Lt. Darryl Robb has been with the Montgomery County fire department for 12 years. It’s a profession he came to in his mid-20s, first working as a paramedic for a hospital and then as a paramedic/firefighter for the county. On Friday he saw a 16-year-old passerby attempt to breathe life into a man struck and killed by a car on Colesville Road near the Beltway overpass.
What happened?
The 16-year-old did not see the pedestrian get hit, but saw him in the road. He ran out and began CPR on his own. We showed up and took the patient away. We reached out to him, and it turned out he had some training and knew people in the service. He’s apparently thinking about a career in firefighting.
Have you had any other recent calls that stand out?
There was a 16-year-old struck by a car in Rockville. I wasn’t at the scene, but did go to the hospital. She was in critical condition and the hospital was trying to identify her so they could get in touch with her parents. Me and a nurse went through the girl’s cell phone and were able to call the mother. She already had a heads-up and was heading to the hospital. I met with her when she arrived. It was a meaningful experience. I don’t always see how my work impacts others. The feeling was stronger than going to a emergency scene.
Is firefighting as exciting as it sometimes seems on TV?
Most of the stuff is numbing. It’s like playing golf: Every once in a while you get a good shot and that keeps you coming back for more. Most calls are small kitchen fires. We don’t really go crawling around inside burning buildings anymore. Particularly with fast-burning lightweight construction, it’s mostly a defensive operation where we’re trying to keep the flames from spreading.
– Freeman Klopott
