The Des Moines Fire Department is hiring, and members of the department described why they say the work can be rewarding and worth pursuing. "I'm a fire medic," said Haley Van Velsen, who opened the recording and identified herself by name; she said the department is recruiting for new staff.

Van Velsen and other on-duty personnel emphasized teamwork and service as central reasons to join. "I think I have the best job in the world," Van Velsen said, adding that helping people after calls is the most fulfilling part of the job.

Michael Owens, who identified himself and said he is based at Station 3, said he has been with the department seven years and recommended firefighting to people seeking change and challenge. An unidentified firefighter who said they started on 10/01/1990 described immediate certainty that the department was the right fit and said "It is special being a firefighter here." A different unidentified speaker noted they are currently in the department's training section, illustrating a mix of experience levels among staff.

Speakers gave concrete examples of the job's impact: rescuing possessions from a fire and restoring a pulse in a cardiac arrest. "When we respond on calls, it's usually the person's worst day of their life," Van Velsen said. She and colleagues framed those moments as "wins" for the crew and as the foundation of the department's mission to give back to the community.

The presenters repeatedly framed the department as a team and described the crew dynamic as a major attraction. One speaker said the relationships with coworkers "push me to be better," and another described firefighters riding both in fire trucks and ambulances as part of that team approach.

As a close, speakers urged potential applicants to consider firefighting if they seek both mental and physical challenge and a chance to help others. The recording framed the hiring message around service, career opportunity, and the day-to-day teamwork that department members said defines their work.

The department did not provide specific application deadlines, job classifications, salary ranges, or contact instructions in the recording; those details were not specified in the transcript.