One more last working class hero

Hypothesis 3:
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Getting-in to fight a fire thus may involve a number of motivations for firefighters, including:
a. Humanitarian: at persons reported incidents firefighters might be prepared to go that bit further and risk their
lives to save others.
b. Professional Humanitarian: the fire service is a last resort, if the fire service gives up the situation is lost.
c. Professional Pride: firefighting is a skill to be proud of and defended.
d. Professional Cavalier: firefighters are professionals, who may not follow the rules when firefighting, but will get
the job done to the best of their ability.
3.4.3. Is there more to firefighting than helping the public?
To develop Hypothesis 3, especially the possibility that there might be other motivations for why firefighters get-into a
fire apart from helping the public, it is important to ask one question. In complex and dangerous situations why not, “shit,
run” and then, “squirt” the water from the comparative safety outside? Surely, the need firefighters have for getting so
close to the fire and stay put when it is so hot is not just about preventing water-damage! When I questioned firefighters
about this, the most common response was, “it’s my job” and this explanation fits with firefighters’ professional ethos.
However, it has to be said that firefighters attend a lot of fires in their 30 years of service. After a few years’ of service
firefighting is not a novelty to them. Firefighters also know that a building on fire can be unpredictable and that every
time they get-in they are putting themselves in possible danger. Yet, firefighters always seem keen to attend more fires.
For year on year firefighters are willing to run to the appliance when the bells go down. The appliance then speeds
through traffic to the incident and firefighters get-in as quick as possible. Firefighters are also keen to return to the station
and await the next call. This situation is not just one supported by young, keen firefighters. It is a situation that the
longest serving firefighter on the watch, not only supports but also requires of the rest of the watch. Without peer group
support younger firefighters enthusiasm would soon die, dampen like the fires they put out, but this is not how it works.
The fire service is so efficient and feted by the public, because after 30 years’ service firefighters still run to the appliance.
Therefore any research into fire service culture and the construction of firefighters’ masculinity, must question why it is
that firefighters are so keen to fight fires?
In my search for an explanation, Jo confirms what Fred has said earlier, that if she does not get-in quickly the fire
will spread. Alex gets an adrenaline rush from the challenge of getting-in and she looks forward to firefighting:
Jo:
Alex:
I have got to get-in and put the bloody thing out as fast as possible. Cos, this is getting too hot and if it
is getting hotter, hotter and I have got to start putting water on something quickly. Yunnoo, it’s no good
thinking .. no there is no way you could turn round and come out.. not at that stage. If you’re up there
and you’ve got water, you have got to use it. And if you know it is in bedroom you just, I mean you
obviously, you go in. If it’s getting hot you progress .. then you still go on and you still go on .. you just
go in and you find the fire and you put it out.
[My emphases].
What do I want to do? I want to get it. I want to cool it down. That is what I want to do. I want to find
where the seat 132 of fire is. It’s a goal. … It’s good fun. It’s exciting. You get that adrenaline rush.
You sort of see a flat and yes here we go. We have got a goer 133 , excellent! Let’s get stuck in there,
let’s get dirty and whatever. It’s good fun; I enjoy it. You don’t want to wish it on anybody, but em,
you sort of think I could just do with a job tonight. Just a little one; that will do. I just want to get stuck
in there.
[My emphases].
The theme here could easily interpret to suggest that firefighters push on to get-in to the fire, because until they put water
on the fire it will continue to grow in size, which increases the damage and the danger. However, Jo and Alex may be
doing more than just ‘doing their job’. It may be that beating the fire is a goal. Alex actually suggests she looks forward
to firefighting (although she has no wish for people to suffer). Alex’s view is typical and the paradox in firefighters’
general impatience to go to fires is interesting. At fires people will be suffering a loss and fire, because it is not entirely
predictable, always presents a danger to firefighters. The last two accounts belong to female firefighters, but male
firefighters Alf and Ashley have already suggested similar motivations. Colin is very clear, he will try and try again to
beat the fire:
132 The actual ‘heart’ of the fire; where it is fiercest and firefighters must be close to this area if they are to avoid water-damage when they turn on their
jet.
133 Alex uses the term ‘goer’, which has two meanings for a male firefighter: first, it relates to a fire that is burning out of control and will be exciting to
fight; second, in common with many males, at least, it relates to a woman who is sexually active/exciting in bed.