2020: Bright Moments Amid the Challenges
2020 has been a year unlike any other in recent memory – a year perfectly timed with the message, “Hindsight is 20/20,” as there is so much we can glean from these unparalleled challenges.
When a global pandemic reached our shores, firefighters stood steadfast on the front lines, making constant adjustments to safety and health procedures at the station to ensure continued coverage for communities. And amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, first responders responded to widespread civil unrest, with many firefighters facing community backlash for the first time in their careers. Again, firefighters stood steadfast on the front lines, even when they too were targeted.
FireRescue1’s 2020 year in review shares messages of hope to firefighters who find themselves exhausted by such a taxing year. On the lighter side, we share some of the many ways firefighters expressed themselves through their COVID-19 PPE. And we offer lessons learned from fire service leaders facing civil unrest in their areas.
But this year goes far beyond these unique challenges – and our 2020 year in review reflects this. Find inspiration in a firefighter who goes above and beyond to serve his community; read about the department tasked the ultimate response – the White House; learn about the technology that leveled-up fire service response efforts; and review our lists of the top heartwarming, viral and odd stories of the year. We cannot forget these inspirational, remarkable and thought-provoking stories likely buried in the news cycle.
If hindsight is 20/20, then we must learn from these challenging experiences, better prepared to face 2021, all the while remembering the many other notable stories to emerge from this extraordinary year.
- Protecting the People’s House: How DC Fire & EMS helps keep the White House safe
- Surgeon by day, firefighter by night: A surgeon’s journey back to the fire service
- ‘It was like jumping into a fireplace': How a CO and former EMT saved a driver engulfed in flames
- Video: A tribute to the firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2020
- Marc Bashoor and Janelle Foskett reflect on 2020, a year unlike any other