re: Fire fighting needs to be rethunk

I would like to try to answer. I didn't plan this career but after underachieving in college and making some poor decisions, this is where I ended up.
I thought of leaving years ago because of I wanted to do more for my family but instead developed a skill to supplement my income. Why did I do this instead of working a job with better pay? Why did I stick with it instead of taking a job where I wouldn't have to work a total of 80 hours a week (2 jobs) to make the same money?

Not the salary.
Not the benefits.
Not the schedule.

None of those are great when you're married with young kids.

I think it has a lot to do with pride . I help people, like someone said before, at maybe the worst time of their lives.
I also have a family, outside of the one I already had. Brothers, Sisters and even a few Fathers, that I can count on when I need someone.