“For years, Timmy Reen tried to hide his compulsions and rituals from everyone at his New York City firehouse — until his secret was forced out in the open.”
“There was always an awkward moment for Timmy Reen after the fire was out. Standing amid the smoke and steam and wet debris, the other firefighters would shut off their oxygen tanks and pull off their face masks. But not Firefighter Reen.
The other guys ribbed him as they poked at ash and drywall, searching for embers. “Shut your bottle, Reen,” they’d say, nodding to his tank.
In the macho culture of the Fire Department of New York, showing too much concern over lingering smoke was a sure way to stand out. There’s a reason firefighters call themselves smoke eaters.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/nyregion/firefighter-mental-health-ocd.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare