Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a parachutist firefighter in Leven is like riding a rollercoaster that’s on fire. Seriously, I woke up this mornin’ thinkin’ it’d be just another chill day. Boy, was I wrong!
So, I’m sippin’ my coffee on High Street, right? Just mindin’ my own biz, when the alarm goes off. My heart’s racin’ like I just chugged a Red Bull. I grab my gear and head to the station on the corner of Church Street. The crew’s already buzzin’ like bees. “What’s the sitch?” I shout. Turns out, there’s a fire at the old mill down by the river. You know, the one that’s been abandoned for ages? Yeah, that one.
We hop in the truck, and I’m thinkin’, “This is gonna be a piece of cake.” But nah, not today. As we roll down the streets, I see folks on the sidewalks, lookin’ all worried. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Smoke’s billowin’ up like a bad barbecue. I can smell it from a mile away.
We get to the mill, and it’s chaos. Fire’s cracklin’, and I’m like, “Alright, time to do my thing.” I strap on my parachute—yeah, I know it sounds wild, but trust me, it’s how we roll in Leven. I jump from the truck, and the adrenaline hits me like a freight train.
I’m flyin’ through the air, and for a split second, it’s like I’m in a movie. But then I see the flames, and reality hits. I land on the roof, and it’s hotter than a sauna in here. I can hear the crackling wood, and I’m thinkin’, “This is not how I wanted my Tuesday to go.”
I start dousing the flames, and let me tell ya, it’s like tryin’ to put out a bonfire with a squirt gun. I’m sweatin’ buckets, and my brain’s goin’ a mile a minute. “Why’d I choose this job?” I’m askin’ myself. But then I see a family across the street, lookin’ scared. That’s when it hits me. I’m doin’ this for them.
Suddenly, I hear a shout. “Help! There’s someone inside!” My heart drops. I can’t believe it. I sprint back to the edge of the roof, and I’m like, “Who’s in there?” Turns out, it’s an old dude who’s been tryin’ to salvage some junk. I’m thinkin’, “Dude, it’s not worth it!” But I can’t just leave him.
I grab my gear and head back in. The smoke’s thick, and I can barely see. I’m crawlin’ on the floor, and my lungs are burnin’. I finally find the guy, and he’s just sittin’ there, lookin’ dazed. “C’mon, mate! We gotta go!” I drag him out, and we stumble outta the building just as it starts to collapse. Talk about a close call!
We make it outside, and the crowd goes wild. People are clappin’, and I’m just standin’ there, covered in soot, thinkin’, “What just happened?” I’m feelin’ like a hero, but also like I need a shower.
After the fire’s out, I’m sittin’ on the curb on Leven’s Main Street, tryin’ to catch my breath. The sun’s settin’, and it’s kinda beautiful, ya know? I see the river glimmerin’, and I’m reminded why I love this place. Leven’s got its quirks, but it’s home.
I’m still buzzin’ from the day’s craziness. I can’t help but laugh. “What a job, huh?” I say to my buddy, who’s sittin’ next to me. He just shakes his head, grinnin’. “Only in Leven, mate. Only in Leven.”
And you know what? He’s right. I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Sure, it’s wild and unpredictable, but it’s mine. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.