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When I asked the Captain how he feels about his job, he answered "I love my job.Sometimes I drive my friends crazy talking about my work." Even though Newell is ecstatic about fire fighting, he does not want his daughters in the same line of work. "It's too dangerous," says Newell. Newell told me about many close calls, including a time when he was in a building and his superior officer pulled him out seconds before the building collapsed. The test to become a firefighter is very different now from how it was in 1977(the year Captain Newell took the test). The old test started with a written portion, "Out of the 40,000 who took it, only 10,000 of us made it on to the physical part of the test, that's how competitive it was " boasts Newell. The physical portion of the test consisted of an obstacle course, a "bar hang" (similar to pull-ups, minus the pulling), and a mile run. The test that is given to today's recruits is a lot different ." It's more job related," says Newell. Today's test still consists of a written portion, but the physical section is different, including a hook test, (in which candidates have to throw up a hook that actual fire fighters use) .As another part of their test they have to carry a 140 lb dummy up and down stairs.
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In
1648, New York City founded its first official fire-fighting department.
Prior to this, fire fighting was strictly a volunteer service. Despite
this change a long time ago , volunteer fire fighters still outnumber
the paid. In the 353 years of the New York fire department, thousands
of men and women have worked hard to save lives on a daily basis. I
was lucky enough to interview one of them. Captain John Newell of the
58th Engine in East Harlem has been fighting fires for the last 20 years.
Captain Newell, now 50 years old, attended Suffolk Community College,
majoring in General Studies, but he always knew he wanted to be a fire
fighter. Being the son of a volunteer fire fighter, Newell felt a special
calling to the civil service. He began fighting fires at the 45th Engine
in the Bronx. 
As
much fun as his work is, Cpt. Newell does have a life outside of the
firehouse. In his spare time he coaches his daughter's softball team,
and he also likes to boat and fish. Cpt. Newell showed me that fire
fighting is not only rewarding, but also a fun and interesting line
of work. In addition, Cpt. Newell made me realize that firefighters
are an extremely important part of our society. We owe a lot to them,
for they selflessly put their lives on the line to save ours, everyday.
We should thank and honor Cpt. Newell and others like him. 