Firefighter Jameson DuhrSeventeen new firefighters now serve at a fire station near you! Get to know them by subscribing to the MFD Blog.

Where are you stationed?
I am assigned to Station 1 (W. Dayton Street) on the C shift.

Why did you want to pursue this career?
I wanted a job that was dynamic. I couldn’t ever see myself sitting at a desk or in an office all day. This job offers everything I have ever looked for. It’s challenging but rewarding. I enjoy being able to be out in the streets and interacting with the community on a daily basis.

Why did you want to work in Madison, for the Madison Fire Department?
I grew up in western Dane County, so Madison is my home city. When I went to school at MATC, the MFD firefighters were always around and I wanted to become part of their team. The MFD offers many different positions on special teams, fire investigation, paramedicine, and training which means there’s always something to strive and work hard for.

What has been the most rewarding part of your experience so far?
I would say working downtown has been extremely rewarding. There’s always thousands of people around, whether on State Street, around the capital, or at one of the venues in our area. The city has a number of events and concerts, and oftentimes people from all over the country stop in to our station to visit and say hi. Just meeting people and hearing their stories has been rewarding in itself.

Since graduating the Academy, what are among the most memorable experiences you've had?
Being that Station 1 is home of the Lake Rescue Team, I began dive training shortly after starting here. I spent a lot of time in the water growing up, but I have never been SCUBA diving. It was much harder than I initially thought it was going to be, but it’s a fun and rewarding challenge.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to join the MFD?
Be active in your community and volunteer with different groups. Utilize your natural ability and skills to help others. Stay out of trouble, and make sound decisions with everything you do.

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Category: General, Station 1