Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a parachutist firefighter in Sano is like riding a rollercoaster that’s on fire. Seriously, I woke up this morning, and the sun was shining over the Sano River. I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
So, I’m at the station, right? Just chowing down on some onigiri from that little shop on Kōen-dōri. Best rice balls ever! I’m halfway through my breakfast when the alarm goes off. My heart drops. It’s like a bad horror movie. I grab my gear, and we’re out the door.
Turns out, there’s a fire at a warehouse near the Sano train station. I’m thinkin’, “Great, just what I needed.” We hop in the truck, and I’m trying to calm my nerves. I mean, I love my job, but sometimes it feels like I’m in a video game on hard mode.
We get to the scene, and wow, it’s chaos. Flames are shooting up like they’re auditioning for a role in a movie. I can see the smoke from as far as the Sano City Hall. My heart’s racing. I’m pumped, but also kinda freaked out.
I strap on my parachute. Yeah, I know, sounds wild, but it’s how we roll. I jump outta the chopper, and the wind hits me like a freight train. I’m flying over the city, and it’s beautiful. Sano’s got this vibe, man. The rooftops, the little parks, the people below looking up like, “What’s that crazy dude doing?”
I land, and it’s go time. I’m dousing flames, and it’s hot as hell. I’m sweating buckets, and I’m like, “Why didn’t I bring a towel?” But then, I see this little kid, maybe 8 years old, watching us. He’s got this look of awe on his face. It hits me right in the feels. I’m like, “Yeah, kid, this is what we do!”
But then, outta nowhere, I hear a scream. I turn, and there’s this lady trapped in a car near the fire. My heart sinks. I sprint over, and I’m yelling for backup. I’m thinking, “C’mon, c’mon!”
Finally, we get her out. She’s shaking, but she’s alive. I’m relieved, but then I see the flames creeping closer to the Sano River. I’m like, “Not on my watch!” I grab the hose and start spraying like I’m in a water fight.
After what feels like forever, we finally get it under control. I’m exhausted, but I’m buzzing. I look around, and people are cheering. It’s like a scene from a movie. I’m thinking, “Damn, I love this job!”
But then, I trip over a hose and faceplant. Classic. Everyone laughs, and I’m like, “Yeah, yeah, I meant to do that.”
As the sun sets over Sano, I’m sitting on the curb, catching my breath. The streets are quiet now, but I can still hear the distant sounds of the city. I think about how lucky I am. Sure, it’s crazy, but it’s my crazy.
I head back to the station, and we celebrate with some ramen from that spot on Kōen-dōri. Best way to end a wild day. I’m still buzzing from the adrenaline, and I can’t help but smile. Sano, you’re a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.