Hanging out with Durham Firefighter Pete Leavitt

Our person we chose to work with for our project on the unsung heroes of UNH is firefighter Pete Leavitt.  Pete is a forty two year old resident of Alton, New Hampshire.  Leavitt is listed as a firefighter and EMT Intermediate, and has worked as a firefighter for eight years and two and half years in Durham.  Prior to being a firefighter, Leavitt was a chef.  Leavitt told me of over seventy people that applied for the job in Durham, Leavitt was the only remaining candidate through a rigorous application process.   This means Pete does things from putting out fires to administering the jaws of life to tear open cars to save victims from automobile accidents.  Leavitt is known around the station as the handyman of the house.  On Leavitt’s shifts that last 24 hours and usually two days a week he is busy fixing equipment, completing essential paperwork, out on calls or in the kitchen preparing the entire stations meals.  When I entered the fire department, I gained an immediate sense of family and togetherness amongst the firefighters.  They crack jokes, rag on each other like brothers do, but always do their work with complete seriousness.  Inside the house, an array of photographs with different teams of firefighters line the wall with fires they have worked on.  The pictures tell stories and help preserve the tradition of one of the oldest jobs in the United States.  Leavitt and other firefighters explained the responsibility of being a firefighter in Durham and how the job requires only the sharpest individuals for the job.  All Durham firefighters are required to know the location of every hydrant in the town, the complex fire codes for every building of the university as well being on the scene to calls in the surrounding towns of Madbury, Dover and Lee.  Leavitt says the job comes with great responsibility, but he says he loves the people he works with and things he does everyday at the station.

My thoughts

In my third year of college at the University of New Hampshire I'd like to think I've started to learn a few things about life and how to live it.  Though I have plenty more to learn, I'm going to share my thoughts on issues, topics and current events in our ever changing world.  It's now the third week of the second semester and winter has made it's way into February.  One thing I have been astonished with, I'm sure many as well have too, is how much snow we've received here in New England.  It seems as if every week we're getting 6 or more inches of snow, seemingly to never end.  Now when the weather report tells me more of the white stuff is coming, all I can think of is global warming.  Now more than ever, our seasons have been at their extremes.  Last summer in New Hampshire, it barely rained, while the summer of 2009 it rained 28 of 30 days in June.  As well as inconsistent seasons, natural disasters have been happening at an alarming rate.  In the past years for example: Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes in Haiti and Chili seem to as clear signs that our world is changing at an alarming and destructive way.  I'm not saying this snow is the be all end all for our society, however I believe it is just another clear indication of the effects of humans impact on the world.  Although for now we as humans must be do what we can to helping reduce our negative impact upon the world.  But for now, those who enjoy the snow like myself can take in the rare treat for New England residents through winter sports and activities.  Though it may be cold, make the best of it.