Trump came to Long Island to thank first-responders — I saw first-hand how hard their jobs really are

Life for the Nassau County Fire Service Academy trainees who got a personal thank-you from President Trump last week is far from glamorous — but just try to extinguish their drive. The volunteer trainees spend grueling weeks dousing set-up blazes and crawling around in pitch-black, close-quarter indoor mazes at 120 degrees or higher to prepare to keep Long Islanders safe when they need it most. “I don’t call it brave. I call it committed,” Chief Instructor Paul Wilders told The Post. New York Post reporter Alex Mitchell participated in firefighter training drills at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage on Aug. 18, 2026. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post “If we teach you how to do it safely … it’s not about feeling brave anymore. It’s about feeling confident.” The Post spent