Did you unplug the toaster?

We might have lost this one, but look at the proud papas getting their pictures taking.

I survived another live burn with the endless supply of over zealous rookies who're more than eager to battle the sinister Old Man Fire.

I of course did my best to train these monkeys with the dreadful thought that someday I might have to actually expect them to put out fire, without peeing themselves, mind you. We'll wash your gear if you get dirty from a fire, not for soiling yourself. No one went running frantically when the fire barely licked my helmet. They zigged and zagged appropriately and managed not the hurt themselves in the process.

I shall of course take this time to boast on my many victories of the day. I won my first instructor a drink at the bar. (The betting instructor had hid a second little fire that would have blocked my exit and made for some real fun. Sneaky bastard that he is.) Granted I took the bait way down into my stomach.

With nozzle in hand I open the front door, the kitchen to my right is only smoky, I continue right past it as nothing peaks my interest. I round a corner to find a dining room fully involved. Flames cross the ceiling above me, like a sunny day in the mountains I can feel the radiant heat through my gear. I soak the ceiling, wet it down until I can see water actually hitting the floor again, remember the ceiling will reach temps of around 1000 degrees without breaking a sweat, meaning when I shoot water up there it might not come back down. Only after the I've applied enough water to dissipate the heat will the water not convert to steam instantly.

"We've got fire behind us!" yells the young crackly voiced newbie.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've got fire in front of me too." "Let me know when you can't stand up anymore, than I come back and put it out." I retort with.

I finally turn around and shower off the kitchen (The hidden fire), then it's back to business with the inferno of a dining room. Wetting the ceiling will only do so much, you have to get in the room and actually attack what's on fire. Splash the ceiling one last time for good measure and run, I drop to my knees as it's bad form to stand directly in the fire rolling over the ceiling. I eye up my target and let loose with a nice straight stream that will knock the fire out. As the fire dies down the flames retreat from the ceiling as they have no additional heat to keep them ablaze. Mop up the kitchen on the way out and dinner is served. It was a fantastic fire. Granted for training the structure is already ventilated with the windows being broken out already. This provides a huge advantage as you can see. Normally in a house fire you can't see your hand in front of your face. I can personally guarantee most will never be able to appreciate how utterly alone you feel. Never mind that your knees burn as your crawl through the lava the carpet became when it melted, your shoulder sting as the radiant heat seeps right through your gear. If you are in there long enough the air in your will super heat and feel as though you are breathing from a blast finance. Other than that it's a walk in the park.

Remember folks, you never take your mask off, when you run out of air you better get really friendly with god, because if take one breath of 500 degree air, well, you just cooked your lungs and there ain't no coming back from that.

Better to pass out with your mask on and hope someone can drag your ass out, at least you gave yourself a chance at being revived.

And you thought firefighting was all about getting chicks while in uniform.

That and I will have the chance to work as a fire instructor, which of course kicks ass.