What is it about firefighting that made me love my work?

I just read this post on Facebook today, and it brought tears to my eyes. 

I recently saw a post asking what being a wildland firefighter means to people. This to me is what it's about. The camaraderie you have with your crew. The nights spent out at a remote spike camp, sitting around a campfire after a long shift talking like you haven't been around each other 24/7 the whole summer. Jokingly complaining about how awful the line, food, coffee or hike in or out was, but looking back and being satisfied with the progress the crew has made. More and more I feel like firefighters are being told they're glamorous, adrenaline fueled heroes doing an extremely dangerous job, battling the forces of nature and more and more inexperienced firefighters are believing it and thinking that's what this job is about. It's sad and about as far from the truth as you can get. It's all about teamwork, camaraderie, and a few clear, calm decisions to solve evolving problems.
Kyle Miller

I couldn't have said this better. This is what I miss. This is what made my job special, and far more than just a job to me.  This time in my life was the only time I felt that way. There is no doubt I am quite lucky to have had those experiences.

Diagram of how a fire crew works

This has changed since I worked on a crew. We did not post a lookout, or set up a safety zone, both important safety features now in place.