Patch Asks Intermountain: Has Your Experience Made You Appreciate Life More?

In January, we asked readers what they would ask one of our volunteer firefighters over at Intermountain Fire and Rescue.

The department was established by "a concerned group of citizens who wanted to provide better fire protection for their community" and serves an area of 125 square miles bordering Ramona, Julian, Lake Henshaw and Palomar Mountain.

Readers submitted a variety of questions on the comments, like "How does it feel fighting fire?" and "How many calls do you get on a weekly basis?"

This week, Austin Mann tells readers how his experience at Intermountain Fire and Rescue has changed his perspective:

"My name is Austin Mann and I've been here since 2011 in December. I graduated from my academy in March of 2012. My aspirations are pretty much to be a firefighter for all my career.

Has your experience at Intermountain made you appreciate life more?

Yes it has, because you realize doing this job that life is short—live every moment to the fullest. You take things as they come.

Have a burning question? Submit it in the comments below or to melissa.phy@patch.com

Patch would like to put out a special thanks to the Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department for not only volunteering their efforts as firefighters, but for also giving time to Patch and the community for Firefighter Friday!