We visited the Dallas Fire Department's
training facility
and talked to them about the career of firefighting.
We have a six-story tower here, and they get to
go up and down three times.
We've got 18 stories carrying £45 of high-rise equipment
and about another 30 or £40 of gear that
they're wearing.
They'll be in training 11 12 months before they
go to the fire station.
I have good job stability. I work with some of
the most wonderful people on the face of the
earth, I guess.
I get to do a lot of good for a lot of people.
One of my questions to the department was, how
do the women do as firefighters?
Are they strong enough and tough enough for
this very demanding work?
It takes a lot of persistence and a lot of training.
We've got some of the best lieutenants and
captains and instructors here,
and they're doing a real good job of preparing us
so when we go out in the field we'll be fully
aware of what to expect.
The Dallas Fire Department trains surrounding
fire departments at the academy.
A career that I knew I could be proud of, one
that's going to last the rest of my life,
and I can't think of anything else I'd rather
do the rest of my life.
In addition to running up and down buildings,
putting out fires,
they also have to be trained as emergency
medical technicians,
and they have to maintain a level of physical
fitness all the time they are a firefighter.
We stay in shape out here. We work out with our
classes while we have them out here.
We set the lead by the instructors, so we try
to stay in as good shape as we can.