Marysville firefighter and paramedic is proud of honor from Veterans of Foreign Wars

Published 6:04 pm Monday, March 9, 2009

MARYSVILLE — What began for middle-school teacher Dan Schwartz as a summer job with the local fire department quickly turned into a passion.

Schwartz, 41, became a full-time firefighter in 1996 and got his paramedic credentials a few years later.

It’s been rewarding in many ways, he said. Schwartz recently received a prestigious state award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars for his service as a paramedic.

“It’s been a great honor,” he said. “I’ve always held veterans in the highest regard. To get an award from this organization just means that much more.”

Any firefighter and emergency medical technician can say it’s more than just a job, Schwartz said.

“It’s great to be in the fire department; you are part of a team and it’s almost like an extended family,” he said. In the fire department, Schwartz made his best friends and learned his life’s important lessons, he said.

Firefighters work 24-hour shifts. On a typical day at Schwartz’ fire station, paramedics answer between 12 and 20 calls. They save lives, but not everyone can be saved, Schwartz said.

“I’ve been able to really positively impact people’s lives,” he said. “It’s a great career, but it’s not for everyone.”

Schwartz became a part-time firefighter with the department in 1991 to get a break from teaching and to do something physical. “I still enjoyed the teaching, but found I was getting more and more of a pull to do that,” Schwartz said.

He now teaches CPR and other classes for emergency medics and serves as education coordinator for the county’s emergency medical services program.

Schwartz said his schedule still allows him to spend a lot of time with his wife and their two daughters, 8 and 14 years old. “They are really proud of me; my little one calls me her hero.”

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.