0:00:04 > 0:00:08This is an aircraft fire.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11These things can burn at up to 3,500 degrees.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13To tackle one of these,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16you need something a bit bigger than a normal fire truck.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19ENGINE ROARS
0:00:28 > 0:00:32I've driven just about every high-powered vehicle there is,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34but that was just for fun.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37The world's biggest, baddest vehicles are made to work.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40So now I've decided to travel across the United States
0:00:40 > 0:00:43to see if I can conquer the monsters of the work site.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47I'll have just three days to learn how to handle
0:00:47 > 0:00:49these complex and dangerous machines
0:00:49 > 0:00:52that normally take years of training to master.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56And in the end, we'll find out if I'm good enough to get the job done.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02This is the Striker.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04The most powerful fire engine in the world.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06It weighs the best part of 60 tonnes
0:01:06 > 0:01:10when fully laden with 4,500 gallons of water.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14It can do 75 miles an hour. All eight wheels are driven.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16It can go on road, it can go off-road.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21It has two water cannons that could fire up to 1,200 gallons a minute.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24But perhaps the most incredible thing of all about this machine
0:01:24 > 0:01:27is it's been designed and built so that it could be operated
0:01:27 > 0:01:31by just one person. My challenge - I have three days here
0:01:31 > 0:01:34at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport Fire Training And Research School
0:01:34 > 0:01:37to learn not just how to drive this thing,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40but how to use the firefighting equipment on board.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41And there will be a test.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45At the end of those three days, I have to prove that I can respond
0:01:45 > 0:01:48to an emergency call, drive it to an incident
0:01:48 > 0:01:51and use it to extinguish a burning airplane...
0:01:51 > 0:01:53all by myself.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Wish me luck.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07- Lewis?- Yes, sir. - Hi, I'm Richard.- Hey.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11- Can I come in?- Come on in. - Right. You're the driver?
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I'm driving. Yes, sir. This thing is awesome.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16- It is a beast on wheels. - There's a lot of stuff here,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- a lot of controls... What is everything? - On the left side panel is this,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22your trip operation, where you start it up.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Then I come over to my firefighting systems
0:02:24 > 0:02:27and flip the water switch on to turn the fire pumps on,
0:02:27 > 0:02:31which divides the power between the engine and the fire pump.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33So you've got driving the actual machine,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37- and just controlling the weight of the bulk of this thing, which is a specialised process.- Yeah.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Communications, firefighting in here.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41There's a lot of buttons and stuff.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43We're going to teach you to man the beast.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46We gotta get you ready. You're going to feel some power.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49We're going to test the speed of it to show you how it picks up.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50- It's in gear.- It's in gear.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- It's in gear, by the way, just so you know.- Really?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- Yeah, it's gone in. - And that's a tour.
0:02:55 > 0:02:5860 tonnes of vehicle just went "Bing!" when it went into gear.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Damn, this thing accelerates. Whoa!
0:03:03 > 0:03:05- It's hard to describe.- Yes.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But when you're on board, just from the passenger seat
0:03:08 > 0:03:13I'm aware of the mass, the weight of this thing. But when it springs away like that,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16it takes your breath away. It's like being in a big building
0:03:16 > 0:03:18- and it's suddenly, whoo, moving. - Yes.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22I mean, if you got it wrong in this machine, you can get it,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24like, really wrong.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Look, if you're not managing your vehicle
0:03:26 > 0:03:29or watching your speed and watching your centre of gravity,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32you could actually lose control of the vehicle.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34'That's a lovely thought.'
0:03:34 > 0:03:37The Striker is over 45 feet long,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40longer than a four-storey building is tall.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44And it weighs more than 60 tonnes. That's 11 Chevy Suburbans.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Oh, and by the way, I've gotta learn how to drive it off-road, as well.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53Oh, this is amazing.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56This really, again, what I'm getting a sense of is incredible mass
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- and bulk.- Yes.- But it's acting like a ballet dancer.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01It's just in control of itself.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03'As soon as its wheels leave the pavement,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07'I get the sense that the Striker is really built for off-road.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10'In fact, it feels like a military all-terrain vehicle,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13'which isn't really surprising, considering it shares
0:04:13 > 0:04:16'its eight-wheel drive and TAK-4 independent suspension
0:04:16 > 0:04:20'with combat vehicles like the US Army's Hemmitt Personnel Carrier.'
0:04:20 > 0:04:23It's working in unison together like a dancer.
0:04:23 > 0:04:24That's a good example,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28like an NFL lineman or linebacker learning ballet.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33To learn how to use his body and get the most out of the strength.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37I can't describe it. It really is...
0:04:37 > 0:04:41watching the biggest football player you've ever seen in your life, yeah,
0:04:41 > 0:04:46ballet dance or play a violin. Staggered in the gear change and the ride in this.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49It's really comfortable. And that's not the idea!
0:04:49 > 0:04:54That's not what it's for, though, I know that. But...
0:04:54 > 0:04:56And again, just this little divot here,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00that's... It's just dropped 60 tonnes into a hole
0:05:00 > 0:05:02and held it together.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- And all wheels work together. - That is amazing.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- Can we go around again? Take us round again.- One more time. - Going again.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14I don't know why I was even remotely surprised
0:05:14 > 0:05:16when the guys told me what I've got to do next,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18cos it's obvious when you think about it.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Before I can learn to put out a fire using Striker,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I've got to learn to do it the old-fashioned way with a hose.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Basic firefighting techniques. Hence this. It's OK.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Cos I know I look good. Yeah. I'm hot.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Really hot. One degree hotter and there'll be chafing.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38And it won't be nice. You never chafe anywhere nice, do you?
0:05:38 > 0:05:43- Hello.- Welcome! - Thank you. What do I do now?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46We get to show you the other part of firefighting.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48This is one of the toughest things you can do.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51You're going to charge a line and advance it, which is a lot of work.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55- "Charge" means full of water, "advance" means I'm moving with a hose.- Yes.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- I'm a big man.- Listen to me and learn how to dance with me,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- this thing will be really smooth. - Lewis, I'm dressed for dancing.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- We're disco tech. We're good. - Yeah. We are disco. We look good.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- Give me some water.- Water! - Water's coming. Water.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- NERVOUSLY:- Ha-ha! - Watch out.- Here it comes.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- Oh, these things are alive.- Stand here and we'll explain this to you.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16The first thing is, you're going to grab your nozzle.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19You get this as much under your arm as you can.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Yeah. Your arms are a lot bigger than my arms, Lewis!
0:06:23 > 0:06:26So you grab the handle here. And you're going to open this slowly.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Slowly. And you'll feel the pressure.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- Why do I get the distinct impression...- Yeah.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37..that you're making something very difficult look easy?
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- I'm going to teach you how to do that.- OK.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40So, look at my stance.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Watch what happens when you work with me.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44I'm going to go left first.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Watch me go to the left and to the right.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50He's working behind me, it's really easy. He's doing most of the work.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- So he's holding the natural urge of the thing to push back.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Watch, I tell him I'll step to my left. Step!
0:06:56 > 0:06:59We'll start moving the line forward.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Step!
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Just be light on your feet. And then I will work behind you.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Now, it's your turn.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13- Your side, there. - I'm scared. Yeah, there we go.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16OK. There you go. You feel that kick?
0:07:16 > 0:07:17Ooh, there it is. There it is.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Oh-ho! Oh-ho! Oh-ho!
0:07:22 > 0:07:25I know real firefighters don't squeak as much as this
0:07:25 > 0:07:28when they're doing it but it's, ah, fierce!
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Can we...can we try a step? OK. Ah! Step!
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Yeah. That's, I can feel him pushing it. That's fantastic.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38So I'm going to go left. And I go right.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40And I go centre.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42And then I'm going to go step!
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Yeah. Cutting.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46What's the difference between doing this now
0:07:46 > 0:07:48and doing this in front of a real fire?
0:07:48 > 0:07:51When the fire's there, everything changes.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54It's really easy to look at it and be mesmerised and forget what you're doing.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- So you get mesmerised by the fire. - It's easy to do it.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00So, when the fire's there...
0:08:00 > 0:08:03you're trying to remain calm,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- level-headed and do a job, respond to training.- Yes.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Whereas, at a human level, two things happen.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Part of you is thinking, "Argh!" run away.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Part of you is thinking, "Look at the pretty fire. I could look at that forever."
0:08:14 > 0:08:16No, but that's true. I've looked at campfires for ages.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Part of me thinks, "Oh, I want to get out of here."
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Whereas, actually, cut all of that, somehow,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23- hunker down and concentrate. - Yes.- OK.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- We're done with this part.- Really? - Let's go work in the pad.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- So how do you feel?- Terrified.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Will we have any communication with each other?
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Just yelling, at this point. - That's basic, isn't it?
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- That's analogue, there. - This means, "Help, get me out."
0:08:40 > 0:08:42I'm suddenly quite nervous and I wasn't.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45This will be my first real test to see
0:08:45 > 0:08:49if I can actually hold my weight as a member of Lewis' team.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54If I am ever going to prove myself worthy of the title "firefighter",
0:08:54 > 0:08:57I need to step up and actually fight a fire.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Way to go!- OK.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06There is fire from the cab. All right.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Assume the position. Move it up higher. OK.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Please step forward! Rotate and adjust step.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16One, two, and three....
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Hey, change the pattern.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- Left. To the right. - This is a workout now.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40Now left.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41Got to be sure what it is.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- Nice work!- Yeah!
0:09:51 > 0:09:52- Good job.- Thank you.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Thanks for saving me. Thank you.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58That's great, sir.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02Thing is-thing is, with my job, I've done some stuff, some weird things.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I've driven at 320 miles an hour in a rocket-propelled car,
0:10:05 > 0:10:09I've driven helicopters, jet fighters, Hueys, the lot.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12And I've had some buzzes. But that felt terrifying,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15but at an absolutely primal level, really wonderful.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Your brain is telling you two things, there's fire,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21a lot of it, and there's other people around.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23And that throws up a whole lot of other...
0:10:23 > 0:10:26I don't want to do the wrong thing. I don't want to let them down.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27Are they going to help me?
0:10:27 > 0:10:30I can feel why you lot are locked together as a team.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Thank you for a really unique experience.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37I'm really hot. I'm unbelievably hot!
0:10:37 > 0:10:42- Let's take this stuff off.- Yeah? Can't we go in in trunks next time?
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I don't just want a shower now, it's a medical necessity.
0:10:45 > 0:10:46Seriously.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I've just helped Lewis and his team put out an aircraft fire
0:10:54 > 0:10:58and I'm one step closer to my goal of qualifying to call myself
0:10:58 > 0:10:59a firefighter.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03So I think I deserve this slow-mo hero shot.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Enjoy. I am.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I'm here at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20where I've set myself the challenge of learning how to operate
0:11:20 > 0:11:23the world's most powerful fire truck, the Striker.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28I have just three days to train before I face my final exam,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32where I'll have to extinguish a raging aircraft fire all by myself.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37If I can, then I will earn the right to call myself a firefighter.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Now, before I can drive the Striker, I've been told
0:11:40 > 0:11:43I must pass the basic physical ability test
0:11:43 > 0:11:46that all firefighters must pass to prove they can do the job.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Hence the heroic get-up. To be honest, I wasn't that worried.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52I know it involves that tower, and that's OK,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54but then they turned up with this.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58And what makes it worse is they've rolled it in really close,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00so obviously, whatever happens
0:12:00 > 0:12:03they're anticipating they need to be with me quickly.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Confidence is waning a bit right now.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11- Hey, guys. - Hey, good morning, Richard.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Mike, you're Assistant Fire Chief round here,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15so you're the boss. What are we going to do?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Well, today we're going to put you through the physical agility test.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Right. Can I just... physical agility?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24The thing is, the Striker's got power steering
0:12:24 > 0:12:28and assisted brakes, and it's not that physical a thing.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30I don't need to be strong to drive it.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33No, absolutely. But in order to get to the position of being a driver,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36you have to be able to get through being a firefighter first.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- Right. So that's what we're doing today.- Yes.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41We're going to have Jenn Vegors, one of our firefighters.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- Hiya.- She'll demonstrate the course.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46And then you're going to challenge her time on the course.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- Right, so this is you and me head-to-head?- You got it.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52- Don't be intimidated, I'll go easy. - OK, thanks.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- Are you ready?- I'm not worried.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Is Jenn really good at this?
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Jenn is actually just a very good firefighter.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I think that she'll do fine. She's a good representation of what we do.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- So, Jenn, are you ready? - Yup.- All right, go.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Go! She's off.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12She's just going to pick that up? That's...
0:13:12 > 0:13:14That looks heavy straightaway.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17This is just a couple sections of hose. She's going to drop it.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20This next event she's going to do, this is just a strength move.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22She's going to hand-over-hand this rope.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24She's going to take it up over rail, set it on the ground.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28So this is all about the kind of general physical ability,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30- physicality that you'd need as a firefighter?- Yeah.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34This is all about the physical strength aspect of this and she's...
0:13:34 > 0:13:36She's off again. Where's she going now?
0:13:36 > 0:13:38She's going to go back, she's going to pick up the hose,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41and then she's going to come back down the stairs again,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45come over to where the gear is and she'll put her bunker gear on.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49This is one of our requirements that we have.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53We have two minutes to come out, put the gear on.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55This is the fire protection gear.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59This is what's going to put you in the fire environment. No mistakes on this.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- This is before you go to work, you put this on?- Absolutely.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04It's not the best day for that, is it?
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- No, it's...- It's quite warm. - No. Another hot 100-degree day here.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10- Then she's doing... - Oh, that's just...
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- She throws it over the head. - That's just...showing off.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14She'll snap it up.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17When I do this, it's going to look pretty much the same.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- It should look identical.- Yeah.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22And then she's going to come over to the sled here.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27And again, this is another test of a little bit of strength.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30And this is about momentum. She's going to knock this pad back.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32She's going to ruin it!
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Very good.- Well done.- Well done. - That was good.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- Thanks.- Good job. - And?- Her time...3.16.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Is that good, is that OK? Is that...
0:14:41 > 0:14:44That's a good time. You're going to be challenged a little bit on that.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47You're barely out of breath, it's ridiculous. OK, fine. I'm ready.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- Are you ready to go?- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.- Any questions?
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Many, many questions. But I'm just going to start.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Right. Don't start yet, I'm not ready yet. Don't start!
0:14:58 > 0:15:01'Well, I'm up. And it's important to remember that if I don't
0:15:01 > 0:15:05'finish this course in under the maximum course time of six minutes,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07'I will not be allowed to drive the Striker.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12'It should also be noted that it's 110 bloody degrees here in Dallas.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15'So I'm either going to qualify to drive the Striker
0:15:15 > 0:15:19'or die of heat exhaustion trying, which is a distinct possibility.'
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Look at those guys waiting like vultures, look!
0:15:21 > 0:15:24They're just waiting for me to have a heart attack.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- All right, ready?- No. Yeah.- Go!
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Oh, God. That's heavy, that's really heavy!
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- That's really heavy! - HE LAUGHS
0:15:33 > 0:15:35HE GRUNTS
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- Right. Heavy!- First time on stairs, huh?- Heavy, heavy.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- You're safe. Already I think I can say that.- What?!
0:15:44 > 0:15:49Oh, high! I'm high up, I'm high up now.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51There you go, just hand-over-hand.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53It's heavy!
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Really heavy. Now what?
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Lift it over the rail. This was an easy part for Jenn.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- Then put it back, yeah?- Yes. And then again, hand-over-hand.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- You cannot drop it all the way down. - Do not drop it. Right-oh!
0:16:05 > 0:16:07There you go.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Got my foot caught in the rope. That's a bad thing, isn't it?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12There you go. Back to the hose.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Over the shoulder and back down the stairs.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16HE STRUGGLES
0:16:16 > 0:16:21Heavy, heavy, heavy! Rescuing the hose, saving the hose.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- All right, drop it.- You're saved.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28All right. Now come and do the gear. Hood on first.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29- Is that the hood? - Yeah, there you go.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32No, that's backwards. Not got the hood on.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34It's on.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36And I just step in, yeah? Oh, nice!
0:16:36 > 0:16:40What...thank you for that. Nice. Yeah.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Yeah... Agh.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44It's really unpleasant!
0:16:44 > 0:16:45THEY LAUGH
0:16:45 > 0:16:47That's all the shower you get today.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50That's deeply unpleasant.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Oh, it's all really lovely and wet!
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- There.- All right. Got your pack? - This?
0:16:56 > 0:16:57Just go air pack.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- This thing?- Yup.- There you go.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01PACK LETS OUT AIR
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- Is that a bad thing I've done there? - It is.- OK.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07A little troubleshooting has to take place, but we're good.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Very good.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15OK. All slippery.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Go ahead. Strike it about mid-range.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Really hurt my... Oh.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30- Yes.- There you go.- Done.- Done! Done.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Nice job.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35What was my time?
0:17:35 > 0:17:365.45.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40- Yeah, yeah!- Good. - I did that for everyone at home...
0:17:40 > 0:17:43And one thing I want to remind you, though, you know this was
0:17:43 > 0:17:46a very abbreviated course of what you really would have to go through.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- Is it?- There's a half-mile run and about three other things
0:17:50 > 0:17:53that we skipped just to make this more acceptable for you.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54You let me do the hard bits, right?
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- No, we pretty much limited it to things we thought you could do.- OK.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Can I drive the Striker now? Come on.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Come on. Let me drive the truck.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- We'll let you drive it. - It's been worth it!
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Can anybody help me out of this stuff?
0:18:07 > 0:18:09All right. Let's us help you out of here.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Now, Lewis, when we go for a ride this time...
0:18:19 > 0:18:21There's no nice way of putting this.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Can I drive, please? Please, please, please.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- You want to drive?- Yes. Please. - Um, you...
0:18:27 > 0:18:28I'm on the right side!
0:18:28 > 0:18:31You can, you can, you... Yeah.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Yeah. I won't, I won't hurt it, I promise. I'll try not to.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37This can only go well. Right. Wish me luck.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42Straight away, I can stand up in the cab, I like that.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44And I'm a big man, I need some room.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47You know, filling it up. Right, I'm in.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Seat belts? OK, seat belt on.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53OK...
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Right, well, er...
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- You see this sign to the right there that's mangled?- No.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03We had a class and someone came through the gate
0:19:03 > 0:19:06and they were going to the left and made a hard left.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09That sign's not there any more, is it?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Remember I told you, you overcompensate.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- Lewis, stop scaring me... - We're going to go out this gate,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16go to the left down the emergency road.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20And you're going to show me that you can man this beast.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Yeah(!)
0:19:22 > 0:19:25It just feels at all times ready to leap away.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It's so willing and ready.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Taking a left.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32ENGINE WHIRS
0:19:32 > 0:19:38There, it's that surge, that mid surge! From, literally, 750 rpm.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Out of nowhere and then it...
0:19:40 > 0:19:42We're taught to drive in the centre on these roads.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The trucks are so heavy, they'll destroy the edges of the road
0:19:46 > 0:19:50if you drive normally. You're a natural, driving down the centre of the road.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52I'll be honest, I'm driving down the centre
0:19:52 > 0:19:54because I figured that way I won't fall off it!
0:19:54 > 0:19:58It wasn't because I was worried about wearing the road out!
0:19:59 > 0:20:01See ya!
0:20:02 > 0:20:06We're tracking down the emergency road but we're right behind a plane.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07That's what you'd be doing
0:20:07 > 0:20:10if you have an aircraft emergency. The acceleration is very important.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14We're going to make a right up here at the end of the course. Yeah.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Whoa... I'm holding that on the brake.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Do I hold that on the gears or are the brakes up to the job, let them do it?
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Well, what you want to do is take advantage of your terrain.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27So if it's downhill, let the gravity do the work
0:20:27 > 0:20:30and then use acceleration uphill.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32It starts talking to you if you get too, uh, too much...
0:20:32 > 0:20:36- When you say talking, you mean shouting?- Yeah, shouting.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Make ugly vulgar noises. THEY LAUGH
0:20:38 > 0:20:43- Kids, if you're watching, it is this exciting.- Don't do this at home!
0:20:43 > 0:20:44Don't do this at home!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Who's got one of these at home?!
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Well, it would seem I'm doing pretty well
0:20:54 > 0:20:56because they've already assigned me
0:20:56 > 0:21:00my first official task as a fireman, told to report here to the bay.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04And, well, what it is, I've got to clean the truck.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06What's bothering me
0:21:06 > 0:21:10is this is quite a small bucket for what is clearly an enormous truck.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12(But I suspect it's like a test.)
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I'm not going to disappoint. It can't hurt it doing this, can I?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- No, no.- I've got to rub it. I don't want to...
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Well, if you do, they'll send you a bill. It's no big deal.- OK.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- All the way to the top. - I can reach.- You can?- Yeah.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- All right.- Look, you see... Yeah, no problem.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Now, Scottie, I know why I'm cleaning the truck today,
0:21:32 > 0:21:37- cos I'm the new guy.- OK. Why are you doing it with me?
0:21:37 > 0:21:39I'm the new guy, too. Yeah.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- You're not really a new guy, though, are you?- Really a new guy.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- Yeah, a rookie.- Are you?- Yeah.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47So when did you start this, then?
0:21:47 > 0:21:50I started this about a year and a half ago. Yeah.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52This isn't your first job?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- Um, no.- No.- No.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- Why? Why so late?- Just something that I always wanted to do.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01An opportunity presented itself, I thought I was probably,
0:22:01 > 0:22:02as you're surprised, too old.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06And once I found out that I wasn't, then I started pursuing it
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- and it worked out. Here I am. - You always wanted this.- Absolutely.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10- You followed other careers.- Yeah.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- What were you doing before this? - I was in marketing.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16- That's quite a contrast. - Yeah, a little bit.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Marketing to this. And you've not regretted it.
0:22:18 > 0:22:19Oh, absolutely not.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Even though you're standing next to me cleaning the truck.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I could be cleaning the truck myself, so standing next to you is not bad.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27I just want to quickly ask.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30It's not on the Striker, but next to the Striker is this,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32- which is the big ladder.- Right.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- Now... - HE CLEARS THROAT
0:22:34 > 0:22:37You see, it's all chromed.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- Mm-hmm. - It's not strictly necessary, is it?
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- Is that the image?- The chrome? - This is about image, isn't it? All this stuff.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- It's beautiful.- A lot of what we do is about image to the general public
0:22:48 > 0:22:51because, you know, we're the protectors, we're the savers,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53we're put on a very high pedestal, respected.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57The first time I put the uniform on and went in public, it's amazing,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00the respect that you just immediately command.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02- And that's pride. There's nothing wrong in that...- No.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- Proud of your team, job. - Absolutely.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Meanwhile, we've got a massive truck to clean.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I was only trying to kill time just to...
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Yeah. Well, let's see if maybe it cleaned itself(!)
0:23:15 > 0:23:18It's day two of my training in operating the Striker.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22So far, I've used hand-held attack lines, hoses.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Today, I get to grips with the big one, the water cannons.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29'Mastering the water cannon is an absolute must
0:23:29 > 0:23:31'if I'm going to pass my final exam
0:23:31 > 0:23:34'and qualify to call myself a firefighter.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:38This is a standard-issue fire hose. These guys call it an attack line.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41It puts out water at a rate of 125 gallons a minute.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Pretty powerful. It takes some hanging on to.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49But the Striker's water cannon puts out water at 1,200 gallons a minute.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Now those are amazing numbers, but they are just numbers.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55To get your head round what they really mean, we need a visual,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58graphic demonstration of the difference in power.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00And I've got one.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Here it is. It's my own version of the classic carnival game,
0:24:03 > 0:24:08shoot water into the clown's mouth to inflate the balloon until it bursts. To show how it works,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Rob, shoot water into the clown's mask, hit the target.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Now, as it hits target, the more he pushes it,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16the more helium is released into the balloon.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19If you stop now, cos I've just realised I've given you
0:24:19 > 0:24:20quite a head start there.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23The harder you hit the target, the more helium is released
0:24:23 > 0:24:25into the balloon, so the most powerful source of water wins.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29It is, well, frankly, brilliant. And I thought of it.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33- I think we're about ready to do this. I am, are you?- Absolutely.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Good. How long have you been running hoses?
0:24:35 > 0:24:40- Been a firefighter almost ten years now.- Ever done this before? - Uh, this'll be my first time.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42OK. Well, this is our graphic illustration
0:24:42 > 0:24:44of the difference in power between the attack line,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and the Striker's water cannon. Are we ready? You want to get ready.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- Absolutely.- Is this going to blow you backwards or...- No, no, I'm good.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Strapping man like you. You'll be all right. I'd be over there.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57OK, if we're ready. Are you ready, Jenn? Ready? Good. OK.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59If we're ready...
0:24:59 > 0:25:02let's go! Oh...
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Rob! Rob, Rob, it's all right.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08It's all right, kill it. Man, it's OK. Don't worry.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12It's... Yeah, that all went wrong.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Clearly...
0:25:15 > 0:25:18It didn't... It's really powerful. Isn't it powerful?
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- What are you going to do?- Isn't it powerful?- It is incredible.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25In retrospect, our clown never had a chance.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29The four-inch nozzle of the Striker shoots out 160 pounds of water
0:25:29 > 0:25:33per second at a speed of almost 55 miles-an-hour.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36With that much force at close range,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39the Striker's water cannon can tear the pavement from a road,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42break through the wall of a house or kill a man.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Or a clown.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51The whole point of mounting a water cannon on a super-fast truck
0:25:51 > 0:25:53is that you can use the thing on the move.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57That way, the water can arrive at the fire technically before you do.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00But that's going to raise its own particular challenges.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03It'll need practice, so they've set up this test for me.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I have to drive past on the truck and use the water cannon
0:26:05 > 0:26:08to knock these balls off the top of these cones,
0:26:08 > 0:26:10ideally without knocking the cones over.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13So that's an immensely powerful water cannon
0:26:13 > 0:26:16and tiny little cones and tiny targets.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Basically, it's a drive-by with the world's biggest water pistol.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Piece of cake(!)
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Using the water cannon is something
0:26:27 > 0:26:30to which I suspect there is something of a knack,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- and firefighter Jenn is going to teach me how to do it.- Right.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36- Is it really hard? Take me through it.- This is our main turret,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38the bumper turret.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42You have... I'm sure you're familiar with the joystick... You can...
0:26:42 > 0:26:47- What do you mean by that? - You can adjust it however you want.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48There's two ways to get water out.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52You can either pull the trigger just like a gun, or hit discharge on.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56- So, that'll stay on until you actually hit the button to turn it off.- Yeah.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59And just...let it go.
0:26:59 > 0:27:05So, that is 1,200 gallons-a-minute and it reaches 240 feet.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06Wow!
0:27:06 > 0:27:09So we have five cones lined up with balls on top of them.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I will hit the first one for you, show you how to do it.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15- And you can do the rest. - OK. Go on.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17The ball's got to come off, the cone's got to stay up.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20- Right. That's the idea.- Fire away. Go on, in your own time.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25It's not something you can probably hit directly.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27When you're shooting
0:27:27 > 0:27:32the water is in the way. It's difficult to see if you're hitting your target or not.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35So it helps to do a little from this side, that way you can see.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Ah... It's gone.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43All right then. Make it...make it look easy. Thank you. I'm so confident(!)
0:27:43 > 0:27:45You wouldn't believe it. Really!
0:27:47 > 0:27:48OK. OK.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52- Water pump going on.- Go on.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- Oh... Yeah.- There you go. - Right and here we go. Ooh.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06- Take your time.- Yeah.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10I got one! Come on!
0:28:12 > 0:28:16- Oh...- That's just... Hang on!
0:28:21 > 0:28:23What I would do customarily in this sort of situation
0:28:23 > 0:28:27is turn that off and run away. Running away. Running away.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30I mean, who's going to stop me? I'm in 60 tonnes of fire truck.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34I'll be fine. Run away for shame.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36'Right, so Jenn has given a perfect demonstration
0:28:36 > 0:28:40'of how an expert can wheel the Striker's water cannon with precision.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42'And I've given a perfect demonstration
0:28:42 > 0:28:45'of how a hapless buffoon might wield it.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49'So, that's done. I think I shall try to pass the test for real.'
0:28:49 > 0:28:53Oh, that was... Jenn, can I try again? Please?
0:28:53 > 0:28:55- Please give me another go. - You think you can do better?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Yeah, I... I was distracted.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02- I had something in my eye here, quite bad.- OK.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Oh, I'm not going to do... I'll do it with this.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Really close.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24- Oh, there you go. Oh!- They're just blowing off now! What is that?
0:29:24 > 0:29:27- Yes! Come on, that was good. - Totally the wind.- What?!
0:29:27 > 0:29:29You know, Texas wind is pretty strong around here.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- That totally was not, that was me! - Actually...- Just say well done.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37I think the last cone got scared of that water coming at it and it jumped off.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- Just say I did, I did all right. - You did all right. You did.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42And it wasn't wind.
0:29:42 > 0:29:48- And you...- Yeah.- The cones... and the balls got off the cones.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52- However it happens!- Fell over. - All right, fair enough.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Well, at least we're on time.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58That went well.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08Day three for me in Dallas, where I've set myself the challenge of learning to operate
0:30:08 > 0:30:11the world's powerful fire truck, the Striker.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13And if, after just three days of training,
0:30:13 > 0:30:18I can successfully use it to put out an aircraft fire all by myself,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21I'll earn the right to call myself a firefighter.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23What they've lined up for me now
0:30:23 > 0:30:25is like a last test before the final exam.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28This is a last chance to pull together all the skills
0:30:28 > 0:30:30I've acquired so far. Here's what's going to happen.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32I set off in the Striker, sweep round there,
0:30:32 > 0:30:36stop, use the water cannon to push one of those barrels,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39just one, across that line. Push. It mustn't fall over,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42so it's about precision. I set off again,
0:30:42 > 0:30:43then I go around the slalom,
0:30:43 > 0:30:46run that through the cones all the way round the back.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Sweep round here, on top of that aeroplane. Three cones,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52using the water cannon to knock them off, again, precision stuff,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54just pick them off. Then I stop here.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57There's something I haven't mentioned yet. This is critical.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00The very first thing to happen just as I set off is,
0:31:00 > 0:31:04the guys would've, well, set fire to that minivan.
0:31:04 > 0:31:05Yeah, you've guessed it.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08It's all about, can I get around the obstacle course quickly enough
0:31:08 > 0:31:11to save the minivan from burning to the ground?
0:31:11 > 0:31:13If you think about it, it's kind of win-win, cos...
0:31:13 > 0:31:17Well, if I do well and I'm quick, I park up, put the minivan fire out,
0:31:17 > 0:31:19the minivan's saved. Hooray!
0:31:19 > 0:31:23If I do badly and it takes a long time, the minivan's destroyed.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Hooray! Everybody's happy.
0:31:26 > 0:31:27Right. Let's do it.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Right. Well, in that case, we're ready to go.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Let's have the handbrake off.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Let's have it in gear. And let's have water on.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Ready to go. Right. I'm ready to go, sir.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45- Are you ready?- Yeah, I'm ready to go.
0:31:45 > 0:31:46Light it off.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Oh, yeah. You've got to light the fire. Oh, It's lit! OK.
0:31:49 > 0:31:54The fire has begun. I'm needed now in my capacity as firefighter.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- You're a firefighter. Start moving. - Start there. OK.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59Let's stop the truck.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04Oh, that's higher than I expected. That's gone, that's gone.
0:32:04 > 0:32:09Hold it, hold it. What you got, what you got. Raise it. Raise it.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13You're doing great. Keep it up. Just a hair, raise it just a hair.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Push it, push it, push it, push it.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Come on. Come on, move!
0:32:25 > 0:32:27- You're there.- Am I there? - Yes, you're there.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30That's it? Right, let's move. Let's have the water.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33I can leave that where it is, have this in drive.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36- Oh, I need my water off. I'm not panicking! - Serpentine, serpentine. Let's go.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Now I've got to get round this pole here?
0:32:39 > 0:32:41- Yes.- So that's a big, wide swing.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44Let's not get carried away with speed here.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I'm feeling the pressure. How's the fire going, Lewis?
0:32:47 > 0:32:49The fire's starting to build, starting to build.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52- Yeah? Well, it will. - Get into the serpentine.- Yep. So...
0:32:52 > 0:32:54The first cone in the right mirror.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57Yeah. I've got it. Ooh, that's close.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Ooh, that was close. Oh.
0:33:00 > 0:33:01Inches!
0:33:01 > 0:33:03Oh, man. That's good.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05- Ooh, just missing that one. - That's right. You found that,
0:33:05 > 0:33:10found it in your rear mirror and serpentined nicely.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14- Missing it....- Find them in the right mirror. You're looking good.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15OK, now let's turn here.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- Serpentine, work this truck. - Yes, yes.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Watch your rear wheel on the right.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23I've got it, just missing it. I see it. There you go.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Now I've got to go round this last cone.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Round the cone to the left, to the left, to the left.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34Get your fire pump started, get your stream goin'. Click it to go.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38Knock those cones off. Get to them. Get... Knock them down.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44You've got one left.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- That's got to have dropped. - It's gone.- Right.- Love it.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Let's have this back in drive. handbrake is off.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57Sorry. So, now I can... When do I start on the car? Now?
0:33:57 > 0:34:01You want to blow the window out, so go as close as you can.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Keep driving. Go into it. You're doing a great job.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08Get up, get into the window.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12- Hold it. Right there. - So now I'm just flooding the car.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15I'm actually using it to put a fire out. This is what it does.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17It's now doing what it was built to do.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20- That feels amazing.- Knock out the front window. Go to the right.
0:34:20 > 0:34:25- So actually using power of the hose to knock the windows through, is that what we're doing?- Yes.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Move forward. Move forward.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31- Is it out? Is it out?- Knock it out.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33- Ow! Right, let's get out. Let's do it.- All right.
0:34:41 > 0:34:46- LEWIS LAUGHS - So, what do you think?
0:34:46 > 0:34:48To be fair, most of that will polish out, I reckon.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51- Yes.- One weekend, you'd have that back up and running.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54So, all in all, am I ready now for my exam?
0:34:54 > 0:34:56- You didn't wreck the truck. - No, I didn't. I didn't.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59- You didn't knock over any cones. - I got through that.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- You pushed the barrels. - Yeah, I did all right.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04That takes a lot of accuracy. I mean, your first time.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07The only thing is technically that minivan is still on fire.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12How much water have I just put on there?
0:35:12 > 0:35:16- Almost 4,500 gallons. - So 4,500 gallons of water.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19I just emptied your tank into it and...yeah.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21- Let's get out the smoke.- Smoking!
0:35:26 > 0:35:29This is one of those rare vehicles I'm going to miss, though.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32- You're going to miss? - Yeah, I am. I don't know why.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I just think there's something particularly appealing about it.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37It's a great thing to operate.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40One thing about this vehicle... Turn the water off.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Turn the pump off.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44- Now pull the trigger, and see that? - No. What happened?
0:35:51 > 0:35:52That is fantastic.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Going into my final exam, I'm feeling pretty confident.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03I've mastered driving the Striker
0:36:03 > 0:36:06and my aim with the water cannon has proved impeccable.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Right now, really my only weakness is my complete inability
0:36:10 > 0:36:12to actually put out a fire.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21So, I passed my physical fitness test...
0:36:21 > 0:36:25just. Completed the obstacle course...barely.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29All that's remaining for me now is my final exam.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32Which means at some point from now on, an alarm is going to sound.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36At that time, I must stop whatever I'm doing, rush out, suit up,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38jump in the Striker, respond to the incident
0:36:38 > 0:36:41and extinguish an aircraft fire, all by myself
0:36:41 > 0:36:44and all within four minutes.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45And then, and only then
0:36:45 > 0:36:48will I earn the right to call myself a firefighter.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50The thing is, just like a real firefighter,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53I don't know when the emergency is going to happen,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55so I've just got to wait.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58A TV montage would help pass the time.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35Who usually cooks then, seriously?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Do you have a usual cook here or do you just break it up between you?
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- I usually do.- Do you?- I do.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43- So you are the chef.- Yes.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Or chefette. Right.
0:37:45 > 0:37:50- If I start a fire in the fire house, that's a bad thing.- Yeah.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53Well, what I'm going to make for you guys tonight, shepherd's pie.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57I am pretty much known in the UK for my cooking before anything else.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02- Man, I'm hungry.- Yay!- Yeah.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Ta-dah! It's not the most visually compelling of dishes.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Oh, but it is...
0:38:08 > 0:38:11It smells really good. It tastes good.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17It's supposed to have Worcester sauce in it, but I couldn't find any.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20What do you think, Chief?
0:38:20 > 0:38:24I'm hoping that his training went a lot better than his food preparation.
0:38:24 > 0:38:25THEY LAUGH
0:38:25 > 0:38:28EMERGENCY CALL
0:38:29 > 0:38:32- You got to go.- OK, very good.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35- So this is a drill of some sort? - Mm-hm.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Right, I think I know what's happening here.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41I think I know what's going on. OK, let's not panic.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44This is my final exam, which means
0:38:44 > 0:38:46I've got four minutes to get all this kit on,
0:38:46 > 0:38:48get in the Striker
0:38:48 > 0:38:52and get out to the fire pit and put out a burning plane.
0:38:52 > 0:38:53Nice boots, James Bond!
0:38:53 > 0:38:58God, I need some quicker-release boots than this, this is ridiculous.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02I haven't thought this through, have I? Right, they're off. Get these on.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Oh, why is the zip on the other side? That's just impossible.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13That goes on.... Let's go.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16Right. Seatbelt's got to go on.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20Regulations. Can't do that now, let's just think this through, don't panic.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Er... Er, yeah. That's ready to go,
0:39:23 > 0:39:25everything else is off. Start.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Parking brake off. Into drive, check rear mirrors...
0:39:29 > 0:39:31All right. All right,
0:39:31 > 0:39:35don't panic, don't panic. If you dent the machine now, you're completely finished.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41I think he is liking the Striker.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- Yeah, he's flooring it.- Yeah!
0:39:43 > 0:39:45OK, I'm out the station.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47I'm suited and booted.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51I can see the flames are over there, time is ticking.
0:39:51 > 0:39:52Come on!
0:39:52 > 0:39:55This thing does move, but you know what, for the first time,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57it doesn't feel fast enough!
0:39:57 > 0:39:59I'm behind time already.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Right, let's get that out, let's have my water on.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Don't forget the punch. I'm getting the nozzle out, ready to start firing.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Let's put that in a neutral position now.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13There we go, water going on.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14I am fighting a fire!
0:40:14 > 0:40:19I could've been here quicker, I am behind already.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22And let's get this rainbow effect going on,
0:40:22 > 0:40:24dropping the water onto it.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33I feel I took too long getting here.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37Let's move it round,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40let's have a go at this side of it now.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Let's fight that bit there.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Oh, God, I've got 46 seconds to go.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49I'm going to do this, I am going to get this thing extinguished!
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Let's drop it onto the flames from above.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56Now let's just soak this thing down. Eight seconds.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Man, these guys must feel so alone when they're doing this for real,
0:40:59 > 0:41:02when you are staring in the face of an actual burning aircraft.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Just you and the Striker together tackling it.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07But we are out. We're out, we're out.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Surely, I've got this thing out.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I can't say that didn't get to me, the stress of that,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16cos it did.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18That was...
0:41:19 > 0:41:21It was exciting
0:41:21 > 0:41:23and for me, it was exciting in a good way, it was a test.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25I'm not sure I'd want to do it for real.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Right. Let's have a look.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32- Good job, Richard.- "A" for effort. - Well, it's out. It's out.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35- Good job.- I reckon I had, what, three seconds to spare there?
0:41:35 > 0:41:37- Come on, I did, more or less. - You made it.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Considering most people train for six months on this truck
0:41:40 > 0:41:42before they're actually allowed to drive it,
0:41:42 > 0:41:44I think for three days you did great.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48I admire what you do and what you're here ready to do
0:41:48 > 0:41:51at any time and it could happen, it could happen right now.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54I don't know if I'd want the job.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56No offence, it's a great job you do.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00I'm so glad you're doing it. It's one of those jobs, if it suits you,
0:42:00 > 0:42:02if it fits, it's probably the best job in the world.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05- I'm glad you guys are there to do it.- Thank you.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07After my three days, I can bumble up here
0:42:07 > 0:42:10and squirt some water over there, pretending, but hey.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13He's not done. He has to re-service it, wash it, put it back in the station.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16- Oh, yeah, the...the fun stuff. - This is your newbie stuff. I resign!
0:42:16 > 0:42:20It's three days. The three days are up now!
0:42:20 > 0:42:22It's been an honour serving with you, though.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25It's been a joy, a privilege.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Thanks for being, well, really terrible to me,
0:42:27 > 0:42:30for the wet boots and everything else. But...
0:42:30 > 0:42:33- EMERGENCY CALL - We're getting a call.
0:42:33 > 0:42:39'Truck 44. Grass fire in the grassy area to the left of runway 135.'
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Can he go? Yeah, just get in right now.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Yeah. Just hold on.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59We just got toned out to a grass fire on the right side
0:42:59 > 0:43:01of this runway right here.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04- MAN ON RADIO:- It's probably 100-150 feet across,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07got some pretty good flames blowing up in the wind.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Astonishing, I'm getting to see them do for real
0:43:09 > 0:43:11the things I've been practising all week.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13This is the grass fire.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16It's over here at the very north end of the runway here.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23Since it's so dry out right now, the grass fire, if it gets going,
0:43:23 > 0:43:25it can be gone just like that.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29VOICES ON RADIO
0:43:37 > 0:43:40There was a grass fire at the airport.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42Potentially, a really bad thing.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45But you and I are really lucky, cos what just happened
0:43:45 > 0:43:49is we got to see the Striker and the team running it
0:43:49 > 0:43:51do what they're here to do.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54I'd love to be really British and reserved and go, yeah,
0:43:54 > 0:43:57that was a really useful illustration
0:43:57 > 0:43:59of what we've been observing thus far.
0:43:59 > 0:44:03But actually, I've got to say - wow, that was amazing!
0:44:03 > 0:44:05To get an actual shout whilst talking to the guys,
0:44:05 > 0:44:09radio blaring, in, go, what's it going to be? Where's it going to be?
0:44:09 > 0:44:12What are we going to find? And we get there to see them, bang, do the job. Wow.
0:44:12 > 0:44:17Needless to say, it has been an amazing few days.
0:44:17 > 0:44:20We've enjoyed a privileged insight into the work carried out
0:44:20 > 0:44:24by such a dedicated and incredible team. I'm going to miss them,
0:44:24 > 0:44:25the whole team.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28And when I say whole team, I'm including its biggest member,
0:44:28 > 0:44:29the Striker.
0:44:29 > 0:44:34That's one focused yet multi-skilled machine that's always there,
0:44:34 > 0:44:37always ready to help the rest of the guys get out there and do
0:44:37 > 0:44:41what they do best, which is, after all, fight fires and save lives.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd