A student from Aceh, Indonesia, was shocked to see a firefighting fleet speeding up with sirens roaring in panic on a road in Houston, United States.  He suspected there was a big fire, but later denied it himself when he saw that there was only one fire engine unit. 

He saw the fire department turned out to be only a block from his apartment. 

He approached the fire department because he suspected the fire was not far from his apartment. No visible smoke. There was no panic from the apartment occupants. 

Arriving at a block, firefighters stopped in front of a tree. There were only two officers who lowered the stairs and leaned them on the tree. There were no sparks on the tree. A cat dangles from a branch with a trembling body. And the rescue of cats is what makes firefighters have to intervene. 

That is the responsibility of firefighters in developed countries. They are on all fronts in saving sentient beings. Not just putting out fires in a fire accident. Those multitalented officers handle many problems. 

In our country, Indonesia, firefighters are still underestimated. Do not value fire department work. If they ask for a way, the driver is still indifferent. When they arrive late, they are sometimes attacked by residents, some even have to die as in the case of North Aceh. Firefighters came to help, but they became victims. Not being a victim when putting out a fire, but a victim of citizen brutality. 

The officers were not provided with adequate equipment and skills. Often seen, officers use makeshift equipment. Even though they work full of risk. 

Their income is not commensurate with the risks that must be faced. We often read protests from firefighters who have not paid their honorarium. Some officers are still honorary. 

In developed countries like US, firefighters are a prestigious and cool job. They also get guaranteed life and definite social security. Because the position and responsibility of firefighters is very heavy. 

Imagine if firefighters went on strike because unpaid salaries or insufficient honorariums or legal cases of abuse against their colleagues had not been dealt with. Who will put out the fire? 

If fire romance does not need a fire extinguisher. But the flames were burning on the roofs of houses and buildings, firefighters were on the front line. Like their motto: Never go home before it goes out. 

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Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

*INDONESIA*

Pantang Pulang sebelum Padam

Seorang mahasiswa asal Aceh, Indonesia, kaget melihat sebuah armada pemadam kebakaran melaju kencang dengan sirine yang meraung-raung dengan paniknya di sebuah ruas jalan di Houston, Amerika Serikat. Dia menduga ada kebakaran besar, tapi kemudian membantahnya sendiri ketika melihat hanya ada satu unit armada pemadam kebakaran.

Dia melihat pemadam kebakaran ternyata menuju hanya satu blok dari apartemennya. Dia mendekati pemadam kebakaran itu karena menduga kebakaran tak jauh dari apartemennya. Tidak ada kepulan asap yang terlihat. Tidak ada ada kepanikan dari penghuni apartemen. 

Setibanya di sebuah blok, petugas pemadam kebakaran berhenti di depan sebatang pohon. Hanya ada dua petugas yang menurunkan tangga dan menyandarkannya di pohon tersebut. Tidak ada percikan api di pohon itu. Seekor kucing bergelantungan di sebuah dahan dengan tubuh gemetar. Dan penyelamatan kucing itulah yang membuat petugas pemadam kebakaran harus turun tangan.

Begitulah tanggung jawab petugas pemadam kebakaran di negara maju. Mereka berada di segala lini dalam penyelamatan makhluk hidup. Bukan sekadar memadamkan api dalam musibah kebakaran. Mereka petugas yang multitalenta menangani banyak masalah.

Di negeri kita, petugas pemadam kebakaran masih dipandang sebelah mata. Tidak menghargai kerja pemadam kebakaran. Kalau mereka minta jalan, pengendara masih acuh tak acuh. Kalau telat datang, mereka kadang malah diserang warga, bahkan ada yang harus meregang nyawa seperti kasus di Aceh Utara. Pemadam kebakaran datang membantu, tapi mereka menjadi korban. Bukan menjadi korban saat memadamkan api, tapi korban kebrutalan warga.

Para petugas pun tidak dibekali peralatan dan keterampilan memadai. Sering terlihat, petugas menggunakan peralatan seadanya. Padahal mereka bekerja penuh risiko. 

Penghasilan mereka pun tidak sepadan dengan risiko yang harus dihadapi. Sering kita baca protes petugas pemadam kebakaran yang belum dibayar honornya. Sebagian petugas masih berstatus honorer. 

Di negera maju, pemadam kebakaran termasuk pekerjaan bergengsi dan keren. Mereka pun mendapatkan jaminan hidup dan jaminan sosial yang pasti. Sebab kedudukan dan tanggung jawab pemadam kebakaran sangat berat. 

Bayangkan kalau pemadam kebakaran mogok kerja karena gaji yang belum dibayar atau honorarium tidak cukup atau kasus hukum penganiayaan terhadap rekan mereka belum ditangani. Siapa yang akan memadamkan api?  

Kalau api asmara memang tidak membutuhkan pemadam. Tapi api yang berkobar di atap rumah dan gedung, pemadam kebakaran berada di garis depan. Seperti motto mereka: Pantang pulang sebelum padam.

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