I have spoken previously of the serious costs of life as a first responder. Of course, physical challenges, but also mental, emotional and familial challenges. I spent many years in the Army and in Law Enforcement, so I am aware of those challenges. But as one promotes up the ladder, it becomes easy to forget just how difficult it can be. So I decided several weeks ago to make it a priority to help the community see just how fortunate we are to have these heroes in our midst. As a City, we began a campaign to send gift baskets with treats and toys and other things to the families of our firefighters who deploy away from their families over three days…just to say to them, we recognize the sacrifice. I also asked the Fire Department if they would be willing to provide a story to help me humanize this with our community. And did they ever…

 

Benicia Firefighter Paramedic Josh Goodreau and his wife both contributed to this and helped tell a powerful story of these challenges. Josh and his wife have a 2-year old daughter and Josh has been away fighting fires for the better part of 2 months. Here is their story:

 

“It’s tough to be away for 2 days a time, but it’s something that myself and daughter grew used to. It is nice to have those 4 days off and be able to spend time with her and my wife. As far as during the fire season, my wife is a full time ER nurse, so not only is she working 12-hour days in the ER in Fairfield, which is already a busy place, but is also dealing with the rise of covid. Then when she’s off, she has to come home and put our daughter down and get ready to go to work the next day with little personal down time. We luckily have her mother who is retired and has stepped up in a huge way to help watch our daughter while my wife works. My mother is also helping to watch her on the weekends when she’s off.

My first deployment was 3 weeks. Longest I’ve ever been gone from my family. This is the fun age for my daughter being 2, and I feel like I’m missing it. She will constantly ask, “Daddy home?” I’ve had to stop FaceTiming her, because although she gets excited and we get to talk, she doesn’t understand why I’m in a phone and not at home. When I finally got home, I felt like she had grown up so much, was talking so much more and acting a little more grown up.

I was home for a week, with a regular day at work, before going back out for these 2 weeks.

This confused my daughter thinking daddy was home and now I had to go back out. This put more stress on my wife and family having to help balance and make sure everything was taken care of. We are thankful for such family and friends, who have risen to the occasion to help us in every way, from watching our daughter to delivering food to take the stress of needing to make dinner off my wife. And now I’m two days away from being home, unfortunately the staffing needs of the department means I will be home for two days before having to be mandated to work 96hrs straight.

As much as I love to help the department, state and surrounding communities, it does come at personal sacrifice of missing these moments with my daughter and family, as she is only 2 once.

To help my daughter understand where I’ve been, her grandma made a game out of it. She told her that daddy is gone putting out fires and they would run around the house and put out fake fires like daddy.

From July 13 to September 1, I’ve had 7 days at home.

I missed her first ever swimming classes as well as multiple gymnastic classes and cancelled camping trips.”

 

“The hardest part of my husband being gone is having to be a full-time care giver 24/7. I’m either a full-time nurse or a full-time mom without help at home. With the covid crisis, working in the emergency room right now takes all my energy and time. It’s hard to give anything else.

It’s hard on my extended family, especially my mom, because she watches her the most when I am at work and my days are 13-14 hours gone. I do have a great support system and I couldn’t do it without them.

The most challenge part is Emily asks where daddy is. She’s young enough to understand he’s gone but not old enough to understand why. Each time we hear sirens in our city she says “daddy!” and I tell her daddy is saying, “hi!”

It is hard. That being said, I know it’s all part of the job and we are willing to make sacrifices so he can help serve and protect.”

 

Let’s all take a moment, when we can, to thank all of our first responders for their sacrifices. Both police and fire. 

 

Last year’s fire season was the worst California had ever seen. This year, we are approaching the halfway point and have already exceeded both the number of fires and acres burned in 2020. As of August 24, 2021, there are more than 13,000 personnel fighting fire, over 1,000 engines, 257 hand crews, 337 bulldozers, 344 water tenders, and 87 helicopters. Most of these resources have been supplied through the mutual aid system. Benicia’s firefighters have been consistently supporting the mutual aid system since July 15, 2021.

 

Below is a picture of Josh reuniting with his daughter.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week!