Topic > The cause of death of firefighters on duty is heart attack. The heart is put under extreme stress when a firefighter practices in a burning building. If the firefighter's heart is not conditioned, the risk of heart attack is greater. Additionally, saving a person from a burning building requires a great deal of strength. Often, an individual trapped in a burning building is weak or unconscious due to smoke inhalation and must be carried to safety. A firefighter must also maintain strength to handle heavy equipment such as ladders, car extrication devices and water hoses. A firefighter is strong. Every firefighter is brave. It takes courage... middle of paper... his fellow firefighters. Trust is vital when you are depending on an individual to save your life. Citizens and fellow firefighters trust that the firefighter will do what he or she is supposed to do in various situations. Firefighters trust that their colleagues are informed about what they are doing on the job. When lives are at risk, whether it is a community member or another firefighter, the firefighter is trusted to complete his or her job and save lives. A firefighter can be defined in many ways and means something different to each individual. People who have been rescued from a fire or provided emergency medical services may define a firefighter differently than someone who has never needed a firefighter. A firefighter's spouse or family may also have a different perspective. The firefighter also has a definition of himself, just like the common man who simply does his job.