JJSS: How did you decide to become a Firefighter?
Armando: I think most everybody grows up wanting to be a firefighter at one time or another, by the age of 21 I was really interested in a career as one. I proceeded through EMT school and then on to the Fire Academy, upon completion I started looking around the state for firefighter openings.
JJSS: Are you originally from Midland?
Armando: Yes, Ma'am, born and raised.
JJSS: How long have you worked for the Midland Fire Department?
Armando: I have been here a little over 15 years.
JJSS: What did you do before you became a firefighter?
Armando: I was in charge of running the pool at Midland Country Club.
JJSS: What type of response do you get from people when they find out you are a firefighter?
Armando: There is usually an immediate level of respect, obviously its a pretty noble profession which I think is the reason for such positive feedback.
JJSS: What are some of the best things about your job?
Armando: It would be that you get to help people when they are at their worst, you try to make a difference and make their day better by helping solve their problem.
JJSS: What is the worst part of your job?
Armado: Responding to an emergency in which there is someone you know personally, and also responding to pediatric cases.
JJSS: What does your family think about your career in firefighting?
Armando: My wife is very supportive, she loves the fact that I am a firefighter. I have three boys who are all "Gung-ho" about it and never want their dad to leave the fire station as a firefighter.
JJSS: Did you play sports in high school, and how has playing sports helped you in this career?
Armando: I ran track, played basketball and played a little football earlier on. I think that any sport that a child can participate in develops and helps their physical endurance later on. Being involved in sports helps your body mechanics and muscle memory which will help you later on in life.
JJSS: Would you say that you have to stay physically fit to endure the demands of being a firefighter?
Armando: Firefighting is an all or nothing type of job, you can go from reclining on the coach to putting on 60 pounds of equipment on your back including your SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus ) and your bunker gear while working a full fledged fire. This can kick you into an anaerobic state very quickly, you have to be able to give 100% at any given time.
JJSS: How do you train for the physical demands of firefighting?
Armando: We do live training out at the duro field, and we also do strength training here at the fire house. We have annual physicals which requires that we stay physically fit.
JJSS: How has your experience of being a firefighter changed you?
Armando: Being a firefighter has made me realize whats really important in life, it helps you understand that sometimes we stress over things in life that we think are big problems. The people we encounter everyday are facing things that can be overly stressful, as firefighters seeing this everyday it helps us to realize what is really important and what matters most. When we complete our shifts in the morning we go home and hug our loved ones and are thankful for the simple things in life.
JJSS: Do you live your life differently because of your experience of being a firefighter?
Armando: I think so, I think it has impacted my life and brought me back to the basics. I'm just like anyone else, I want the nice things and the feeling of being successful in life at the same time I realize whats truly important.
JJSS: How has being a firefighter changed your view about life and death?
Armando: That is an interesting answer; it almost makes you have a callous over the understanding of death, whereas what other people see as life or death is different. We have to try to not be connected emotionally while at work, this is imperative because we are dealing with life and death situations. We have to be able to make quick and accurate decisions at all times because of the very fact that we are dealing with people's lives.
JJSS: What are some things you do to help cope with some of the difficult things that you see in your job on a day to day basis?
Armando: I try to eat right, get plenty of sleep and exercise. We do talk among ourselves at work; there are some things that our families may not be able to understand such as the magnitude of what we see while working. My wife is a nurse, so I can talk to her because she also deals with like situations in her career.
JJSS: What have you discovered about people by meeting them on what could possibly be the worst day of their lives?
Armando: That there are different levels of what people define as emergencies, and you have to try to help them find a solution to their specific emergency. It can be a lack of education that makes people unaware of the resources available to them. We try to provide the resources and solutions for these people to help them through their situation.
JJSS: Speaking of what people define as emergencies made me think about earlier TV shows. Television offers a stereotypical depiction of what firefighters do, in older TV series you always see firefighters being called out to rescue a person or a kitten from a tree branch for a child. In your career as a firefighter has this ever happened to you?
Armando: I am not going to lie, it has happened. I have been here that long that it has happened, but thankfully not very often. Of course I say that and we will get a call today.
JJSS: I can see it now, I had to bring that question up and you will be like "Thank you Julie for getting us that once in a decade call."
Armando: There are times that we get that detail, we get a small description of what the 911 call entails and then we just have to explore, find out what's going on. There are always three sides to the story and we have to use our best judgment on how to help in these situations.
JJSS: What have you learned about humanity from your career as a firefighter?
Armando: Humans by nature are good people, and for the most part have good intentions but may make bad choices along the way. I also believe that as individuals we are geniuses but as we gather in masses we are more like fish or mice and just follow the crowd. We tend to not stop and think for ourselves.
JJSS: What advice would you give as far as physical training for someone who is interested in a career in firefighting?
Armando: Cardio is a HUGE part of our job, you have to work on your lung volumes and lung capacities. Running is a must to build up cardio endurance. When someone is hired on we of course muscle them up and give them a training routine to help stay fit. They say that in the first year as a firefighter gains about ten pounds, its not because all we do is eat it is strictly muscle gain, muscle weighs more than fat. We also try to teach them more nutritious ways of eating; a healthy diet is a must.
JJSS: What advice could you give someone who would want to start a career in firefighting?
Armando: We are short handed just like everyone else when we got hit by the oilfield, I am thinking that one could apply as a civilian right now however I am not positive. The best way for someone to get information regarding a career opportunity is to contact the Central Fire Station 432-685-7332
JJSS: Armando thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me, I know there are many people out there who are interested in not only pursuing a career in firefighting but many who also want to know what its really like for firefighters on a day to day basis. What you do for the community is appreciated more than any words could be able to express, thank you for your service.
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