13/03/2026
🔥 *20 Brutally Honest Truths About Volunteer Firefighters* 🔥
1. The pager will go off the moment you start cooking dinner or just sit down to relax.
2. Fires love weekends and public holidays.
3. Someone will always say “it’ll be a quick job.” It never is..
4. Smoke follows you home
5. Everyone suddenly becomes a weather expert during fire season.
6. The truck always seems to need something just as you’re about to leave.
7. You learn to get dressed very quickly at 2am.
8. Everyone says they’ll only stay for a short time.
9. You’ll meet some of the best people you’ve ever known at your brigade.
10. Coffee and energy drinks become extremely important.
11. Weather apps suddenly become the most-used apps on your phone.
12. Fire season somehow feels both very long and very fast.
13. The smell of smoke instantly gets your attention.
14. Every firefighter secretly enjoys a good truck photo.
15. The phrase “just mop up a few hotspots” can mean many things.
16. Your family learns that plans may change suddenly.
17. You gain a whole new respect for the bush.
18. You realise how important teamwork really is.
19. You become very good at telling stories that start with “this one time at a fire…” (You thought I was going to say band camp didn't ya ;) )
20. Despite the long hours, smoke, and chaos… you wouldn’t trade the experience or the people for anything.
👨🏻‍🚒Volunteer firefighters are a special kind of person 🔥
