Russ had always really liked the idea of being a firefighter but didn’t pursue it. In 2020, he opened a fitness studio five minutes from the fire station and it was an ideal opportunity to become an On-Call firefighter.
He has a 40 hour contract, which allows him to be flexible with both work and family commitments, such as doing the school run in the afternoons. The classes understand when they sign up, that if Russ’s alerter goes off, he will be leaving immediately and will need to rearrange or continue afterwards depending on the incident. His clients are very supportive of his role as On-Call firefighter.
“It’s the adrenaline that I love and the not knowing what I’m going to, testing myself in different situations and ultimately helping the community.
“It’s a big commitment, the training for the first two years is intense but it’s so worth it. You learn so many new skills and meet new people from all different walks of life. You make new friends and form relationships from the very start.”
When asked if he had any advice or tips Russ said,
“Try to take everything offered to you, and come with no pre-conceptions. Be a blank canvas, take it all in. Ask questions from anyone and everyone. It is immensely rewarding and worthwhile. I threw my whole self into it, and I enjoy it so much.”
