Lieutenant Allen Farley didn’t always know he wanted to be a firefighter. In fact, it started with a fire on the side of the road near Thomson, Georgia.
Farley, a graduate of Thomson High School, said he was driving home from work in Thomson when someone threw a firework from a vehicle window, igniting grass along both sides of the roadway.
“I called 911 and got out trying to put the fire out,” Farley said. “I burned up the floor mats in my car trying to stop it.”
As the flames spread toward a wooded area, Farley realized he didn’t have the training to safely continue fighting the fire himself.
“I was thinking, ‘Am I going to get trapped in there?’” he said.
Moments later, firefighters arrived on scene and quickly contained the blaze. One of the firefighters was someone Farley had graduated with, and watching the crew work left a lasting impression.
“I asked him, ‘How do I do this?’” Farley said. “It was exhilarating.”
Now serving as a lieutenant for the Swainsboro Fire Department, Farley says one of the biggest misconceptions about firefighting is the amount of training the job requires. While many people associate firefighters only with putting out fires, he says the job involves preparing for countless emergency situations.
“You know that saying, ‘If you don’t know what to do or who to call, you call a firefighter.’” Farley said. “We have to train for hazmat, water rescue, high-angle rescue, extrication and so many other things.”
Despite the demanding nature of the work, Farley says the most rewarding part of the job is serving the community and building relationships with the people around him.
“It’s rewarding to give back to the community and see the impact that you have.” he said.
Farley also says the unpredictability of the job is what keeps him passionate about firefighting. Some shifts are quiet and focused on training, while others are nonstop emergency calls.
“You come in and never know the kind of shift you’re going to have,” he said. “Every call is different.”
For anyone considering a career in firefighting, Farley says the profession is perfect for people who enjoy variety and thrive under pressure.
“If you hate mundane and doing the same thing over and over, this is the job for you,” he said.
What began with a roadside emergency eventually became a career built around service, teamwork, and protecting the community around him.
