As I am quickly working to wrap up our fall edition of Jessamine Life, I was fortunate to spend some quality time once again over the course of this last week and a half with the Nicholasville Fire Department.

Like a little kid super excited to go hang out with firefighters, I waited with anticipation over the course of a month for my scheduled “ride-a-long” in order to bring you all a feature article about a day in the life of your local first responders.

Although my day did not go entirely as planned, and actually ended up getting split into two half days, it was still an amazing experience I can’t wait for you all to read about when the magazine comes out the end of August.

Through my experience, I realized the misconceptions which circulate around our nation’s firefighters. Until I took my job working with the media, I too had a slight delusion as to what firefighters actually do all day long. Is it like we all see on the screen with movies such as “Backdraft,” “Hellfighters” or “The Towering Inferno.” Perhaps their life is a lot like NBC’s “Chicago Fire.”

Although I know from experience that journalism is not exactly like you see in the movies, I couldn’t help but always wonder about the fire department as their world is a lot like the police department, not one us civilians are allowed often to glimpse into.

I learned one thing from my time with the department, although not always taking calls, your local firefighters are always working. Either keeping up on training, locally checking smoke detectors for free, making sure buildings keep up on their safety or simply working out to keep in shape so to better be able to save you or me, the local fire department does everything they can to ensure it is better serving the community here in Jessamine County.

Although the department never once received a call while I was with them, and I will admit I was bummed not being able to ride fast in a fire truck with the sirens blaring, I was still able to see some “cool” stuff, like when they took me out to their training yard and I watched as they showed me how they would free a trapped victim from a vehicle with “the jaws of life.” You will all want to pick up the magazine to see those pictures for sure.

All in all, the department has never ceased to amaze me at how they have welcomed me in and made me feel like a part of the team. Always sure to let me know their door is always open and to stop in if ever I feel like it, it warms my heart to see such great people leading the department, and you all should feel blessed to have such upstanding first responders in your community who are eager to help, educate and be there for someone in need.

As my time came to an end, and I wrapped up some last-minute pictures, I couldn’t help but smile knowing what kind of people you all have serving this community who are both passionate about their jobs and the real deal if ever you questioned it. If you are ever in need, you can take it from me that you are all in great hands with your local NFD.   

Brittany Fuller is the community editor of The Jessamine Journal and Jessamine Life magazine. She can be reached at brittany.fuller@jessaminejournal.com.