Sometimes, the question of putting the phone on silent mode is never an option, especially when there are lives that depend on somebody responding to a phone call.
But, that is just the first step of it all, the real work starts once the man in uniform has picked up the phone and jotted down the details, while his teammates board the big red truck with the blazing siren that lets everybody on the road know that somebody is in danger -- and help is already on its way.
With May 4 being observed as International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) all over the globe, let's get up close and personal with one of Goa's firefighters --Antonio Azavedo.
“I joined the department as a firefighter back in 1988,” says Antonio who is now a Sub Officer at the Goa Fire Department.
Like most people back then, all he wanted was stability and “since there was an opportunity for a government job, I took it,” smiles the humble man from Merces.
“When I joined, there was no question of whether I liked it or not, no job was going to be easy and it was just something that I had to do. If you ask me now, I can wholeheartedly tell you that I like my job very much,” he laughs.
Not all heroes wear capes, and as for why Antonio enthusiastically puts on his uniform every single day, “I like it because, although it is a very challenging job, every day is a new adventure," he says.
"Most importantly, we save property, the lives of so many people and animals,” reflects Antonio, whose dictionary does not seem to have the word, ‘I’ and is far too modest to ever let the spotlight shine on him alone.
After all, teamwork is what makes the dream work – especially when there is a fire involved.
The reality of being a firefighter is more than just riding the big red truck around town, but rather the fact that wherever they go, the risk factor always follows.
“There is not a single incident in which risk is not involved. But, we have been trained for that, no?” he says while explaining that although the difficulties are always present, upgrading themselves on the latest technology and methods is something that they ensure every single day.
“There is a lot of development taking place, not only in Goa, but around the world. A lot of sophisticated things are coming into force, and we make it a point to study the upgraded equipment and use it effectively,” he says stressing how there is no room for human error.
As for how the drill goes, “This is a profession where you don’t know what is going to pop up the next minute,” Antonio shares insider details.
“Even the military or the police know that the morcha is coming. They know what is happening, and what action they have to take well in advance. But for us, the moment we get a call, we don’t know what to expect or the severity of the situation,” he says.
“All we can do is get ready in the fire truck, preparing for the scene as per whatever little information we have. Most times, when we get to the scene of the incident, it is something for which we are sometimes not prepared in the slightest way,” shrugs Antonio, who has now mastered the art of trusting his gut and making quick and impulsive decisions.
When he is not busy putting out fires at work, he is generally found outdoors. “My hobby is gardening, and sometimes, I play music too," he says shyly, before quickly changing the subject.
Antonio is also a saxophone and clarinet player and an excellent advice-giver as christened by his sons, Doystan and Carisio, and his best friend and wife, Bella, who he misses every single day since she left for her heavenly abode.
“I’ve also started cycling. I don’t know how far I can go, but I cycle pretty far,” he smiles as the phone rings for the hundredth time.
A familiar ring, the same old drill, just a firefighter? Think again.