International Firefighters Day is a day to say thanks and celebrate all the work firefighters do.
"It gives us time to reflect on how we take care of ourselves as well how we support our firefighters - how we support the families," said Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj. From service calls to ice rescue, departments like the Duluth Fire Department have been a part of community outreach from the beginning and do much more than stopping fires.
Chief Krizaj notes that now the DFD is an all hazards response force that is geared primarily more towards medical assistance. That includes fighting fires, water rescue, ice rescue, medical calls and even just calls for assistance.
Through the years, as the needs of the people they serve have changed, the fire department has changed with it. Krizaj says the crew is what makes their work so successful.