The life of a firefighter is a busy one. You might think there is a lot of down time. Think again. About 30 years ago, the Ottawa Fire Department ran about 300 calls a year. Last year, they ran over 1,800 and are expecting more this year. Ottawa Fire Chief Tim Mathias says the department has changed dramatically over the years and they don’t just respond to fire calls anymore.
He adds that fire prevention is a big part of the job now, particularly with elementary age kids and adults over the age of 65. He says if you see the firemen out driving around, give them a wave and if you see them outside the truck, thank them for keeping community safe.
