Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a parachutist firefighter in Baarle-Nassau 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.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
So, I’m sippin’ my coffee on the corner of the Kerkstraat, right? Just enjoying the vibe, when my radio crackles. “Fire in the old mill near the Markt!” I’m like, “Great, just what I needed.” I slam my coffee down and gear up. I mean, who doesn’t love a little adrenaline with their morning brew?
I hop in the truck, and we zoom over. The streets are narrow, man. I swear, if I had a euro for every time I almost clipped a bike, I’d be rich. Baarle-Nassau is this cute little town, but the roads? They’re like a maze. I’m dodging tourists and locals alike. “Watch out!” I yell. They just stare at me like I’m some kinda superhero. I mean, I kinda am, right?
We get to the mill, and it’s chaos. Flames are licking the sky, and I’m thinkin’, “This is gonna be a wild ride.” I strap on my parachute—yeah, I know, sounds crazy, but it’s how we roll. I jump in, and the wind hits me like a freight train. I’m soaring over the rooftops of Baarle-Nassau, and it’s beautiful. But then I see it—smoke billowing from the old mill.
I land, roll, and spring into action. The heat is intense. I’m sweating like a pig in a sauna. My buddy, Jeroen, is already spraying water like a madman. “Dude, aim for the base!” I shout. He nods, but I can see he’s panicking. I mean, who wouldn’t? Fire is scary, man.
We’re battling this thing, and I’m feeling pumped. But then, outta nowhere, a cat darts past me. A freakin’ cat! I’m like, “Seriously? You’re gonna run into a burning building?” I chase after it, and let me tell ya, that little furball was fast. I finally grab it, and it’s hissing like it’s possessed. I’m like, “Chill, kitty! I just saved your life!”
After what feels like forever, we finally get the fire under control. I’m high-fiving Jeroen, and we’re both laughing like idiots. But then I look around. The mill is toast. I mean, it’s a total wreck. I feel this wave of sadness wash over me. That place had history, you know?
As we’re packing up, I spot a couple of locals watching us. They’re giving us thumbs up, and I’m like, “Yeah, we’re heroes!” But then I see this old lady, Mrs. van Dijk, shaking her head. “You boys need to be more careful!” she yells. I can’t help but chuckle. She’s right, though. We’re not invincible.
Later, I’m back at the station, and I can’t stop thinking about the day. I mean, I love my job, but it’s exhausting. I grab a beer from the fridge and plop down. My phone buzzes. It’s a pic of the cat I saved. Jeroen sent it. “Meet your new partner,” he texts. I laugh out loud.
Baarle-Nassau, man. It’s a wild place. One minute you’re saving cats, the next you’re fighting fires. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just another day in the life of a parachutist firefighter. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!