Is an individual firefighter a hero?
No. There are heroic actions taken by firefighters every day throughout our country. However, this is what they are paid to do. Are there some incredible individual efforts? Yes, absolutely, but you will rarely hear about the efforts of a single firefighter. You are more likely to hear about the accomplishments of an entire crew. As firefighters, we are taught early on that this is a selfless occupation. You are not to be concerned with your own personal needs, but rather the needs of the crew. As a result, everyone dresses alike, eats, works, and sleeps together. The teamwork concept is very apparent in the fire service. An “individual” is either brought into the fold or is eliminated through peer pressure.
