First, there will be less time to spend with your family. Does the rest of your family understand this? Your family has to come first in your priorities, then your job, then your avocations - like the firehouse. You certainly will miss a few meals and sometime have to leave in the middle of some to respond to an emergency. Do you have special dietary needs that would be seriously affected by something like this? Some of us may even benefit from a few missed meals.

Emergency calls come at all times of the day or night. Does waking up in the middle of the night to respond cause a problem physically? Missed sleep may carry over into the next day and affect your job. You can't let it interfere with your work - that's your prime responsibility since that's what pays the bills. Have you checked with your employer to see if they have a leave or time compensation program when you respond as a firefighter. All the major corporations have some type of program that allows you a number of hours (some with pay) to respond to emergencies in your community.