First Responder: Firefighter Paramedic Gerard Grady

Name: Gerard Grady

D.O.B.: 12/11/74

Hometown: St. Petersburg

Rank/Title: Firefighter and Paramedic

How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department?

This year will be 8 years.

What do you like about your job?

"It can be challenging, but you get to see different things. I like helping people."

What do you dislike about your job?

"Nothing really. I don't like dogs. I don't like going into houses with dogs."

What inspired you to become a firefighter?

"I was with somebody who was looking into it. I went in with him [to the fire station] and [learned] that you get a chance to help people and meet different people."

What do you like about Gulfport?

"It's small, but it's not that small. It's diverse, you got a lot of different types of people."

What do you want the general public to know about the Gulfport Fire Department?

"They understand how hard we train and continue to educate ourselves in order to help them the best way we can."

Do you know a First Responder you think we should feature? E-mail editor Cherlene Willis at cherlene.willis@patch.com.