Man, what a day! I swear, being a parachutist firefighter in Charneca is like riding a rollercoaster with no seatbelt. So, I wake up, right? Sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinking, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I grab my coffee from that little café on Rua da Liberdade. You know the one? The barista, Miguel, always messes up my order. I asked for a double shot, and he gives me a single. I’m like, “Dude, I need jet fuel, not a warm-up!” But whatever, I chug it down and head to the station.
So, I’m at the station, and the vibe is tense. Everyone’s buzzing. Turns out, there’s a fire in a building on Avenida da República. I’m thinking, “Great, just what I need.” We gear up, and I’m feeling that adrenaline kick in. You know that feeling? Like you’re about to jump off a cliff? Yeah, that.
We hop in the truck, and I’m crammed in the back with my buddy João. He’s cracking jokes, but I’m not in the mood. I’m staring out the window, watching Charneca zoom by. The streets are packed, people are out and about, and I’m just thinking, “Why can’t they stay home today?”
We finally get to the scene, and it’s chaos. Flames are licking the sides of the building on Rua da Escola. I can hear the sirens blaring, people screaming, and I’m just like, “This is it. Time to fly.” We suit up, and I’m ready to jump in.
But then, I see this kid. He’s standing there, eyes wide, looking at the fire like it’s a movie. I’m like, “Yo, get back! This ain’t a show!” But he doesn’t move. I’m fuming. I sprint over, grab him, and pull him back. “What’s wrong with you, man? You wanna roast like a marshmallow?”
Finally, we get the go-ahead to jump. I’m strapped in, heart racing. I leap out of the chopper, and it’s like flying. The wind’s whipping past me, and I’m thinking, “This is what I live for!” But then, I see the flames. They’re bigger than I thought.
I land, roll, and spring into action. The heat hits me like a wall. I’m spraying water, trying to tame the beast. It’s wild. I’m soaked, but I don’t care. I’m in my element.
But then, outta nowhere, a gust of wind shifts, and the flames roar back. I’m like, “Oh no, not today!” I’m yelling at my team, “We need backup! Now!” My heart’s pounding, and I’m just praying we can get this under control.
After what feels like forever, we finally get it down. I’m exhausted, but there’s this rush. I look around, and people are cheering. I’m like, “Yeah, we did it!” But then I see that kid again. He’s smiling, and I’m like, “Okay, maybe today wasn’t a total bust.”
We pack up, and I’m heading back to the station. I’m thinking about that coffee I didn’t get. I need a proper pick-me-up. I swing by that café again, and Miguel’s there. I order a triple this time. He raises an eyebrow, but I’m like, “Just give me the good stuff, man!”
As I sit there, sipping my coffee, I can’t help but laugh. Charneca is crazy, but it’s home. The streets, the people, the fires—everything. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So yeah, that was my day. Just another wild ride in Charneca. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!