Coffs Coast RFS Captain's Poem For The Firies Across Australia

After what feels like months of a never-ending battle for our firies both local and nationally, emotions are running high as the end seems nowhere in sight. 

Local Nana Glen RFS Brigade Captain, John Lardner, has taken pen to paper to paint the picture of both an emotionally and physically taxing time. 

The call goes out that bell does ring,

the pager humming and sirens sing.

That piecing sound and your ears do ring,

As we climb aboard to do our thing.

Still half dressed as you move away,

A quick nod of head were underway.

The brief is told you know your stuff, 

We're going to fight, it's going to be rough. 

It's never easy it's always tough,

We get to the job with hoses and stuff.

That fires roaring, it waves no trust.

It's not a greeting, it just wants us 

It laughs and roars and knocks things down,

but the brave in us we stand our ground.

Faces a glow from heat and steam,

That fire we fight it is so mean.

It starts to spread to thin our luck,

But we beat it now with another truck.

It doesn't give up that ember glow,

it starts to put on a bigger show.

Unrelentless in its might,

it decides to go on through the night.

Tired an weary we paid a cost,

Houses gone & lives are lost.

Some are families, some are friends

The tears we shed will never end,

The silence falls on that glowing bed.

But that glowing beast it's never dead,

It will always breathe with a little wind,

Or a few dry leaves and other things.

So think of us as you see some smoke,

we are not caped heroes, we are just joe blows,

Who give up time and take the blows.

From early morning til god knows,

But sorry to say with those blows,

Some fighters fall with that hose.

For their souls are with us where angels fear,

But the bravest of all let us make it clear.

The unwritten law that bonds the crew,

If it comes for you,

Then it gets me too.

So safety first as we leave those trucks,

A gentle wink and a lot of luck.

To all my fellow firefighters across Australia bless us all

John Lardner Captain Nana Glen RFB