6. Zoey

6

ZOEY

Z oey stepped out of the simulation room, the sound of the alarm still ringing in her ears. The fire station was a flurry of activity.

Everyone was in motion, grabbing their equipment and heading to the trucks. Zoey moved quickly, pulling on her gear with practiced ease. Her hands were steady and her mind sharp, but the memory of Lux's closeness lingered in the back of her mind.

"Gear up!" she called out through the chaos. "We need to move now."

The ride to the fire was tense, the sirens blaring as they sped through the streets. Zoey was in the passenger seat while Marshall drove, her eyes scanning the horizon as they approached the smoke rising in the distance. She could feel the heat even before they arrived, and the air was thick with the scent of burning wood.

As they pulled up to the scene, Zoey jumped out of the truck, her boots hitting the ground with a thud. The fire was worse than she had expected. The flames towered above the trees, and the heat was intense. Her team was right behind her, ready for action.

"Everyone, listen up!" Zoey said, her voice loud over the roar of the flames. "We need to establish a perimeter and start containment. Keep an eye out for any civilians. We don't know if anyone's still out there."

Her team nodded, spreading out as they moved toward the fire. Zoey grabbed her radio, checking in with the other units. "This is Lieutenant Zoey Knight. Phoenix Ridge 13 on site and beginning containment efforts."

The response came through quickly, and the other teams coordinated their efforts. Zoey moved with her team, directing them as they laid down firebreaks and set up hoses. The flames were relentless and the heat oppressive, but Zoey was in her element.

The fire was spreading fast, the wind pushing it through the forest at an alarming rate. Zoey could see the urgency in her team's eyes, but she kept them steady, guiding them through each step. They were making progress, but it was slow as the fire consumed everything in its path.

Zoey wiped the sweat from her brow, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble. Her radio crackled to life, and Ramirez's voice came from the other end.

"We've got a spot fire near the northern perimeter. It's moving fast. Requesting backup."

Zoey turned to her team, assessing their progress. They were holding the line, but just barely. She had to make a call.

"Ramirez, take the trucks and head to the northern perimeter," Zoey said. "Contain that spot fire before it gets out of control."

Zoey stayed with her team, pushing them to keep the fire from spreading any farther. The smoke was thick, the heat almost unbearable, but Zoey didn't let up.

About half an hour later, they had managed to slow the spread, but the fire wasn't out yet. Zoey could feel exhaustion setting in, but she didn't stop.

The radio crackled again, and Zoey grabbed it. Ramirez's voice came over the line. "Lieutenant, we've got civilians trapped near the eastern edge. They're cut off by the fire."

Zoey's heart skipped and her mind raced as she considered the options. The fire was still spreading, and pulling resources away could mean losing containment.

"Where's the nearest unit?" Zoey asked. Containment be damned. She'd rather that than lose anyone else.

"The nearest unit is ten minutes out, but the fire's closing in fast. They won't make it in time."

"What about air support?"

"We should have them over the zone any time now. I only fear it'll be too late."

Zoey's heart raced. If the helicopters weren't up just yet, then there was no saving those civilians.

Not again.

"Hold the line here. Keep pushing containment," Zoey breathed into the receiver.

"Lieutenant?"

"I said hold the line," Zoey repeated. "I'm going in."

She grabbed her gear and headed toward the eastern edge, her team moving to cover her as she went. The smoke was thicker here, the flames closer, but Zoey didn't hesitate. She moved quickly, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of the trapped civilians. Leilani Silva joined in.

As they approached, she could see the group huddled together as the fire surrounded them. They were panic-stricken, their faces covered in soot, fear evident in their eyes. Zoey moved closer, momentarily stunned by a sudden wave of déjà vu.

"We're with the fire department! You're all going to be safe, okay?"

She could see the relief in their faces, but the fire was closing in fast. Zoey had to act quickly. She and Silva led them toward a break in the flames, the heat intense as they moved through the narrow path she had cleared.

The flames were close, too close, but Zoey kept them moving, urging them forward. Her heart pounded and adrenaline surged as they made their way out of the fire's grasp. When they finally broke free, the civilians stumbled into the open, gasping for air.

Zoey took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes scanning the area to make sure everyone was safe. The fire was still raging behind them, but they had made it out.

"Get them to the medics," Zoey ordered.

The medics moved in and took the civilians to safety. Zoey watched them go, her mind already shifting back to the fire and the work still to be done. She grabbed her radio to check in with her team.

"Containment is holding, but we're not out of the woods yet," Ramirez reported.

Zoey nodded, even though she couldn't see her. "Keep at it. We need to keep this fire from spreading any farther."

She turned back toward the flames and pushed everything else aside—the exhaustion, the fear of losing someone, and maybe, she hoped, the moment when she nearly kissed Lux Valentine.

It didn't work.

The fire still roared, but she couldn't let her team lose focus. She paused for a moment and looked around. There were still a few members of the squad staying back in areas where the fires were less likely to affect trapped campers and hikers.

Zoey frowned. No doubt, they subscribed to Lux's strategy.

"Haley, I need that hose over here now!"

Haley, a young firefighter with a strong build, rushed over. Her face was streaked with soot and sweat dripped from her brow, but she moved with purpose, dragging the heavy hose behind her.

Zoey grabbed it from her and aimed the stream at a particularly stubborn section of the fire, steam rising as water hit the flames.

"Ramirez, how's it looking on your end?" Zoey asked over radio.

"We're losing control over here, Knight. We're keeping it from jumping the road, but it's pushing hard," Ramirez said.

Zoey could hear the strain in her voice. She knew Ramirez and her crew were exhausted, but they couldn't let up. "Keep at it. I'm sending Captain Hunter and her team to reinforce you. Hold the line."

"Copy that."

Zoey turned to Hallie Hunter, who had just arrived on scene with her team, and nodded.

"On it," Captain Hunter said. She motioned to her crew, and they headed off toward Ramirez's location.

Zoey watched them go, her mind racing as she considered their options. The fire was still spreading, and they were stretched thin. They needed more resources, but she knew the other teams were just as overwhelmed.

Her radio crackled again, and she heard Lux's voice come through. "Knight, it's Valentine. I'm coordinating air support. We are seeing the fire pushing uphill. It's going to be harder to contain if it gets over the ridge."

Zoey's heart skipped at the sound of Lux's voice, but she pushed the feeling aside. There was no time for that now. "I know. We're doing everything we can down here. What's the status of air support?"

"Still ten minutes out. I'm trying to get them to prioritize your location, but they've got other spots to cover too."

Zoey gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling inside her. Ten minutes could mean the difference between holding the line and losing control of the fire. But she couldn't afford to lose her cool. Not now. "Okay, we'll keep pushing. Just get them here as soon as you can."

"Will do."

Zoey lowered the radio, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. The fire was relentless, and they were running out of options. She looked around at her team, seeing the exhaustion on their faces and determination in their eyes. They were giving everything they had, but she knew they needed more.

Zoey's mind raced as she considered their next move. They needed to hold the fire back, but they also needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario. She spotted Lux's air team on the horizon, their helicopters slicing through the smoke as they approached.

"They're here," she said, more to herself than anyone else.

The helicopters swooped in low, dropping water on the flames, and the fire was momentarily subdued by the deluge. But Zoey knew it wouldn't last. The fire was too strong, too determined to be easily defeated.

She grabbed her radio again, calling out to her team. "Everyone, pull back to the perimeter! We need to regroup and prepare for another push."

Her team responded quickly, moving back to the established fire line. Zoey joined them, her mind still racing as she considered their options. The fire was still spreading, and they were running out of time.

Lux's voice crackled over the radio again. "Zoey, I'm coming down to help coordinate. We need to get this under control."

Zoey's heart skipped again at the thought of Lux being here so close—both thrilling and terrifying. She wanted to see her, to feel the comfort of her presence, but she knew there was no time for that now. They had a job to do.

"How about I handle things from down here and you stay up there as my eyes?"

"Maybe you should take a look from up here. It's not looking good," Lux said. "Hold on, I think there might be some campers still trapped in the hot zone."

Zoey inhaled sharply and held her breath. "Where?"

"I said maybe. I'm not certain. I'll circle back as soon as I know."

"Copy that. We'll be ready."

"Hang tight, Lieutenant. I'm coming to get you."

Zoey recoiled. Despite the raging fire ahead, she felt chills run down her skin.