Rob Bieber of FireWerx Films has an excellent and highly recommended Film called "Ricky's Rib Shack, A FireFighter's Journey" It is the documented progression of a group of FireFighter trainees in the Denver Fire Department. It is not Hollywood by any stretch of the imagination. "BackDraft" the movie shows Kurt Russell as he battles the monster without a SCBA or helmet. There is always visibility and you know the outcome. Great entertainment but not an accurate depiction of what our "EveryDay Heroes" endure. Sorry folks, thats not how it is! Rob's Film shows it how it is, I have never met Rob in person and only got a true feel for the man after receiving a copy of "A FireFighters Journey." A retired FireFighter and Filmmaker, he has captured the surroundings of a FireFighter and puts you there IN THE FIRE! Enough about Rob Bieber..... Just follow this link to see the trailer of his movie. Here is the link "Ricky's Rib Shack A FireFighter's Journey"
What does Rob's film "A FireFighters Journey" have to do with this new page? I'm glad you asked and Rob's Film is the perfect segway to more FireFighters and the Journeys they have taken or are undertaking now:
I hope you enjoy the following and get a sense for the sacrifices that these brave men and women have made for all of us. The time, the Training and Dedication is worthy of our praises. God bless these men and women as well as all our FireFighters and keep them safe.
It is with great pride and honor that I present Cynthia Scott. I asked some questions of Cynthia, and she was kind enough to answer them. Below are the questions from that interview as well as her responses. I must say that although we have never met face to face, I find that her shear determination to become a firefighter and the YEARS of effort she has put forth, make this woman worthy of our thanks.
Name: Cynthia Scott
Hometown: Palatka, FL
Occupation: FF/ EMT
Employer: Putnam County Emergency Services/ Florida
Interview:
FireFightersBBQ: " What helped you, or made you decide to become a FireFighter/EMT?"
CS: It did not appear to me that FFing was not for everyone and neither is being in the medical field on a rescue. For me, it actually just happened one day. I was praising what FF's do to a friend of mine who was a firefighter and they replied to me, "why don't you become one yourself?" It never ocurred to me before this time just how much I admired and how in awe I was with Fire/ Rescue and EMS. So, for me, it took half a lifetime to realize this is where I belong but once I came to realize it, I then made it happen and let nothing stop me. There was nothing else I wanted to do since then and that year was 2000. I was 37 y/o at the time. Mine is a long story to tell. Due to many personal trials and tribulations it took nine long years to accomplish, as just this year I finished standards at the age of 46. Like I said, long story.
FireFightersBBQ: "What do you like best about your job?"
CS: The county I work for entails mainly volunteer stations and although we have 18 stations from which to respond we only have one paid on-call 24-hr manned fire station and that's with the City, not the county. By my choice, I am PRN, which means I work on a paid on-call basis. I never know from week to week what days I will be working, what stations I will be working at, or whom I will be working with. For me, being PRN makes it possible to make my own schedule as well as keeping the monotony of boredom at bay. I work a total of 2 to3 24-hr shifts a week, so even though I am part-time, I work as much as I want or as little as I wish. It actually works out pretty well in the end.
FireFightersBBQ: " How long have you been a firefighter?"
CS: I received my FF1 certificate in 2004 so I have been fighting fire since then but to carry our gear on the rescue and the fire truck we are required as everyone else is, to have minimum standards. As I mentioned above, I did get that taken care of by graduating just this year. I know, it's all complicated but it's also all true.
FireFightersBBQ: " What words of advice would you give to someone who was thinking of entering the fire service?"
CS: Words of advice. "Welcome aboard and congrats on your great decision. There is no better job in the world and good luck in standards." Oh yeah, word of advice, "less is more while still rookie."
Described by her friends as "charismatic", I would feel safe in saying Cynthia is a cut above, and we are very pleased to showcase her as 1 of America's Bravest. -Stay Safe -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First name- CAPT. SHAUN MCNALLY Fire Department Name- RICHLANDTOWN FIRE CO. #1 County - RICHLANDTOWN, BUCKS COUNTY State - PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.
AKA "Big City", Capt. Shaun McNally Has very strong beliefs on what it means to be a FireFighter and a member of the Brother Hood. Here's what he said:"IT MEANS ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND YOUR COMMUNITY. I COULDN'T PICTURE DOING ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS THIS PERSONALLY REWARDING.....FOR FREE!"
Q.#1 " What helped you, or made you decide to become a FireFighter/EMT?" - Shaun- "I was raised in the emergency services for my entire life. My father is a FireFighter and a Police Officer. My stepfather, uncle, and numerous cousins were all at one point FireFighters. It only seemed natural to me to keep the tradition alive. I only hope my children, who wish to become FireFighters, follow in my footsteps."
Q.#2 "What do you like best about your job?" - Shaun- "Hands down, It's the personal reward of helping people and serving my community. The adrenaline rush is nice too, but not the real reason I joined."
Q.#3 "What do you like least about your job?' - Shaun- "Sometimes politics gets too involved, but policies are in place to keep it in check. Other than that, I take on whatever is thrown at me."
Q.#4 " How long have you been a firefighter?" - Shaun - "I have been a FireFighter for 13 yrs. I held the position of Lt. for 1 yr and am now currently serving as Capt."
Q.#5 " What words of advice would you give to someone who was thinking of entering the fire service?" - Shaun -"You have to give it your all. Pay attention to what the senior members have to teach you."
Q. #6 " How would you describe your personality?" - Shaun - "I am a fun loving guy with a great sense of humor, but when the the time comes to go to work on the fireground, I'm all business. I try to have fun at the same time." - S. McNally
True story- I met Jim on a website called FireLink.com. One of the many friends and aquaintances I have made in the last 6 months since starting FireFightersBBQ.com. We immediately had a good repor and have continued ever since. I find him to extra-ordinary man and a real 'go getter'. His list of accomplishments and accolades are as long as your arm or longer if you are under 6 foot tall. Here are some answers from my list of questions that I gave to Fire Marshal Beck.
Q.#1 " What helped you, or made you decide to become a FireFighter/EMT?" Jim Beck- I grew up with my dad being a volunteer fire fighter for 16 yrs. He always taught me to help your neighbor any way that you can. He used to say that God blesses us so that we can bless someone else in someway. Dad had to give up firefighting or lose the use of his arm due to a medical condition.
I believe that you need to give back to your community in some way; some people will be a volunteer t-ball coach or help at the city park when there is a function like the 4th of July. My dad used to say that he needed to be a volunteer fire fighter because there were never enough of them out there. He would look at mom and say, “ How would you feel if there was a fire and nobody showed up to help you?”
Q.#2 "What do you like best about your job?" Jim Beck- I like the feeling that you get inside of you when you know that you did all you could do to help someone in need. It gets you right there when a mother or father comes up to you after a fire and they say, “ Thanks for saving the house and all of our belongings” or some little boy comes up to you after a fire and smiles at you and says “ I want to be a fireman when I grow up”
Q.#3 "What do you like least about your job?' Jim Beck- when you cannot make a difference at an accident call no matter what you do, or like a S.I.D.S death. When a child dies it really gets to me. Maybe God had a reason to take them home but it still hurts.
Q.#4 " How long have you been a firefighter?" Jim Beck- I spent 6 yrs. on Kendallville city and during my 10 yrs on Topeka fire I am also a fill in dispatcher for the last 7 yrs. on Ligonier Fire to the south of us. After I got out of the Navy at 23 yrs old I went to college and got a Fire science and a Business degree. It was well worth the long hours of studying.
Q.#5 " What words of advice would you give to someone who was thinking of entering the fire service?" Jim Beck- It is not all glamour and pats on the back, most times you do it and nobody knows your name and there are no medals given out. But God always knows what you did, do it for him and you will get more out of it. Also be ready for long nights of backbreaking work and you still have to go to work at your full time job in the morning. Stay in shape, you are no help to the team if you fall over with a heart attack on a rescue call.
Q. #6 " How would you describe your personality?" Jim Beck- I am an easygoing guy that likes to help people and is always trying to learn and keep up on new technology. If you are going to quit learning you might as well retire. I have learned a lot in the last 10 yrs. If you are not happy with what you are doing in life, MAKE A CHANGE! Life is too short to be miserable.
Favorite quote- "you got to do what you got to do whether you like it or not"-J Beck
