In the aftermath of September 11, people across the country have become painfully aware of the difficult and demanding jobs of firefighters, and the sacrifices they make. In a special live, remote radio broadcast from the Cuyahoga Heights Fire Station on Friday, January 4, 2002, from 6-10 a.m., 90.3 WCPN® will provide an intimate look into the world of firefighters, exploring their lives, routines, and role in our culture, as well as some of the complex issues facing these public servants.

Hosted by 90.3 WCPN®'s April Baer and David C. Barnett, the broadcast will explore firefighters' changing roles in the post 9-11 world, bonds and traditions, difficulties facing family members, firefighter training, incorporation of women into the trade, and on-the-job stress. Through a combination of feature length stories, interviews, and spot news items, the program will present a thorough profile of the modern-day role models, including individual profiles of local firefighters.

90.3 WCPN®, Cleveland's community-licensed public radio station, has received 270 awards, including 35 honors in 2001. Generous local financial support helps set standards of excellence. A National Public Radio® and PRI® member-station, 90.3 WCPN® provides The All-Day Brain Food® through in-depth news, jazz, and intelligent talk-now online at wcpn.org. 90.3 WCPN® is a service of ideastreamsm

If you think the life of a firefighter is tough, imagine what it's like to be a firefighter's spouse. Midnight phone calls... missed holidays... working around the clock... they all take a toll on the families of those who work in the fire service. But as 90.3 WCPN®'s Karen Schaefer discovered, firefighting families do learn to adjust. Recently Karen spoke with three generations of wives in the same firefighting family. The Schneiders live and work in Strongsville. Dora was the wife of Donald Schneider, who worked on the Strongsville fire department through its transition from volunteer to professional. Their son Terry also chose the fire service and has now retired. He and his wife Charlotte raised the third generation in this firefighting family. Greg Schneider is still on the force. He and his wife Mary Kay have two young daughters. All three generations of women say that - despite the hardships - being a firefighter's wife has its own rewards.

Chief Michael Dworning has been head of the Euclid Fire Department for seven years, but his career in Euclid stretches back to 1974, when he was sworn in to serve. The densely populated streets of this bustling, inner ring suburb, are about as challenging for firefighters as anyplace gets - outside of the City of Cleveland. Chief Dworning oversees four firehouses, and a minimum staff of 19 per day. He spoke with 90.3 WCPN®'s April Baer about the challenges and changes of 27 years on the force.

Firehouse Remote Photo Gallery

Johnny Brewington, Vice-President of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters; Brian Arnold, President of the Vanguards of Cleveland; Bashir Rahman, Battalion Chief with the Cleveland Fire Department.
Photo by David C. Barnett

Members of the Cuyahoga Heights Fire Department: Jim Bloam, Lee Billi, Neal Cash and Steve Harris
Photo by David C. Barnett

Steve Harris demonstrates a thermal imaging device - part of the high-tech arsenal of the modern fire-fighter.
Photo by David C. Barnett

Home base for our remote broadcast.
Photo by David C. Barnett

Firefighters have their gear on the floor, ready to grab and quickly head to an emergency scene. Note: They DO wear red suspenders!
Photo by David C. Barnett

Cuyahoga Heights firefighter Steve Harris.
Photo by David C. Barnett

Operations panel on the side of a tanker truck.
Photo by David C. Barnett

Some brand new fire hoses, stowed and ready for action.
Photo by David C. Barnett