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CNN Live At Daybreak

New NYC Firefighter Discuses Graduation and Doing the Job

Aired November 02, 2001 - 06:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And one of those new probies -- just learned a new name here -- is Omar Peters, and he's joining us from our New York bureau.

Thanks for being with us this morning. I know it had to have been an emotional ceremony last night. Were -- did you have a lot of mixed emotions, mixed feelings?

OMAR PETERS, NEW NYC FIREFIGHTER: Yes, there was a lot of mixed emotions because of what happened on the 11th and the long process of going through all the training and everything like that. But everything, all in all, pretty good. I feel pretty good about it.

CALLAWAY: Tell us about the last few weeks, how has it been for you and your colleagues? I know you were called into duty a little early. You know you've seen the worst of it. Where do you go from here?

PETERS: Well, like I told the other firefighters, it could only get better from here, because that's the worst thing in this country's history, so it could only go up.

CALLAWAY: Tell us, why did you want to become a firefighter?

PETERS: Well, it's just something that I always wanted to do is -- I just really wanted to do it since I was a kid, and now I've got the chance to do it and nothing's going to stop me.

CALLAWAY: The events of September 11, did you question your dedication of being a firefighter or did it just reinforce the reasons why you wanted to do it?

PETERS: Well, it just -- it really reinforced the reasons why I wanted to do it, especially on that day where it was just the whole catastrophe and somebody looking for a hero to -- well not a hero, well somebody to help them and I got to -- I got to do my job.

CALLAWAY: Omar, how does your family feel about your decision to be a firefighter?

PETERS: Well, my mother and my father, they're really proud of me because, like I said, it took a long time and it's something I really wanted to do for a long time. And since I got the chance to do it, they just, you know, supported me 100 percent. CALLAWAY: Tell us, what has been the most difficult for you over these last few weeks?

PETERS: The most difficult, looking at the senior guys because they lost a lot of friends. That's probably the most difficult.

CALLAWAY: We know -- I mean we see it here in Atlanta, when you see a firefighter, you can't help but want to go up and just pat them on the back and say thank you for being there, thank you for all that you're doing. Is that the kind of reaction you're still getting from people there in New York when you're out on the streets working?

PETERS: Yes, definitely. To tell you the truth, it feels like a parade because you're driving around just doing your regular duty and a lot of people are waving, they're showing their support, patting you on the back. It feels good. It really does feel good.

CALLAWAY: And tell us what the thoughts were of you and your colleagues last night.

PETERS: Well, it was graduation day. I mean even though after the tragedy happened, it's still graduation day so there was a lot of cheers and everybody was happy.

CALLAWAY: That's nice to hear, Omar, that everyone's on a positive note because I know that there have been so many funerals that you and your colleagues have had to attend. You know are you letting it get you down or are you able to stay positive in such an environment that has to be depressing for you?

PETERS: Well, a funeral is a funeral. There's nothing really happy about a funeral like there's nothing really happy that happened on September 11. But life's got to go on and you still got to fight the fires and live your life, so to speak, with just -- and just trying to cope and deal, go along with it.

CALLAWAY: Have you found a new sense of friendship among your fellow firefighters?

PETERS: Oh yes, definitely, especially what happened. Like tragedy brings together people so that definitely brings us closer together, that being our first day on the job.

CALLAWAY: You mentioned being a hero, did you ever imagine you would be called a hero right now? Wearing a New York uniform, that's what you are, you're America's new hero.

PETERS: Well probably not this soon in my career. Probably after 20 -- 15 or 20 years, not this soon in my career, but...

CALLAWAY: Is some of the -- some of the veteran firefighters helping you out there?

PETERS: Yes, definitely. Like I said, this is my first -- that was my first day and the guys from Engine Company 271 and Ladder Company 124, they really helped me out. They really helped me out. CALLAWAY: What are they doing to help you out?

PETERS: Well, you know they're showing me the ropes. They're just talking to me to make sure that I stay with the job and I continue to learn the job.

CALLAWAY: Because you're -- you know we see the firefighters still working at ground zero, but you're battling fires every day there in New York, aren't you?

PETERS: Yes, well, I don't know, they're kind of switching people back and forth from ground zero to the regular firehouse and, you know, they're just moving it back and forth like that.

CALLAWAY: How are you working right now? I mean how are they deciding, you know, what will be your job say today or tomorrow?

PETERS: Well since I'm -- since I'm basically the new guy, I would probably stay at the firehouse and -- with a couple of the senior guys and, you know, go on regular runs.

CALLAWAY: I'm sorry, what did you say?

PETERS: Go on...

CALLAWAY: (INAUDIBLE).

PETERS: I would stay at the firehouse and go on regular runs with some of the senior men.

CALLAWAY: There has to be an incredible amount of adrenaline every time you're sent out now, isn't there?

PETERS: Yes, definitely, because with this anthrax scare, you never know what's what and you've got to stay prepared.

CALLAWAY: You know we haven't had a chance to talk with too many of the new firefighters, you know can you -- can you tell us how you're feeling right now and what is getting you through all of this?

PETERS: Well basically my passion for the job, that's basically what's getting me through it, and my family and the support of the senior guys,...

CALLAWAY: All right.

PETERS: ... the other firefighters and my friends that graduated with me.

CALLAWAY: Omar Peters, we wish you the very best and good luck to you. Thank you for joining us here.

PETERS: All right, thanks.

CALLAWAY: All right.

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