Water Dragon

   In the old  Chinese zodiac calendar, there are five known  dragon signs. Among them is the fire-spitting monster that is capable of bringing havoc to a village with its fiery breath. This evil creature is the Fire Dragon; most feared by the other dragons except for the one cool-headed but unyielding beast, the Water Dragon.

   According to the legend, the Water Dragon is totally a different breed. In contrast to its nemesis, it can spit strong tidal waves of water that can quickly drown an erupting volcano. It is the only dragon that can stand its ground to challenge the Fire Dragon. With its waterpower, it can extinguish any fire that dares to cross its path.

   
   Today in our modern world, the winged serpent-like dragons only exist in fairy tales and in the movies, but the two opposing elements of nature: fire and water, are ever present and are still in on-going battle. Fires that get out of hand trigger the alarm at every fire station, sending out firefighters in the combat-form of a Water Dragon to contain the blaze and stop the inferno. These contemporary dragons are heroes. They are the new breed of angels, unafraid to enter the gates of hell, risking their lives to save lives.

  

   Last spring at the Toronto Fire Station 343, while conducting an interview for  my series of articles about women in uniform, I felt the presence of a Water Dragon in the persona of a charismatic lady firefighter who is well trained to tame even the wildest fire on earth.

     From below, I watched her slide down the pole through the circular opening in the floor of the firefighters’ quarters. Her descent was swift like a dragon landing from the sky. “ Hi, I am Adina Kaufman,” she greeted with a smile as she began to give me a one-on-one mini lecture on fire trucks and the full firefighting gear that are vital in responding to emergency calls _ primarily extinguishing fires and rescue operations.

  

   Adina’s fascination with firefighting was a childhood dream that she thought she would outgrow , but the burning desire did not fade away and proved her wrong. Even her professional career in engineering was not heavy enough to outweigh the passion. So when she ultimately unleashed the restless Water Dragon within her, there was no turning back. She held her head up, moved forward and with her best shot, she pushed her limits to meet all the rigid physical rquirements to become a firefighter regardless of her petite stature and gender. There is no denying, she earned her spot in the Toronto Fire Service, fair and square.

   At the Fire Academy during her graduation, she stood out. At five foot-three, she was standing tall _ she was the only woman in the graduating class!

     “The only thing I can say about being a female firefighter is losing my anonymity. As the only woman in the group, it is difficult not to get noticed,” Adina said as she recalled the firefighting training she had in the midst of 43 men. Over time, the consciousness of being a woman gradually diminished. “In the course of the regular interaction with my colleagues during our shifts, they tend to forget that I am a woman because we all did the same thing, looking out for each other, working as a team,” Adina reaffirmed.

     Now, after 8 years in the Toronto Fire Service, there are no indications of regrets, only fondness of the job. This feisty firefighter loves what she does and does it with excellence. She is genuinely interested in protecting and serving the community. Her positive outlook and amazing achievements ranked her as one of Canada’s Top Firefighters by Reader’s Digest magazine. The prestigious recognition did not come as a surprise. Adina Kaufman fully deserves every bit of it. In her full firefighting gear, she fits the bill. After all, she has the heart and soul of a true Water Dragon.

    To know more about firefighting, Adina can give you brief tour of Fire Station 343 and life-saving advice on Fire Safety. Watch her on video by clicking on the link: WATER DRAGON