Page 2 of Kissing the Beach Town Fire Chief
I jump down from the truck, boots hitting the hot pavement. The heat from the fire rolls off in waves so intense that I can feel it in my bones. I grab my helmet and give a nod to thecrew who are already fanning out like we’ve trained for. My heart is pounding, but there’s no time for fear. A small crowd is gathering beyond the yellow tape, people staring helplessly as their beloved bakery burns.
Clara. A thought shoots through me. Clara, the elderly woman who runs this place. She’s been serving the town’s pastries for as long as I can remember. Is she still in there?
I pull down my mask and head straight for the entrance. The swirling smoke and ash are everywhere, choking the air. The door creaks as I push it open, and the heat slams into me like a wall. The fire roars inside, eating through shelves and chairs, everything that was once part of Clara’s life.
“Clara!” I shout, my voice muffled by the mask.
No answer. My eyes lock on the kitchen door, barely hanging on its hinges. Through the haze, I see movement—a frail figure slumped on the floor.
I push through the burning debris, dodging falling beams, and get to her side. Kneeling, I check her pulse. It’s faint, but she’s alive. Relief hits me as I see that she is not burned, but it’s quick and fleeting—no time to waste. I lift her into my arms, her weight almost nothing.
“Chief, the building’s not gonna hold much longer. You’ve gotta get out!” Kyle’s voice comes through again, more urgent this time.
“I’m coming out now. I’ve got Clara but she’s in bad shape. Make sure the ambulance is here.” I say, my voice is steady despite the rush of adrenaline. I weave through the burning wreckage, Clara’s shallow breaths barely audible. A loud crack echoes above me as a burning beam collapses in front of us, forcing me to pivot and take another route toward the side exit.
The sweat pours down my face, the air thick and burning with each breath. But Clara’s life depends on me getting her out. I push harder. Finally, the cool rush of air hits my face as I burstthrough the side door. Behind us, the building groans and fully collapses, sending sparks and ash into the sky.
The crowd gasps. I barely register it. My only focus is Clara. Paramedics rush forward, taking her from me and laying her on a gurney.
“She’s alive,” I tell them, my voice tight but calm. “Get her out of here as soon as you can, guys.”
As they work on Clara, I take a step back and pull off my helmet, wiping sweat from my forehead. My heart is still racing, but at least we made it. The bakery’s gone, but Clara is hopefully safe. The ambulance crew is already moving Clara into the rig, so I know she’ll get the best emergency services possible.
The crew gathers around, ready to finish the job and contain the blaze. “We’ll need another hour to get it fully under control,” Kyle says, his voice a little more solid now that the worst is behind us.
I nod, scanning the crowd, making sure everyone’s accounted for. “That’s what matters most—everyone’s safe.”
Then I notice someone. A woman stands just beyond the curb on the other side of the street, hands clasped tightly in front of her, concern written all over her face. Dark hair catches the fading sunlight, her sun shaded eyes seem locked on the scene, on me.
I don’t recognize her, at least I don’t think I do. In a town as small as Seabrook, that’s rare. Something about her catches me off guard, like the world shifts ever so slightly.
Before I can dwell on it, the radio crackles again. “Chief, we need to check the gas line near the back. It could still be a risk.”
“On it,” I reply, forcing myself to turn back to the job. No time for distractions. Not yet, anyway.
The woman moves closer as the flames die down. Her shoulders seem to relax when she sees Clara being loaded into the ambulance. She meets my gaze then, lips parting as if shewants to say something. But instead, she gives me a small nod—a silent thank you.
I return the nod, brief but meaningful. I don’t know her story, but something about her makes me think I might want to.
But there’s more on my mind than the fire. More than just the exhaustion that’s settled into my bones. The bakery should never have gone up like this. The wiring was ancient, an accident waiting to happen. Clara had talked about fixing it for years, but nothing had been done. I know this fire could’ve been prevented, just like the next one can be.
And that’s why I’ve put my name on the ballot for town council. It’s not just about saving lives in the moment—it’s about keeping Seabrook standing for the long haul. We need better infrastructure. Outdated wiring, crumbling roads, water mains bursting with every storm—this town is hanging by a thread. It’s not enough for me to be chief; I need to help make changes that will last.
Seabrook needs more than just a fire chief—it needs someone to look ahead, to fight for the improvements the town has long ignored. Power lines that sag and spark. Streets that flood every spring. This fire, at this very moment, is a reminder of how much needs to change.
I watch the last embers die as the crew winds down the hoses and packs up the gear. The resolve hardens inside me. Seabrook needs someone who will fight for those changes. If I can get the town to trust me with their lives every day, they can trust me with their future.
I glance back at the crowd one more time and again notice the dark-haired woman as she is walking away.Is there something familiar about her?
Most of the crew finally jump on the rig. Tony and Brad stay behind for a few more hours to monitor the embers and make sure there is no flare up that we don’t address. We are allexhausted and glad to get back to the station to clean up and unwind.
Kyle admonishes me that I took too much of a chance and that I was in the building too long. A few seconds more and I would not have gotten out, nor would I have brought Clara to safety. I acknowledge his concern and agree that I might have been hurt or worse. I really do appreciate Kyle and all the rest of the crew. We need to cover each other’s backs one hundred percent of the time.
I’m not a thrill seeker nor do I have a death wish at my early age, but my oath to protect and serve the town commits me to do everything possible in my role as a firefighter and as chief. Which reminds me. I need to check on Clara.
And maybe then… find the mysterious woman with the dark hair. A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. Something tells me that tonight is more than just a turning point for the town. Maybe it’s the adrenaline, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve crossed a line that I didn’t even see coming.
Chapter two
