ORLANDO, Florida. – For Orlando firefighter Juwan VanBuren, the role of first responder is just one of many roles he takes on.

“I figured if I was going to save lives locally, I might as well do it nationally. I looked around and said to myself, 'The Coast Guard is the best when their mission is so similar to the fire department and not every other department.' So the Coast Guard was the right fit for me,” VanBuren said.

VanBuren is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and works at Orlando Fire Station 9 in Rosemont, a place he calls home.

“This job, as everyone says, has its charm, its thing, its calling. For me, this is my calling. As I said, I've had several jobs and now that I'm a firefighter, I feel complete with the things I do here every day,” he said.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

When VanBuren is not at Station 9, he is with his wife and three children.

Despite his busy schedule, he said he plans to serve in Australia next year.

“Sometimes it's a little hard living a double life, taking off my uniform and putting on another one. But at the end of the day, I have a family to support, so this makes it a lot easier,” VanBuren said.

VanBuren said he is taking advantage of 2024 and going back to school with the goal of earning his bachelor's degree in exercise science.

He said if there is one lesson for us this Fourth of July, it is the realization that anything is possible.

“I know that every time I go out there, even in this job, I give it my best and every time I do something, I have no regrets. As long as I give 110%, I have no other worries,” VanBuren said.

The headlines of the day in a few minutes with Your Florida daily newspaper: