Firefighter Tamara DinkelEighteen new firefighters now serve at a fire station near you! Check back daily and get to know them.

Where are you stationed?
I'm at Station 10 (Troy Drive) on the B shift.

Why did you want to pursue this career?
It was a natural choice as I was born in a family where service to others is part of who we are and what we do. I am part of a family tree that has passionately and actively served in the military, police department, fire, and medical fields. Like many of my family members, I too have been an athlete since a very young age, including rowing for the UW-Madison Women’s Crew Team in college. Through continuous training, the fire service allows me to use my intuitive instinct to protect others and couple that with my desire to use my physicality.

 
What has been the most rewarding part of your experience so far?
The most rewarding part of our work is having the honor and privilege to assist someone in their worst moments. Through extensive training, and as a team, we are given the tools to actively bring structure, organization, and an overall calming presence to the situations we are called to during the emergency. It is an amazing feeling to be part of a call that is chaotic and dangerous for our community, and be an active participant in bringing the situation to resolution.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to join the MFD?
Become active in your community if you are not already. If you truly want to help others, show how you serve currently. If you don’t already, work toward a healthy lifestyle of eating well and maintaining your physical fitness. We are, in a sense, professional athletes. Be committed and ready to continuously learn.

The fire and EMS service is dynamic and continuously evolving as a result of technology and science. As long as you are part of the fire department, you will be a student of fire and EMS. Being part of the protective services and a member of MFD is not a job, it is a lifestyle which requires its participants to be part of a culture of diversity, integrity, fitness, and inclusivity. Be a team player, have a sense of humor, be committed to working hard, and soak in the uniqueness of the camaraderie that being part of a 24-hour crew brings.

 

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Category: General, Station 10