Firefighter Resiliency In The Face Of Trauma

The call comes in with the dispatcher advising a reported structure fire, across from or next to, with multiple calls received. Moments later, the dispatcher reports that there are people trapped inside the building. As one can imagine, the anxiety level begins to rise at a rapid rate while responding. Once at the scene, your worst thoughts become a reality with civilians killed in the fire. Or worst yet, in the course of the firefight, a fellow firefighter is tragically killed. In a post 9/11 era, as well as dealing with natural disasters around the world, firefighters will continue to experience emotionally charged trauma throughout their careers. Yet with all of this trauma that firefighters see through the years, why is it that firefighters appear to be so hardy through it all? Or more appropriately, why do firefighters appear to be so resilient through the