Skip to main content

Member Stories – Darci’s Story Transcript

We see a lot of stuff that most people don't ever see or don't want to see.

You kind of dig down a little deeper than you would because you have to.

When it comes to house fires and that sort of thing that you really push your body to the extreme.

And you're really dealing with, you know, people in the worst day of their lives.

So that's something that you kind of take home with you after every call.

You don't ever forget.

And you kind of work through that with you know your support system that you have and you just keep doing the job.

I have two kids.

I'd like to think that they think it's cool that their mom’s a firefighter, but I don't know if they actually do, but I do.

I love my job.

It's an adrenaline rush.

It's a great feeling to help your community, and I know that we are appreciated for that job.

You don't know what you're doing every day.

Every day is different.

It's always changing.

There's definitely been calls that are hard to get through and that you have to talk to someone about it.

But it's never ever made me question my job.

You know, we get along really well at work.

I think it's just the day-to-day stuff where we could sit around the table and just joke around and then the next minute, we're on the truck and we're going to a call and that feeling of fullness, like fulfillment maybe.

Everyone just gets along so well, and you know, we've got each other’s backs.
A lot of the guys that have retired in the last couple of years that I have actually worked with.

They come back to the Hall in they’re like:
“Ok, I miss the job, I miss being on the truck, I miss the adrenaline rush at the end of the day.”

But they seem to be living such a full life.

Very busy, very active, traveling.

They seem to be using their time wisely that they have now that they're not working.

Physically, there is a lot of equipment that we have to carry and our gear that we wear.

It really motivates you to stay in shape.

We're definitely encouraged at work to work out and keep ourselves in shape.

Mentally, it’s definitely a huge challenge.

You kind of dig from that inner strength.

Whether it has anything to do with firefighting or not, I'd like to think that I paved the way for women in nontraditional roles, and even it within firefighting my goal was like look she's been doing it for 15 years, you know.

Yeah, I definitely like to think that I've inspired people.

I learned that I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was, that there are some really good people out there that are really thankful for what you do.

There is so much support where you might not necessarily think there is support.

I'm halfway through my career.

My retirement is kind of coming more into focus now.

I'd like it to be happy.

I'd like to travel.

I'd like to visit my children, wherever they are.

I think I just want to enjoy the time that I have here.