40+++ Years as a Volunteer Firefighter: Volunteer or Paid, the Risks + Perils Are All the Same!

I dedicated half of my life to a volunteer fire company. I did my part, other than going into the service. I am proud of my accomplishments, and now my two sons are following my ambition. Forty years at 10,000 hours is roughly 2,500 to 3,000 hours per year.

This is just a part of the risks and perils faced every day by paid and volunteer firefighters across the country. You don't know what you are getting into until you get there. Every call is different. I have the greatest respect for poli...