One Foot in the Black

Abstract

The alarm goes up, calls go out and across the region fire fighters respond. They know the need and they know the risk and this is what they have trained for. With calm urgency volunteers converge on their fire stations and - pulling on protective coats, heavy boots, helmets and gloves - transform into front line fighters. Swinging into trucks and racing toward danger they do the dirty, exhausting work of holding back fiery destruction where possible. When the blaze is overwhelming, they do what can be done to minimise harm to people and possessions.