[0:00] (suspenseful music) (siren blaring) [0:03] (indistinct jabbers) [0:06] - [Leon] We have opportunities to help people [0:08] in their bad days. [0:09] I think that's the most rewarding, [0:10] being able to be there for people [0:12] when they need us the most. [0:13] - [Rob] As a firefighter, you get to be very active [0:16] and you have to be critical thinkers. [0:18] - [Fritjof] You never know what you're gonna get for a call. [0:20] Every day is a little bit different, [0:21] which is part of why I also like the firefighting career. [0:24] - I was looking for a job that wasn't gonna be monotonous [0:27] and kind of the same routine every day. [0:29] You can come in in the morning [0:31] and you think you're gonna do plan A, [0:32] but 10 minutes later, it's gonna be plan B. [0:35] - Helping people in their time of need, [0:36] that's very rewarding. [0:37] It's very exciting to extinguish fires [0:40] and very exciting to medically save people. [0:44] - [Matt H.] We have a great culture and the people [0:45] that we have here show up, they have good attitudes, [0:48] they work hard. [0:49] - Each of us have our own [0:51] different strengths and weaknesses. [0:53] We have the kind of culture where you can depend [0:56] on your crew to be able to ask, [0:59] "Hey, can you help me with this?" and not be judged. [1:02] - I became a firefighter because I enjoy helping people [1:06] and I find the unpredictability fascinating and exciting. [1:10] - New hires right away can expect an eight week academy, [1:13] so it's very hands-on, a lot of physical demanding training, [1:17] so pulling hoses, doing extrication drills. [1:20] - [Leon] There's a variety of ways to get involved. [1:22] We have a tech rescue team. [1:23] We have a drone team. [1:24] We have a fire prevention team. [1:26] - [Matt H.] We're a new full-time department. [1:28] - So there's a lot of room for growth and promotion, [1:30] and we're really forward on sending people to training. [1:33] - [Matt H.] We train a lot. [1:34] I mean, we have trainings three times a week. [1:37] You get into this job, [1:38] training some of the best parts of it. [1:39] I don't think anybody trains quite as much [1:41] or as well as we do here, [1:42] so that's something that's pretty unique here [1:44] and a great opportunity for people. [1:46] - [Rob] At Bloomington with the support of the city, [1:49] they support us in our staffing needs, [1:51] they support us in our equipment needs, [1:52] and they support us in our training. [1:54] It's that support I've never felt really anywhere else. [1:56] - [Matt N.] You work 24 hour shifts, and so with that, [1:59] you're truly spending a lot of time with your coworkers [2:02] and you leave your family at home, [2:04] but you get to come to your second family. [2:06] - [Mamie] I love the comradery that everyone has. [2:09] A lot of us being neighbors, we all care about each other [2:12] in a way differently than just coworkers. [2:15] - [Matt H.] If you're interested in the fire service, [2:16] whether you've been in that or looking to get into it, [2:18] I highly encourage you to come, [2:20] check out Bloomington Fire Department. [2:21] We got a lot of options for you [2:23] and it's a fun, great place to work, great city to work for. [2:26] - [Matt N.] If you're looking for a challenging [2:28] but rewarding career, I would encourage you to apply [2:31] and we'd love to have you on the team. [2:33] (upbeat music)