Transforming Rookies Into Veterans: Are You Ready?

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 The Westfield Fire Department is seeking the absolute best — those with the unbreakable willpower, mental grit, and the courage to embrace discomfort and adversity. We’re recruiting the finest duty crew pipemen and volunteer firefighters the state of Texas has to offer.

Strength in our ranks goes beyond muscles or endurance — it’s a mindset. It’s the refusal to quit when the stakes are high, a pride rooted in our purpose, and a commitment to honor, tradition, and brotherhood. These values define who we are, just as they shape those we call to serve.

 If you’re ready to embody this mindset and take your place among Texas’ elite, we want to hear from you. 

"Firefighters, in my experience, are a lot like the Marines I've met over the years. No matter how badly led, ridiculously underequipped, underappreciated, no matter how doomed their mission, they take a bizarre and quite beautiful pride in at least being screwed more than everybody else and doing it with style. They seem to do what they do for themselves. It's not a job. It's a calling."

-Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown; Detroit

 “If it's my kids in there I want the craziest guy you got going in after them. If you think aggressive is a bad word, get the hell out of here!” 

- Battalion Chief John Salka, Fire Department of the City of New York; Battalion 18

 "It's either outstanding or unacceptable." 

- Captain Terence Hatton, Fire Department of the City of New York: Rescue 1

 “Our department takes 1,120 calls every day. Do you know how many of the calls the public expects perfection on? 1,120. Nobody calls the fire department and says, ‘Send me two dumbass firemen in a pickup truck.’ In 3 minutes they want five brain-surgeon decathlon champions to come and solve all their problems.” 

- Deputy Chief John Eversole, Chicago Fire Department; Special Operations Division

"We made fires. You're supposed to have a dirty helmet, you're supposed to man.. you're supposed to have a few scars, let's just get real that's just the way it is, secretaries get paper cuts there's no different."

- District Chief Mo Davis, Houston Fire Department; District 68

 “Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.” 

- Fire Chief Edward F. Croker, Fire Department of the City of New York