Inspections. Assistance. Emergency calls.
All tasks interns of the local fire department are dedicated to take on.
Senior Jordan Rumrill recently started a semester-long internship with the Mount Pleasant Fire Department where she has the opportunity of seeing what life is like for firefighters up close.
Rumrill is starting her journey through the internship and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field in action with the first responders.
“Tuesdays and Thursdays we’re with the fire marshals doing inspections… and we go to businesses that are either being renovated or they’re about to be opened up, and we basically just check for things like their sprinkler systems and fire alarms,” Rumrill said. “Then Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we’re usually at a station, or maybe on a truck run.”
Attaining the class-credit was not the only reason for her joining the internship, but to also further her knowledge and experience in the field. This internship shaped a path for Rumrill to fulfill her passion for aiding those in need.
“I wanted to learn more about the paramedic side and the EMT side because I want to major in neuroscience. I want to do something [in the medical field] and they said that I could come back after I get that degree and work in the fire department,” Rumrill said.
Likewise to Rumrill, senior Elle McMullen is also participating in this same firefighter internship. However, McMullen’s drive to join this internship differs.
“[I am a] student athletic trainer here… and I love that job but it was only campus based so I was looking for more real life experience,” McMullen said. “I immediately thought of fire because I was in an accident and they were the first ones on scene and that has made a huge impression on me.”
The impact the firefighters and this internship have made on McMullen have motivated her to continue down this journey and she hopes to pick it up as a career.
The hands-on learning and experience has been an important factor in Rumrill and McMullen’s successful journeys, but another main contribution is the work environment.
“Everybody I work with from the captains and engineers treat me as anyone else on their team or crew. They don’t look at me as a female or as an intern,” McMullen said.
Rumril explains that the stations have done a great job in greeting the interns and making them feel as comfortable as they can in their new positions as interns.
“They’ve been really helpful and welcoming and I would honestly recommend this internship, even if you aren’t interested in the fire department. It’s a good learning experience,” Rumrill said.
