South Florida is no stranger to disaster. From wildfires, devastating hurricanes, and
medical emergencies, firefighters stand on the front lines. They are a key part of keeping the city safe. Here, we sat down with some of Coral Gables’ own heroes to get a look into their lives as firefighters.
A Brief Chat with Firefighter Michael Carballo
How long have you been a firefighter?
“2 years.”
What made you get into this profession?
“Serving others.”
What do you love most about your job?
“The crew, the memories, the stories, the tough times, the good times, love it.”
What do you love most about this job?
“The ability to shape the future of the career. I also am an instructor on my off time. So being able to get people coming out of high school, going to college, understanding what we are all about.”
– Lieutenant Paredo
What do you love most about this job?
“Honestly, just being able to help somebody, and just make the bad day go to a good day, put a smile on their face, just, you know, that does it for me, to be honest.”
– Michael Garcia
words_julia campbell & cole selden. photo_julia campbell. design_cole selden.
This article was published in Distraction’s Spring 2026 print issue.
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