, or a warehouse. I feel drawn to the complexity of it. I have never, in my life, heard anyone else confess this out loud. Certainly, this must apply to at least some of you?
I don't think that 100% of you are drawn to firefighting "solely" because it's a job and it helps others. (I suspect it is often like a kind of calling from the soul.)
As a child, I figured I'd grow up to be either a firefighter or an arsonist. I just wanted to be around it. I was an underachiever in these two respects --- and did neither. I lacked the physical strength (I tried) to become a firefighter, and the destructive & criminal streak (thank goodness) to become an arsonist.
However, I feel that I've always had a relationship with fire somehow. Is it only me? (Of course, it just would have been wrong if I had been born as anything other than a fire sign!)
The duality of fire (it's simultaneous beauty and yet its tenacity to destroy) affects who I am, and how I look at life. It's quite the metaphor. I suspect that none of you could do your job without a tremendous level of "respect" for fire. So that's what I'm curious about. Do you have any other feelings about fire, or for it, that you will share?
It goes without saying that you see lots of injury, loss of life, property destruction, and ruined lives and natural habitats in what you do. Never (never) would I diminish the true devastation of that. But I wish to know what you "feel emotionally about fire" beyond being a hero doing a job, which is what each of you clearly are.
Is there anyone out there who will admit that they love fire and its power, without feeling it is blasphemy to your profession?
Let me know.
Replies are closed for this discussion.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by turk182 on
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As was said before fire is a tool and has to be respected the minute you become complacent or do not respect it, it will hurt you. The only time I felt the need to lite a fire was in my coal furnace to heat my house.
I have no use for people who set fires because they hurt people no matter how you look at it. they either hurt them pyshically, emotionally, or finacially. My whole family are fire fighters and we do it because we want to help people when they need it most no matter what the trouble they are in.
I do not find fire beautiful just destructive! -
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Permalink Reply by Sherri on
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Hi WestPhilly
Please don't alienate yourself from your fraternity on my behalf. It's not worth it. You have to live with them and how they all think (inside the box) ...
If the last 3 decades haven't presented the urge, I'm relatively certain I will not get it now (anymore than I would get the urge to do grand theft auto).
However, I appreciate the ABSURITY of your comments --- which seem parallel in absurity (to me) along with this "online-chat-calibre psychoanalysis" that I'm receiving on this website.
And no, fire couldn't possibly be beautiful. Millions of homes have fireplaces as a tool, strictly to heat the dwellings because they must possess no other heat source. Yeah, that's it. It has nothing to do with the aesthetics. Same thing with bonfires, etc. No beauty there. Fire must only be looked at as a monster. Who, on earth, would ever conceive of being more open-minded or multi-dimensional than that?
Lock me up for the scope of my thoughts. Better yet, "burn" me at a stake. I must deserve such punishment.
~ Sherri -
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I agree. Oh well.
And if they do realize they are persecuting the wrong person, they hide it well. But ... that's how it goes sometimes.
~ Sherri -
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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I will borrow a line from a "Jake and Vinnie" episode that I wrote.
Fire is a hater. It leaves people homeless, possessionless, hurt, scarred, scared, more cynical, fearful, resentful and in some cases DEAD.
A fire burns 60,000 acres and leaves 6 firefighters dead. Not a beautiful thing.
I can't speak for everyone, but I have NEVER been drawn to FIRE. I have been drawn to what fire can DO. I have been drawn to the fight; to put myself in its destructive path and STOP IT. I have been drawn to the emotional upheaval that it causes its victims and I want to be there to at least minimize that impact.
Fire has color and though the colors might have an attraction to some for their "beauty", the color is created by superheated gases that does what CLASS? That's right; it burns you.
So, no; you have a very narrow view for and appreciation for a chemical reaction that is Man's worst man-made and natural disaster.
I am surprised that the responses are for the most part reserved.
Anyone who has ever visited a children's burn unit or been to a burn camp would have a real problem with your fascination.
Ever consider working in a nitroglycerin factory?
TCSS.
Art -
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No clue who you are trying to convince. I don't disagree with any of what you said regarding fires that are out of control.
I don't remember implying that I love a fire as it burns down an orphanage --- which is how you are reacting.
You are naive to assume that my life experiences don't include
visiting burn units and every other hospital setting. You don't have a patent on seeing disaster and tragedies. (Unfortunately, it's all you can see now.) Your loss.
~Sherri -
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Permalink Reply by LT Lake on
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WOW has this run both sides of the gauntlet. First off Sherri, you need to decide which side of the fence your standing on and stay there. You make reference to becoming either a firefighter or an arsonist yes granted it was as a child, still wrong choice of words and I think you realize that. You also say you have "respect and awe whether it’s in a fire place or a warehouse" and while I agree TexasFire comment was distasteful, it makes the point but I wouldn’t consider watching a warehouse burn a romantic date either. If you are talking about a fire in a fire place or outdoors in a fire pit that is “confined and controlled” then yes I will admit I do love the smell of a good fire. I do love the sound of the wood popping as it burns and I have found myself staring at the flicker of the flame mesmerized for hours on a warm summer night but if you are talking about a “warehouse” fire, a vehicle fire, a wild land fire, a structure fire or any other fire not controlled just released weather it be by accident or by “arson” then I will tell you no I do NOT love it I HATE it and I will do everything I can to contain and extinguish said fire. So I guess you would say mine is a love hate relationship. As for the sole reason of becoming a firefighter no I do not do it because it’s a job I am proud to be a volunteer and it is “solely” ok mostly to help others. Our AC said it best “it all about neighbors helping neighbors” but to paraphrase Joe Stoltz a little it’s also the addiction of putting the wet stuff on the red stuff. Its the Fight we love not the fire.
So I guess one could say its the combination of your words that have "ruffled a few feathers" saying while you respect it you are "in awe" with a "warehouse fire" and then calling you self an "underachiever" for not becommming an arsonist and ending with you "love fire and its power" -
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Permalink Reply by Rescuefrog on
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Joe as always says it well!
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Permalink Reply by tony.r on
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Hi Sherri I don't think ur crazy as a kid I loved being around the camp fire all the time but in 1999 the beast turned on me and took two of my children 2 and 4 years old now i dedicate my life to end his.Thanks for the topic we all can give input too.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Robertson on
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Lady, I'm a woman and not afraid to discuss my feelings. I agree with everyone here, you need some help. If you don't think so, you're in way to deep already. Fire can be fasinating, watching in a fireplace, but don't ever think we "love" it. We love to put it out, period.
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LT Lake ~
No truer words have been spoken, in all of this discussion, than what you've written here.
You are right --- in so many places.
Although I do not sit on both sides of the fence, your point is well-taken, and I see how it sounds like it (in what I wrote, when referencing the warehouse). I witnessed a fully-engulfed "empty" warehouse fire once ... and it was one of the the most staggeringly incredible things I have ever seen with my own two eyes. (This comment does not even come close to implying that fire victims are ever discounted by me --- so let's not go there again.) As for the warehouse situation: I feared the fire; respected the fire; noted its power; was in absolute awe of the fire as it consumed the structure; and as horrible as its consequences were likely to be, it was still a beautiful thing to watch. (Sorry, it just was.) Does this mean I'm on my way to another warehouse with an accelerant? Of course not. Does this mean I want people to suffer, of course not. Does this mean I am non-chalant about whether firefighters are in danger, of course not. It was simply a visual experience that I will never forget. And, ironically, it was beautiful. There is just no other word. Hate me for being attracted to it and for thinking so -- if you must.
The 'underachiever remark' was an attempt at humor. (Duly noted that my humor was totally wasted on the fire department personnel who visit this website.)
Anyway, thanks for reading all of the correspondence here. Clearly you did. Others have chimed in after seeing only excerpts --- and proceeded to defend the honor of victims, etc, as if that was ever the issue with me. Going into a diatribe about how I would feel fire is not beautiful if I visited a burn unit was ridiculous. I have also visited the AIDS ward of many hospitals, so should I stop thinking that sex is beautiful?
The point is, I asked a simple question intending to learn how many of you perceived your relationships with fire itself. (I shared my personal feeling that there is a dichotomy -- a complexity that emcompasses both beauty and destruction.) For me, these two things represent a "contrast". Yet, you all interpret it "as if" I feel that it's beautiful BECAUSE it's destructive. Oh well ...
~Sherri -
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Well said... I have spent many hours watching camp sites and fireplaces and enjoying the warmth it provides and yes the beauty of it. Fire has it place. But this is not why I am a firefighter. I was not drawn to it because of the beauty, or to watch things burn, I was drawn to it to help do my part in stopping the destruction of it. I do not think of my self as a hero, just someone doing their share to help others.
So along with Lt Lake it's a love/hate relationship. -
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Sherri:
Don't be condescending.
I read all of your comments.
You flip-flopped with your response to me.
I have been warmed by a campfire. I have cooked food over a campfire. I have NOT sat there and worshipped it or discussed its "beauty".
I am far from naive, but I am cynical. Big difference.
I don't own a patent, but I do have some copyrights.
You really don't want to get personal with me.
You have no idea how far out into left field you are.
You have an unnatural fascination with a sinister force.
To deny that now contradicts everything you have posted to date.
I'm smarter than I look.
TCSS.
Art -
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