The Firefighter Who Never Gave Up
Maram Althour interviews FDNY firefighter Braulio Roman at Engine 318/Ladder 166 in Coney Island, where firefighters spend their days training, maintaining trucks, and sharing meals between calls.
“I’ve become better because of this job. When bad things happen, you have this group of guys that you know, lift you up...when I got on this job it helped me grow up and helped me become a better man, a better father, a better husband.”
By Maram Althour
Most people run from danger. Braulio Roman runs toward it. In this episode, we visit FDNY Engine 318/Ladder 166 in Coney Island to meet Braulio, a firefighter whose path to public service began with a simple act of kindness. Years before joining the FDNY, a firefighter helped him unlock his car when he was a struggling 17-year-old father trying to get to work. That moment changed how he saw the world and what he wanted to give back.
Braulio talks about the intense training that prepared him for emergencies, the calls that stay with him, and the brotherhood that keeps him grounded. He also reflects on how firefighting has shaped him into a better father, husband, and man.
Maram is a sophomore at Harvest Collegiate High School in Manhattan. She enjoys reading in her free time and has a strong interest in psychology. She looks forward to starting a mental health awareness club at her school. When she’s not studying, she loves to bake — she finds it therapeutic.
The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.
