Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a parachutist firefighter in Barrafranca is like riding a rollercoaster that’s on fire. Seriously, I woke up this morning, sun shining, birds chirping, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
So, I’m at the station on Via Roma, right? Just sippin’ my coffee, scrolling through my phone, when the alarm goes off. My heart drops. It’s like a bad horror movie. We get a call about a fire near the old church on Piazza della Libertà. I’m like, “Great, just what I needed.”
We gear up, and I’m trying to keep my cool. But inside, I’m like a shaken soda can. We hop in the truck, and I’m thinking about how I just wanted to enjoy a quiet day. But nope! Not in Barrafranca, baby!
As we drive down Corso Umberto, I see the smoke. It’s billowing like a dragon’s breath. My stomach drops. I’m thinking, “This is gonna be a mess.” We pull up, and it’s chaos. People are everywhere, yelling, crying. I spot a kid, maybe 10, crying for his cat. My heart breaks. I’m like, “Dude, I get it. I’d cry for my dog too.”
We jump out, and I’m strapped in, ready to jump. The adrenaline is pumping. I can feel it in my bones. I look at my buddy Marco, and he’s got that wild look in his eyes. We both know what’s coming.
I leap off the truck, and the world goes quiet for a second. It’s just me and the wind. I’m flying over the rooftops of Barrafranca, and it’s beautiful. But then I see the flames licking the walls of that old church. My heart sinks.
I land, roll, and spring into action. The heat hits me like a freight train. I grab the hose, and we start dousing the flames. It’s like trying to put out a bonfire with a squirt gun. I’m sweating buckets, and I’m thinking, “Why do I do this again?”
Then, outta nowhere, I hear a shout. It’s that kid! He’s pointing at the church. “My cat! My cat’s in there!” I’m like, “Oh man, not this.” I can’t just let it burn. So, I tell Marco to keep spraying while I dash inside.
The smoke is thick, and I can barely see. I’m crawling on the floor, heart racing. I’m like, “Where are you, little furball?” I hear a meow, and I’m like, “YES!” I find the cat, scoop it up, and bolt outta there.
I burst through the door, cat in hand, and the crowd goes wild. The kid’s face lights up. I’m feeling like a hero, but I’m also thinking, “I just saved a cat. What’s next, a dog?”
After we finally get the fire under control, I’m exhausted. I sit on the curb on Via Roma, catching my breath. The sun’s setting, and it’s kinda beautiful. I look around at the people of Barrafranca, and I’m reminded why I do this.
But then, I see someone trying to take a selfie with the fire truck. I can’t help but laugh. Like, really? “Hey, look at me! I’m next to a burning building!” People are wild.
As the day winds down, I’m just grateful. Grateful for the kid, the cat, and even the chaos. Barrafranca, you’re a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So, yeah, that was my day. Just another day in the life of a parachutist firefighter. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.