Job Talk: April's Story

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Submitted by Rob J.

Plant Operator and Volunteer Firefighter

I’ve been in ERT (Emergency Response Team) for chemical plants for 15 years, as well as industrial firefighting, rope rescue, EMR (Emergency Medical Response), and confined space. I've always wanted to join a fire department, but our family required the income chemical plants offered.

I never had the time to make it to volunteer departments because of my schedule, but last year I was asked to donate half of my liver to a kid that was in need and I went though with the surgery. That turned out to put me out of work for 8 months for recovery and I decided that was the perfect time to start going to the meetings. Once I was able to perform the duties I became an active volunteer firefighter. I feel like everything happens for a reason: the donation, while I was let go from the job due to time I had to take off, I found a job that allows me to fully commit to the department.

Serving the community as a firefighter has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.