16 Feisty Television Firefighters and EMTs

Everyone loves a good hero story; it’s television’s bread and butter. So, naturally, when our favorite TV shows depict actual heroes, we lap it up.

There are shows devoted entirely to the lives and jobs of firefighters and EMTs, but there are still examples from each of these shows that shine a little bit brighter than the rest. These guys — and gals — are the best of the best.

We’ve compiled a list — in no particular order — of those individuals we believe to be the finest, feistiest firefighters and EMTs on television. There may be spoilers ahead, so tread carefully.

1. Kelly Severide – Chicago Fire

If there is one TV firefighter that everyone knows whether they watch the show or not, it’s Kelly Severide. The tough as nails, man’s man Kelly Severide leads Firehouse 51’s Rescue Squad as their lieutenant.

Over the last eight seasons, Severide has shown us that even the toughest of firefighters have a more emotionally sensitive side. He is a fine example of what men should be — open to showcase their feelings no matter how complicated they are.

Severide can run into a burning building trying to save someone while also taking some time for himself to grieve the loss of a best friend or his father. He is even open to showing just how fiercely he can love someone — case in point his love affair with Stella Kidd. 

Bonus Points: The man will go to bat for anyone he thinks isn’t getting the justice they deserve in arson cases.

2. Henrietta ‘Hen’ Wilson – 9-1-1

On a show like 9-1-1 that bosts strides forward on many storytelling fronts, it’s nice to see that leading the charge is Henrietta ‘Hen’ Wilson. This paramedic is fierce, female, African-American, and lesbian — all of which are pieces of her none completely defining her.

From day one, Henrietta Wilson captured our attention and our hearts as one of the 118’s paramedics. She has a passion that sometimes surpasses any of her colleagues and she always bets on the positive versus the negative.

Even when her own life is falling apart, she gives it her all at work and never lets her patients down. She is one to laugh, cry, and pray with them all while she saves their lives.

Now that her job hangs in the balance we get to see her more personal side with more scenes involving her wife and son. All of these facets make up the whole that is Henrietta Wilson — she won’t go down without a tough fight for what is right.

3. Kim Zambrano – Third Watch

Back at the beginning of the 2000s on NBC, there was a show all about the NYPD/FDNY in the 55th Precinct called Third Watch.

One of the only other female characters in the FDNY on Third Watch is Kim Zambrano. This woman is a fighter and a competitor in order to stand out in the firehouse where she is surrounded by men.

She has had her fair share of tough shakes in her personal life that make her job rough at times, but she never lets that get her down.

For a period of time, she is partnered up with the paramedic/firefighter Alex Taylor, and the two become thick as thieves. Each woman is there to support the other and give them someone to lean on.

Kim stuck with the 55 for the majority of the series run, only leaving when she gets pregnant — wanting to be able to be there for her child.

4. Tommy Gavin – Rescue Me

The protagonist on FX’s Rescue Me is far from an ideal candidate to be a role model. However, Tommy Gavin makes for a great firefighter which earns him a spot on our list.

Throughout the show’s 7 season run, Tommy Gavin battles his ex-wife, his addiction to alcohol, and the ghosts of his past — being a 9/11 first responder, he’s seen more than most. He’s not always the easiest to love, but he does his best to be the hero he’s always meant to be.

Tommy is one of those people who don’t know anything other than the career they’ve staked their lives on. When he decides to retire from active duty, the decision only lasts a short time before he is back to fighting fires once more.

By the end, Tommy is working really hard to be a better husband, father, and firefighter by trying once again to get sober. 

5. Leslie Shay – Chicago Fire

Even though we lost Leslie Shay way too soon on Chicago Fire, her continued impact is still felt 5 seasons later. Her presence is still felt every day at Firehouse 51 and not just because we see her name on the ambulance door all the time.

Leslie Shay is one of those characters that everyone loves because she lived her life with no apologies. She was a fierce protector of the sick and wounded through her job as a paramedic and yet she still found time to love her friends and loved ones intensely.

One of the largest impacts she left behind is in the LGBTQ+ community. She’s a lesbian, but that identity didn’t define her nor was it even ever an issue. 

Shay was just Shay — no apologies no regrets — fierce, loving, and loyal until the very end.

6. Bobby Nash – 9-1-1

They say that sometimes the best heroes are the ones who personally know what’s at stake. That sentiment rings especially true for Captain Bobby Nash of LAFD’s Firehouse 118. 

Under the surface, Bobby harbors a secret indiscretion — he caused a fire that killed his family. This tragedy makes Bobby that much more aware of all that can be lost when recklessness is allowed on the job.

It makes him a strong, unforgiving leader at times, but ultimately he is the all-knowing father figure of the group. He pushes and punishes in order to teach his team the value of their jobs and purpose as firefighters. 

Captain Nash never shies away from the tough decisions needed to keep his team at their best. 

7. Travis Montgomery – Station 19

Much like his captain, Andy, Travis Montgomery is a stickler for following the rules and being smart about every call they take. This comes from bad experiences in the past with ineffective leaders — one such experience resulted in the loss of his husband, Michael.

Everyone in the house flocks to him because he is the heart and soul of the house. He is quick to smile and quick to mentor his fellow firefighters. Travis just wants everyone to function together peacefully and cohesively.

One of his greatest qualities is how focused and determined he is. Travis Montgomery just wants to see everyone succeed and to make the city of Seattle just a little bit safer.

8. Brian – Sirens

It isn’t often that shows about EMTs venture into comedy territory, but that is exactly what Sirens does. One of the funniest EMTs is Brian, a new recruit on the Eminent Chicago EMT service.

Brian spends his days helping the citizens of Chicago with his fellow EMTs Hank and Johnny. The trio faces every challenge of the job with a bit of love and humor. 

Brian works hard every day to be the best EMT he can. He leads with his heart trying to mend the hearts and souls of all his patients. 

9. Howie ‘Chimney’ Han – 9-1-1

Undoubtedly one of 9-1-1‘s most underrated characters, Howie ‘Chimney’ Han raises hell right alongside his fellow paramedic Hen. These two have been partners ever since she joined the firehouse at a time when the color of their skin defined them more than their actual talents.

This man has been through hell and back to stay the quirky, funny paramedic we know and love. In Season 1, he had rebar pierce his head, and in Season 2 he was stabbed.

Whenever his fellow firefighters seem to get ahead of themselves, Chim is always there with a kind word and a soft push of encouragement. He is 90% passion and 10% brawn, 100% heart.

It’s truly unfortunate that his quiet nature tends to push him into the shadows in favor of the more colorful characters at the 118.

10. Alex Taylor – Third Watch

Starting in Season 2, the 55 got one tough firefighter by the name of Alex Taylor. 

Alex Taylor is a woman in a man’s world, but she never lets them define her as such. She works harder than anyone else to really show that she is deserving of her place on the truck. 

Firefighting is all she has ever known or wanted to know; she grew up with a father in the FDNY. So when her father loses his life on 9/11 and Alex gets moved to a paramedic track at the firehouse, she is displeased.

During her time at the 55, she never gives up on being a firefighter and running into danger in order to save someone else. In fact, she dies as she lived — saving some people in a car accident.

11. Sylvie Brett – Chicago Fire

Sylvie Brett joined Firehouse 51 during a difficult time, right after they’d lost Shay, but she never let that cloud her optimism and sunshine spirit. She’s a paramedic with as much love and heart as she does confidence.

During a dark time, Brett becomes the ray of sunshine her fellow firefighters and paramedic needs. Despite being a bit lost herself, Brett shows us all that her desire to save lives comes above anything else.

She makes friends quickly and easily with Firefighters Joe Cruz and Brian ‘Otis’ Zvonecek. These guys are what really brings her into the mold and family of Firehouse 51. But it’s her friendships with Gabby Dawson and Stella Kidd that really define her.

It’s not until after she moves away, that we really appreciate all that she means to 51. Without her, the house just isn’t the same, and her colleagues lose a bit of their drive and passion. 

12. John Gage – Emergency!

Before medical dramas were as commonplace as the nightly news, there was a show called Emergency! that followed a group of LA’s first responders. The show aired in the 70s and remains a starting off point for other shows on our list.

This means that one of the show’s protagonists, John Gage has earned himself a spot on the list by being a confident, brave paramedic in the early days of emergency medicine. His confidence doesn’t do much to hide his immaturity, but his partner balances out that aspect of his personality spectacularly.

John spends the entirety of the series helping out the residents of LA through many different kinds of emergencies. His role, as well as the show itself, paved the way for a larger appreciation of the paramedic profession.

13. Stella Kidd – Chicago Fire

Stella Kidd hasn’t been a part of Firehouse 51 for as long as her boyfriend, Kelly Severide, but already she has made waves. There is nothing — and I mean nothing — that will stop this woman from flexing her muscles and helping those in need.

She can fight fires as fiercely as any man twice her size and is always thirsty to prove herself. This drive doesn’t stop her from doing the right thing for victims or other women firefighters. 

Kidd is a fighter through and through. So, when Chief Boden expresses his confidence in her leadership abilities she takes that and runs with it even at a great personal cost. 

The future is bright and female for this member of Truck 81. 

14. Hank – Sirens

Strong but, sensitive Hank is the voice of reason on the rig. He can be tough when the situation calls for it even going so far as to barrage his rig mates with crass humor to get through the day.

Just because he is the wise man of the group doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his own shortcomings when it comes to understanding life and love. That doesn’t stop him from leading with his heart at all times.

He never lets his sexual orientation separate him from the other guys or stop him from doing his job to the best of his ability. In fact, with his revolving door of romantic partners, Hank finds he can really connect with his colleagues whenever they bemoan their love lives.

15. Andy Herrara – Station 19

There is no one quite like Andy Herrara at Seattle’s Station 19. This badass, independent female lieutenant guides her house in many dangerous situations.

She isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the name of saving lives. In fact, she has even gone so far as to place her hand in a chest wound to save a young boy. 

There is nothing Andy won’t do to prove her worth and that includes making sure she does everything by the book. She never lets her feelings cloud her judgment which is what makes her a great leader.

16. Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley – 9-1-1

For Firefighter Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley his whole being is defined by his role as one of the LAFD’s finest. His youth and inexperience never once deterring him from trying to be the hero and save the day.

In recent months, he has definitely mellowed out and slowed down a bit. However, his passion is still there 100%. Buck is the first to tell you he will dive headfirst and contemplate consequences later. 

He may often butt heads with Captain Nash, but that is only because Nash sees the potential in him and knows that he has the make-up of a great firefighter — if only he could get out of his own head.

Buck’s recent setbacks have really shown him — and us — how he doesn’t have to be a firefighter to still be a hero. Just ask Christopher.

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Who are your favorite firefighter and EMT characters? Did we miss any important ones? Sound off in the comments below.

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