Every Day Hero: David George, Woburn Firefighter

By Kassi Burke

Being a firefighter has its bad days, hard days, and days where it all pays off.

After a long seven weeks of training at the Massachusetts Fire Academy, David George was ready to start his career. He enjoys being a firefighter, although it was not his first career choice. He made so many new friends and he is making a difference in people’s lives every day.

Throughout his hard training, David George explained that he would never have expected this would be his lifetime career. He learned all about the equipment that he would be using. The equipment, along with other things, changes very often and become more effective, and even lighter to carry.

At the Mass. Fire Academy, David learned about the dangers of being a firefighter. He will never forget his experience at the academy, where he made new friendships that will last forever. Although this was not David’s first choice for a career, he said that he loves everything about it.

After making friends and making a difference in people’s lives, David is just your average man with three children. His two sons, Ricky and David Jr., both play for hockey teams. David’s firefighter schedule does not always allow him to make it to all of the games. David’s job impacts his life, as well as his family’s. Not only does it mess up his sleeping patterns, but he also isn’t home for at least two nights every week. He also misses out on family events and parties, even some holidays. David included the fact that he was working on Christmas Day this year!

David’s oldest daughter, Kayla, has grown up with her dad being gone (at work) and hoping he would make it home safely. She didn’t know where he was, other than that he was helping somebody in need as a firefighter. His job has taught her that you should always put other people before yourself. “I have gained so much respect for my dad and what he does,” Kayla concluded.

“Being a firefighter has its glory days, but along with that are the bad days,” David recalls as he thinks about everything he has been through. Injury and even deaths, especially to children, are the hardest part of his job, David explained. David has even had the experience of being called to a situation for his family. He remembers being called to his sister-in-law's house for an emergency call. And his nephew was once playing hockey when he completely twisted and broke his femur, David clearly remembers going on that call.

David has been working for 22 years for Woburn, and almost everything has changed, he tells. From building codes to equipment, sprinklers, trucks and even the number of medical calls, David’s seen it change. Six new trucks have been added to Woburn’s Fire Department since David started working. He will go on being a firefighter, he even still thinks about becoming an instructor for new firefighters' at an academy.

David George loves his career as a firefighter, he said proudly. He will continue his job and help others with a big smile on his face. David is a great father, friend, uncle, cousin, anything to have in your life. My uncle, David George, is an everyday hero to me and many other people.

Woburn Patch will run all six top features, in the order in which Joyce Middle School teacher Kathryn Materazzo, who started the project last year, provided them to us.

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