Silverberg: Firefighters are rightly admired by young and old

By KATHY SILVERBERG

Published: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 3:56 p.m.

Maybe it's the bright red fire engine seen screaming down the road, or the siren itself or the snazzy hats, but what child has not dreamed of becoming a firefighter?

A report by Forbes magazine indicated that five out of 33 6-year-olds questioned about their career aspirations said they would like to be firefighters, and that shouldn't come as any surprise to parents and teachers everywhere. Nor have the toy manufacturers been unaware of the appeal of fire trucks and all the other trappings that go along with firefighters. They are a part of childhood.

What elementary school student has not visited a fire station or had a chance to see a fire engine up close? Those experiences make an impression and help to create the mystique of the brave firefighter who rescues people from burning buildings, not to mention the occasional cat caught up in a tree. That heroic image has to be attractive to young children, and as they grow older, the appeal of courageously facing danger can be too much to resist.

Tragically, the reality of that danger was highlighted by the 19 firefighters who lost their lives this week battling an erratic forest fire that threatened an Arizona town. The deaths marked the greatest loss of life among firefighters since the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings following the terrorist attack of 9/11.

But the reality of a firefighter's daily life is somewhat more routine -- while still dangerous -- responding to traffic accidents and medical emergencies of all kinds and spending an inordinate amount of time maintaining fire equipment and training to keep skills sharp.