CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — From firefighters to police officers to EMTs, first responders in Charlottesville, Albemarle and the surrounding counties play a vital role in their communities, helping people on what may be among the worst days of their lives.

But while many have an image of what being a first responder entails thanks to countless portrayals of them in the media, local first responders said what they really do often isn’t portrayed on television.

“Our primary job is not just to put out fires, but we’re here to serve the community in any way we can,” David Marshall, a member of Albemarle County Fire Rescue, told Cville Right Now, “be it small or seemingly mundane, or a large-scale emergency.”

Marshall said while his typical day at the station probably wouldn’t make for an exciting hour or television, he loves doing what he does because it allows him to help his community. He says it’s “rewarding” to be the person who can provide stability and help to members of the community during their time of need.

For some, being a first responder is a job that can “hook” them. Kevin Duan, a Division Chief for the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, joined four years ago while a Pre-Med student at UVA. While he joined for the opportunity to get good clinical experience, Duan said he got “a bug for it” and has stayed with the squad ever since.

“As anyone who does this will tell you, it sucks you in so quickly,” he said.

While firefighters, EMTs and Police may all have different primary focuses, they all aim to serve their communities, and oftentimes provide more services than people realize. Deputy Jamie Akers of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department said being an officer often requires “wearing many different hats,” oftentimes doing the work of a social worker or counselor. 

“We have to be trained in so many different things, because we get called for everything,” she said.

Sheriff Steven Smith added that officers in the department also respond to rescue calls, and sometimes even save lives just by getting to the scene before the rescue squad and administering CPR or using an AED.

“That’s a big benefit to the community,” he said. “It’s just like having a second rescue squad.”

Another big similarity between all three departments is how they connect with their communities. Smith shares how his department runs a number of safety classes and runs programs like the annual “Shop with a Cop” where they take underprivileged kids in the country Christmas-shopping.

Marshall, who grew up in Charlottesville, said working as a firefighter has made him feel more connected to the area, as he gets to go all around the county, meeting different people and interacting with parts of the county he usually doesn’t come into contact with.

“I’ve definitely grown more in contact with the community since this job,” he said.

Duan, who first came to Charlottesville as a UVA student, said being an EMT in the area has opened his eyes to the city’s diversity and the challenges of different groups in the area, like those struggling with poverty or immigrant groups that he wouldn’t have met otherwise. The rescue squad also does community outreach through standbys, “Touch-a-Truck” events and community information sessions, which lets members of the squad like Duan meet people from around the community.

“It’s given me a much greater sense of connection with Charlottesville,” he said “and it makes me feel like meeting these people, I see the people whose lives I’m actually making a difference in.”

While being a first responder is certainly not for everyone, those involved say it is ultimately rewarding, even amidst the stress that many calls can bring.

“The job itself is just a pretty cool job,” Marshall said. “You do something new every day. You get to work with a lot of diverse, interesting people in the community, and it never gets boring. There’s nothing boring about it. I love this job.”