There are times when I find myself utterly exhausted with my job. You might relate to this feeling—the kind of morning when you wake up, and just the thought of another workday gives you a headache. No matter how much you love what you do, there are moments when the motivation just isn’t there.

Even with the occasional complaints and those lazy days spent in bed watching TV, I recognize how fortunate I am. My job, for all its ups and downs, never puts my life in danger. And that’s something worth appreciating, even if it’s not something most of us think about daily.

It’s easy to overlook the fact that there are careers out there that aren’t just mentally exhausting but also physically dangerous. Some professions require a level of bravery that most of us never have to tap into in our daily lives.

Take firefighters, for example. In my opinion, they don’t receive nearly enough recognition for the incredible risks they take just by showing up for work. Every single day, they put their lives on the line to protect others, often stepping into situations where most people would instinctively run the other way.

Right now, there’s a photo circulating online that has rightfully brought attention to the harsh conditions firefighters endure. This image is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices they make and the exhaustion they endure in service of others.

When I was younger, I briefly dreamed of becoming a firefighter—just in case my NBA aspirations didn’t work out. But looking back, I’m perfectly happy leaving that kind of heroism to those who are truly cut out for it.

Call me a coward if you must, but there are few things I fear more than the idea of running into a burning building. Just imagining it is enough to make me anxious.

Fortunately, there are people out there with an entirely different perspective. People who wake up every morning ready to put themselves in harm’s way to save lives. People who willingly charge into danger when others are fleeing for their safety. These men and women are truly built differently, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their courage and selflessness.

Firefighters don’t just rescue people from burning buildings or pull accident victims from wrecked cars—they also take on one of nature’s most devastating forces: wildfires.

If you’ve ever lived in an area prone to wildfires, you understand the sheer destruction they can cause. These blazes can spread at terrifying speeds, consuming everything in their path. Entire communities can be reduced to ash in a matter of hours.

And while the rest of us are told to evacuate and seek safety, firefighters do the opposite. They charge straight into the inferno, battling flames in an effort to minimize destruction and save as many lives as possible.

Years ago, one such massive wildfire raged across Portugal. It was so severe that authorities had to deploy 1,150 firefighters to bring it under control. The scene was nothing short of apocalyptic—flames stretching high into the sky, smoke choking the air, entire landscapes swallowed by fire.

Amidst all that chaos and destruction, something remarkable happened. A single photograph captured a moment that honored the resilience and dedication of these firefighters in a way that words never could.

The image, shared by a man named Pedro Brás, instantly went viral. Along with the picture, Pedro wrote: “After a full day and night battling the Góis Forest Fire, we took 25 minutes at the river beach, even though it was still covered in smoke.”

The photo itself is both haunting and deeply moving. It shows a group of exhausted firefighters sprawled out on the grass, too drained to do anything but collapse where they stood. Some are lying on their backs, others curled up, heads resting on their arms. The sheer fatigue in their posture tells the whole story—these were men and women who had given everything they had.

They had spent 24 hours straight battling an inferno, and in return, all they could afford was a mere 25 minutes of rest. Not in a comfortable bed, not even indoors—just a brief, stolen moment on the ground, under a sky still thick with smoke.

Looking at that image, it’s impossible not to feel humbled by their sacrifice. How often do we truly acknowledge the efforts of the people who keep us safe? How many times do we take for granted the firefighters who respond to emergencies without hesitation, who risk their lives for strangers, who endure brutal conditions with no expectation of praise?

The reality is, they deserve far more recognition than they receive.

It’s easy to get caught up in our own daily routines, our own minor frustrations, and forget that out there, in some part of the world, firefighters are putting everything on the line. While we’re complaining about long meetings or traffic jams, they’re running into burning buildings. While we’re sipping our morning coffee, they’re cutting people out of wrecked cars. While we’re safely asleep in our beds, they’re out in the field, doing battle with wildfires that threaten entire communities.

Firefighting isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. It requires a level of courage, dedication, and endurance that few of us can truly comprehend.

So, the next time you see a firefighter, take a moment to appreciate what they do. They don’t ask for thanks. They don’t seek out glory. But they absolutely deserve every bit of gratitude we can give.

Because while the rest of us go about our lives, there are heroes out there fighting to make sure we still have homes to return to.