Compassion in the line of fire: Lebanese firefighters' experiences of satisfaction and fatigue

Abstract

Drawing on the conservation of resources theory (COR), this study constitutes one of the few empirical investigations focusing specifically on Lebanese firefighters. It examines how war conditions shape their compassion-related work and explores the factors contributing to experiences of compassion satisfaction and/or compassion fatigue during wartime. The study draws on empirical data from thirty semi-structured interviews conducted between May and July 2025, which were analyzed using the Gioia methodology. The findings indicate that, during wartime, firefighters are strongly motivated to develop what can be described as satisfaction compassion. This motivation is shaped by multiple factors: nationalistic sentiments (repaying the homeland and embracing the concept of ‘one voice, one fight’), the desire to affirm self-worth (demonstrating a heroic identity, seeking recognition, and fulfilling a vow beyond words), and religious motivations (acting in God’s name and believing in ‘heaven for the brave’). Additionally, respondents identified the reduction of human loss and the pursuit of fairer wages as key drivers that intensify satisfaction compassion during periods of war. By addressing a significant gap in qualitative research on compassion work, particularly in non-Western contexts such as Lebanon, this study contributes to the literatures of human resource management and public administration. Moreover, examining compassion work in the context of a grand societal challenge like war provides an original perspective and opens new avenues for future scholarly inquiry.