Playing with Fire Mini-Ethnography
Playing With Fire
A Mini-Ethnographic Study on Life within ------ Fire Authority
I had always believed that firemen sit in front of flat screen TV’s watching football all day until they got a call to an emergency. Their job was pretty easy for the most part. Most of their shifts were spent relaxing, I was convinced. However, as soon as I stepped foot into ---- Fire Authority Station 3, all the perceptions I had about firefighters quickly flew out the window and I had a near immediate respect for the people working as firefighters. Still, I had questions. I wanted to know what life was really like within the walls of the fire station. Did they get along? Did the firefighters keep their work relationships at the station strictly? What about the women? What were their personal thoughts about working in a male-dominated service? All these questions and more were answered for me, and it is my pleasure to report them and share what I found as I had the incredible opportunity to spend time with the great people of the ----- Fire Authority. I chose to conduct my ethnographic research with the ----- Fire Authority of ---- -------, CO. Most specifically, I conducted this research within the fire stations of the ------ Fire Authority, shadowing and interviewing people of various rankings. I chose to research within the fire stations as my main interest was in how life was like in the fire station and what it was like to be a woman in the fire service. I carried out this research by spending around six and a half hours shadowing at the fire stations as well as conducting interviews with two different firefighters, one of which was a driver operator, as well as one battalion chief. My experience with the fire department was nothing short of insightful and I was truly honored to be around such great men and women that are so willing to serve their community. My first experience at Station 3 began with a smile and a handshake from a firefighter on his shift, eagerly
A Mini-Ethnographic Study on Life within ------ Fire Authority
I had always believed that firemen sit in front of flat screen TV’s watching football all day until they got a call to an emergency. Their job was pretty easy for the most part. Most of their shifts were spent relaxing, I was convinced. However, as soon as I stepped foot into ---- Fire Authority Station 3, all the perceptions I had about firefighters quickly flew out the window and I had a near immediate respect for the people working as firefighters. Still, I had questions. I wanted to know what life was really like within the walls of the fire station. Did they get along? Did the firefighters keep their work relationships at the station strictly? What about the women? What were their personal thoughts about working in a male-dominated service? All these questions and more were answered for me, and it is my pleasure to report them and share what I found as I had the incredible opportunity to spend time with the great people of the ----- Fire Authority. I chose to conduct my ethnographic research with the ----- Fire Authority of ---- -------, CO. Most specifically, I conducted this research within the fire stations of the ------ Fire Authority, shadowing and interviewing people of various rankings. I chose to research within the fire stations as my main interest was in how life was like in the fire station and what it was like to be a woman in the fire service. I carried out this research by spending around six and a half hours shadowing at the fire stations as well as conducting interviews with two different firefighters, one of which was a driver operator, as well as one battalion chief. My experience with the fire department was nothing short of insightful and I was truly honored to be around such great men and women that are so willing to serve their community. My first experience at Station 3 began with a smile and a handshake from a firefighter on his shift, eagerly