Author's Note: Prompt suggested by CJ.
G is for Go
A call for mutual aid was like throwing a rock into a pond. While it made the greatest splash with your immediate neighbors, it would ripple across the state, then to neighboring states, and if the fire was big enough it might even stretch across the globe tapping firefighters from Australia and New Zealand. Wildland firefighters, like those who called Piston Peaks Air Attack Base home, relied on mutual aid to provide them with a badly needed safety net…but that safety net meant that they were always on alert…always ready to come to the rescue of another team.
"Chief, we have just gotten a call for mutual aid from CalFire." Patch's steady voice broke over the base's emergency radio frequency causing everyone to pause from their daily tasks.
"Details?" The helicopter barked back.
"There is a fire rapidly moving through the Tahoe National Forest towards the town of Truckee." Patch paused for a moment, and everyone could hear the clicking of keys over the mic pick up. "I can't pull up the exact dimensions of the fire but given the storm system that is rapidly approaching us for the southwest, I suspect that they are trying to make sure that the fire doesn't get herded into town."
"Alright." Blade could be heard mulling over his options. "Patch, when is the National Weather Service predicting the storm will hit?"
"The storm should hit the fire in 12 to 14 hours."
The radio channel went quiet for a few rotor beats, then Blade's voice returned. "Alright people, it is time to go fight a fire. Dynamite, I need your people to grab their go bags and load up in Cabbie ASAP. Dipper, I want you to fuel up, but not tank up. You are going to have a massive lake to pull from and so I want you to travel north as light and fast as possible. Is that understood?"
There was a number clipped response as Blade heard the members of his team jumping into action. From there the helicopter didn't need to give any additional instructions. His team trained for moments like these, and it was best to let their training take hold.
Dipper was the first to take flight and everyone could hear as her engines screamed to full force as she raced to the site of the fire. Cabbie left just a few minutes behind her; his hull filled with smokejumpers. The big plane was carrying a heavy load so he adjusted his engine power for endurance instead of speed. But soon, even Cabbie's twin-tailed silhouette was gone from the sky leaving only two aircraft sitting on the air attack base's tarmac.
"I hope that they will be back soon." Blade muttered under his breath. "I don't like when we are this short-staffed."
Windlifter gave a quiet grunt of agreement.
"Shall we go patrol the park?" Blade asked as he looked over at the Skycrane.
Windlifter didn't bother replying, he simply kicked his engine into gear and launched into a hover.
"I will take that as a yes then." Blade smirked as he also prepared to take to the skies. Knowing full well that while the airplanes often got to experience the joy of going other places to fight fire, it was also incredibly important to have a couple of firefighters to hold down the fort at home.
End Note: Another week and another story finished. Which brings us to the question, what are your prompts for the letter H?
