I went to a firestation hoping to get a story about the life of firefighters. I met Leo. He was in-charge of the day. I spoke to him about the project and he agreed to be part of it.
Leo has been a firefighter and rescuer for 18 years. He has had his share of fires, accidents, and disasters—it comes with the territory. His happy moments are when they get to save lives and considers it a bonus if they are thanked for it. It still breaks his heart to see a child seeking her parents (this happened when they went to typhoon-devastated areas, recovering dead bodies) and for family members pleading to resuscitate a relative when the victim just died. At the end of the day, he asks himself if he has done his best to save lives, to secure the victim, or to manage a disaster. He is normally at peace with himself but every now and then, they encounter complications such as fire victims "falsely" claiming things got lost in the fire and they start blaming the firemen.
During his team's down time, they continuously train and upgrade their skills. And after a tense day or a 24-hour shift he always looks forward to coming home to his wife and kids. His advise to everyone—stay safe!
After the interview, I suggested that we walk to the fire truck to serve as background for the shot.
Thanks for the interview and for the service that you and your team are doing to the community. Good luck and stay safe Leo!
This picture is #65 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the
100 Strangers Flickr Group page