We have nothing but the utmost respect for our first responders here on the West Shore.

As members of the media we often find ourselves covering everything from crashes on the Malahat, to house fires to police investigations. But while it may seem like we cover a lot of those situations, we in fact only see a very small sampling of what our first responders do every day.

We can really only imagine what itB次元官网网址檚 like to do those jobs day in and day out.

In todayB次元官网网址檚 edition we take a look at what itB次元官网网址檚 like to be a firefighter in Metchosin but a number of those experiences arenB次元官网网址檛 just limited to that district.

Firefighters across the West Shore work tirelessly to keep all residents safe.

Whether itB次元官网网址檚 responding to a serious medical incident, a fire or a car crash, our firefighters and other emergency personnel drop everything when a call comes in.

TheyB次元官网网址檝e missed birthdays, family dinners, big games and many little moments they can never get back. But they do it because they know just how much of an impact they have on our communities.

ItB次元官网网址檚 the job theyB次元官网网址檝e signed up to do and while it certainly isnB次元官网网址檛 easy and itB次元官网网址檚 not a job that everyone can do, those that do it on the West Shore deserve our thanks.

ItB次元官网网址檚 also important to remember that a significant number of our first responders, especially in the fire service, are volunteers and theyB次元官网网址檙e doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

They also spend significant amounts of time training and keeping up to date with the latest information. They see some pretty horrendous things and then there is the side of their job that makes it worth doing.

A small gesture of thanks goes a long way and itB次元官网网址檚 not something that gets overlooked, even if itB次元官网网址檚 just the look of relief on someoneB次元官网网址檚 face.

So next time youB次元官网网址檙e stuck in traffic at a crash scene or miss a light because of an ambulance, just remember that theyB次元官网网址檙e just trying to help someone and get home to their own families at the end of the day. So give them the space and courtesy they need to do their jobs.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a line of work where every second counts and they could literally be saving a life.