Springfield Resident, Retired Philadelphia Firefighter Turns His Work Journal into a Book

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Image of Robert Marchisello via Lauren Schneiderman, Philadelphia Inquirer.

Springfield resident Robert Marchisello has turned his work journal from almost four decades as a firefighter into a book entitled A Firefighter’s Journal, writes Stephanie Farr for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Marchisello, who recently retired from the Philadelphia Fire Department, took notes on events during his shifts as a firefighter, from cadet to deputy chief.

“I felt compelled to document everything,” said Marchisello. “One of the best-kept secrets of 37 years is that nobody knew.”

Across seven journals, he wrote about everything he saw and experienced as a Philadelphia firefighter. The resulting book is filled with curse words, strange events, descriptions of death, and first-hand accounts of major incidents in Philadelphia, and it’s both shockingly honest and unexpectedly funny.

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In the book, Marchisello describes the sensation of being soaked in someone else’s blood, recovering victims from auto accidents, and the experience of removing a decomposed, 500-pound body stuck between a toilet and a sink.

Amidst all the grit, there are also stories about pranks firefighters pull on each other, absurd and funny incidents, and heartwarming acts of humanity between strangers.

“I wanted the book to be about the different things that firefighters do,” said Marchisello.

Read more about A Firefighter’s Journal in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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