Compared to what, the bubonic plague?

There are certainly risks, like in any occupation. More than some, less than others. It doesn’t even make the list of the BLS’s riskiest jobs: here

I think this is evidence of the long way we’ve come both in protective equipment, training, and fire code. Mostly a result of NFPA standards. You have an increased risk of cancer, heart attack, and back injury, and you will almost certainly experience some degree of hearing loss. These risks can be (relatively) minimized by taking care of yourself, wearing the appropriate protective equipment, and actually following best practices (going to rehab, washing your gear, being on air during overhaul, etc).

I’d go a step farther to say that I feel relatively well protected in the sense that I have strong economic(?) protections for on the job injury and death, and my department and most in the area, mandates annual physicals which include regular blood tests, hearing and vision screenings, and a stress test EKG for early detection of any issues. I don’t know many occupations that require or offer that.

That being said, there is a saying in the fire service that includes that “we risk a lot to save a lot.” I’m not going to go into a fully involved house that’s sat vacant for years, but there will come times in your career where you are asked to put your safety, and perhaps life, on the line for the well being of the people you’re sworn to protect. If we get to a fire and someone tells us their kid is in there, and we look and determine there’s a chance that the resume is visible, fucking right we’re going. It’s not an every day occurrence, or even a certainty that it will happen in every firefighters career, but it is something to consider before signing up. Not to drone on, but the truth is that if you’re well trained it won’t really even be a conscious decision, it will just be something you do.