343. MAYDAY on Bowdoin Street - Dan Rinaldi

National Fire Radio Podcast Platform

Growing up in his Providence, RI neighborhood, Dan Rinaldi chased the fire trucks through the streets and realized this was the path he was going to go down. Filling in an application at 17 years old, he was soon hired and realized this job was truly for him. Fast forward 36 years later, Dan is now one of the most senior men on the job, assigned to Special Hazards Co. 1. As the Senior Man in the "rescue", Dan's career spans decades and the fire duty during his tenure is hard to count. Throughout such a colorful career, there will always be some close calls, but on the morning of January 6, 2018, Dan found himself trapped under a collapsed third floor and roof, pinning him to the kitchen floor below. "I'm on fire" and his leg was crushed by the falling debris, he remained trapped for 32-1/2 minutes until other Providence companies could remove him from the building. His story is powerful and his lust for the job is undeniable. Suffering from injuries he sustained at the fire, he found his way back to active duty a few months later. His story reinforces what we all know; even when everything is going right, this job can still kill you. His passion for the job remains steadfast and his experiences are shared at the training academy and conferences across the country. He continues to educate those coming up the ranks and enjoys his place in the Providence Fire Department. Time will tell when Dan Rinaldi decides to retire, but right now, he continues to ride and is enjoying every moment of it. -- **Note - volume issue during the first two minutes**