The first shift as a firefighter

Current location: Nynäshamn fire station, Sweden

The Clock is approaching 17.30 fast, and the outlook on the fire station getting an alarm is decreasing by the second – it is pouring outside. Nevertheless, I have completed my first day shift in my role as “smoke diver 2”, and feel pleased to finally have started. Last week my colleague Govand and I had our introduction week where we got to tag along on alarms, but not necessarily be thrown “in the fire” but rather function as an extra resource so that we could learn the routines on the station. We had 3 alarms that week, out of which all turned out to be calm ones: A forest fire, a pile of junk burning, and an old lady who took a wrong turn into a ditch. As much as I don’t want to wish accidents upon others, I am still eager to be the one working when they do arrive, so that I can start feeling less anxious/nervous/excited about being a fire fighter. Although my name tag says “Linda Eckardt Firefighter 322”, I still feel I need to earn the name and running around on the station doing drills and mentally preparing will only get you so far. I think this profession is all about experience in combination with a humbleness and eagerness to learn. And I am ready to learn. Out there, in the field. Tomorrow is my first night shift. I wonder how it feels waking up to an alarm in the middle of the night in combination with an adrenaline kick.