Chapter 60
sixty
Wind rocks the helicopter from side to side.
It’s a struggle to keep this beast of a machine steady as another gust hits, pushing me off course.
I adjust the collective, fighting to keep her level.
The wind’s been getting worse over the past fifteen minutes, and the drop I just made landed about fifty yards east of where I wanted it.
“Chopper One, this is Engine Three. You’re drifting west on your last pass. Can you correct for the next drop?” Kurtis’s voice crackles through my headset.
“Copy that, Engine Three. Wind’s pushing me around up here.” I bank right, circling back for another run. The rotor blades bite into the turbulent air as I swing the bird around, lining up for another pass over the eastern flank.
Far below, the fire rages. Flames leap forty, fifty feet into the air, consuming everything in their path.
Trees crack and fall, sending up a shower of sparks that catch on the wind, carrying them deeper into the forest. The retardant seems to be helping, creating a chemical barrier and slowing the spread, but this wind is making it damn near impossible for it to land exactly where I need it to go.
I make another pass, dropping the last of my current load. The red slurry arcs downward, but the wind catches it, pushing it sideways before it hits the ground.
“Shit,” I mutter, pulling up and away from the smoke. “Engine Three, last drop was compromised. Wind’s getting worse up here.”
“Copy, Chopper One. We’re seeing it down here too. Flames are starting to jump the line in spots.”
Circling higher, I narrow my eyes, scanning the mountainside. The fire’s moving fast, driven by unpredictable gusts. From up here, I can see everything. The main body of the fire is pushing north, reaching its massive arms toward the east and west.
“Engine Three, this is Chopper One. I’m heading back to base to refill. ETA fifteen minutes.”
“Copy. We’ll hold as best we can.”
I bank left, heading for the lake where the water-skimming helicopter is stationed. My mind races with calculations—fuel, retardant supply, wind conditions. We need to get this fire contained before it hits Cascade Pines. There are homes up there, families who are still being evacuated.
“Kurtis, any word on Captain Cade?” I ask through my comm, adjusting my course slightly to compensate for another gust.
“On the west flank with Engine Five’s crew. Fire’s pushing hard that way. Got his hands full over there.”
My jaw tightens. Logan knows what he’s doing, but this fire is a fucking beast. “And EMT Winters?”
There’s a pause. “She and EMT Calloway had to transport one of Station Five’s guys to the hospital. They left about twenty minutes ago.”
Relief washes over me. She’s safe. Away from the fire line. Which means she’s out of imminent danger. “Copy.”
“She did good work, L.T. Got him stabilized before they left. Kid was in rough shape.”
I nod to myself. Of course she did. She’s a natural under pressure—calm, focused, competent. It’s one of the things I love about her.
“Keep me posted if anything changes,” I say, spotting the lake coming into view.
“Will do. Watch your six up there. Weather dispatch is saying these winds might get worse before they get better.”
“Always do,” I respond, lining up for a water skim. The lake’s surface is choppy, whitecaps forming from the gusty winds. This is going to be a tricky one.
The lake rushes up to meet me, the wind making the approach even more dangerous than usual. Carefully, I adjust, feeling the helicopter respond as I bring it in low over the water.
The scoop dips below the surface, and I feel the familiar drag as it fills with water. I’ll need to make this quick—the fire isn’t waiting, and neither is the wind.