Feeling Captain AF.
I got this super green kid that thinks he’s a salty hardass already, and he’s chomping at the bit to get on a striketeam this season.
He thinks he wants it.
To hear him talk, you’d think he’s been at it for 20 years already. But in reality, he’s never been in a firefight.
He bugged me at first. Telling everybody else what they should be doing to “get on his level”.
I even had to chime in one time and straighten him out a bit when he was treating a couple of my battle-proven boys like they were beneath him.
Look here youngster, check yourself. Nobody gives a shit what you think about pretttttty much anything yet. The number of boots these guys have worn out is higher than the number of miles you’ve hiked with a hosepack on.
You haven’t done anything worth a whole opinion in this present company.
Do a trick or something.
Annnyway… He’s toned it down a lot, and has worked hard to earn my respect.
I took note, and am willing to give him a chance and seat on my engine this year.
The thing is though, nobody I’ve talked to thinks he actually has that dog in him. The grit it takes to stand your ground when it starts getting hairy and hold the line. That… Firefighter.
You start to recognize that quality in people after a while in this life. Doesn’t make them bad people or anything. You just don’t
He wishes he does.
But suspect he’s going to find out on his first “oh SHIT” moment that he ain’t actually bout this life.
And I prayed it happened with me. Cuz it’s going to be devastating when it happens, and I think Im equipped to handle that moment with him.
So I’ll give him a chance and do my best to keep it from going how we think it’s going to.
It happened today.
We caught a ripper over on pinecrest. And my boy was in the engine with us.
At scene, it looks like a 50′ spot in the grass, slow rate of spread. Totally doable. I put homie on the nozzle, grab his pack and lead him in.
We round the corner after the first 100 ft, and holy shit…
EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE! HEAVY BRUSH. WIND DRIVEN, a yard full of crap burning, and… A big effing shed fully involved with 20 ft flames ripping out the door.
And I feel him back up against me. It’s happening. He’s finding out about himself. And he’s trying to run.
Here’s my chance. I spot an old propane tank amongst the burning debris. I’m not actually worried about it, but it’s perfect.
“HOLY SHIT BRO!” I yell with feigned concern as I point to the tank. “I GOTTA GET THAT OUTTA THERE!”
I see the fear in his eyes. He is literally turning away to flee. He wants to drop the hose and run.
So I don’t give him the chance.
“YOU GOTTA PROTECT ME WITH THE HOSE! IM GOING IN!”
The blood drains from his face as I pat his shoulder and turn to the fire.
“Oh uh OH… OK..” he stammers as I march in.
“WATER! COOL THE TANK!” I reiterate as I go.
Then the stream appears on the tank. Cutting a path for me through the flames. I grab the tank, yeet it off into the black and bound back through the fire to my boy manning the nozzle.
I get back to his pack, exclaim, “FUCK YEAH BRO! LET’S GET SOME!”
And it happens.
He starts driving forward.
He’s marching toward the shed. Picking up the pace.
He’s fighting fire aggressively.
I did it. I brought that dog out of him.
We advance like a blitzkrieg to the door of the shed. It’s hot as hell, but we’re in the zone. We knock the heat out, and push on to catch the front before it gets across the field.
Forward progress stopped. And i got a mf swinging dick get-shit-done FIREFIGHTER on my engine.
✊🧑🚒
Heathen Fireman 