28 quotes
Contemplating Destruction and Future Encounters
Rimgale
What about the world, Ronald? What would you like to do to the whole world?
Ronald Bartel
Burn it all.
Rimgale
See you next year, Ronald.
The Temptation of Heroism in Firefighting
Rimgale
So stop me if I got this wrong. Now the fire is almost out, you're upstairs on the unburned floor checking for heat, is that correct? And you've been told by your Battalion Chief, your Captain and by me not to do nothin', right? Not to do nothin until ordered. That's correct, right?
Candidate
Yes, sir.
Rimgale
Ok. But now the itch starts. The Glory Boy flash starts. Hey, I'm a hero. Heroes don't just stand around. You can tell me, that's what it was, wasn't it?
Candidate
Yes, sir.
Rimgale
So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline? WAS THAT BEFORE OR AFTER YOU NOTICED YOU WERE STANDING IN A LAKE OF GASOLINE, YOU IDIOT?!
Candidate
Before, sir.
Rimgale
You could have burned or killed or crispened half that company! To say nothing of the fact that you wrecked the physical evidence that I use to prove that it's arson, and you know how goddamned hard it is to determine the cause of these fires! Now you go home and you think about that!
Responsibility and Consequences in Firefighting
Stephen McCaffrey
I had that fire. He just didn't listen to me.
[angrily]
Brian
He's a candidate; Your responsibility! You shouldn't have had him up there in the first place! You burned him, Stephen!
Consequences of Deception in Firefighting
Rimgale
These detectives would like to question you on how come you paid Donald Cosgrove, Jeffrey Holcum and Allan Seagrave to create a phony manpower study! Ask him who made money off firemen dying!
[throws the files at the media, resulting in a barrage of questions]
Brian
You see that glow flashing in the corner of your eye? That's your career dissipation light. It just went into high gear.
[in Swayzak's ear]
A Toast to Firehouse Brotherhood and Humor
Axe
Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen. As 17's official toastmaster...
Ray Santos
...and bullshitter.
Axe
Thank you, Santos. Did I happen to mention you're cut out of my will? I think it appropriate that we recognize the two asswipes... Probationary Firemen... among us today who were officially baptized into the world of Old Man Fire. First, to Tim. Despite the fact that he was born with a rather dull expression, and a really hideous pair of ears, he not only took on the beast but pulled from its clutches, assisted by a more famous and brilliant firefighter, me, a kicking and screaming civilian who will probably wind up suing us for breaking her fingernails. And to Brian... ...whose own contribution was both more beautiful and less likely to sue. You know, when I learned that both McCaffrey brothers would be assigned here at this station together at the same time, my heart was filled with... a sudden desire to transfer. So raise a glass, lads. To funny-looking Tim, and the McCaffrey brothers, who, despite the fact that they have gotten on each other's nerves for years, have managed with great effort to still be pissed off at each other... Gentlemen.
[reveals mannequin]
All men in the firehouse
Fuck you!
[laughter]
A Call for Teamwork and Support
Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
I told you to stay right be-fucking-side me, Brian!
Questioning Career Choices and Determination
John "Axe" Adcox
Jesus, Stevie, you never know when to quit, do you? Do you ever wonder why you're stuck a fucking lieutenant for life?
Investigative Integrity Amid Political Tensions
Jennifer Vaitkus
We believe you're holding back on us, to embarrass the Alderman because of his fire department cutbacks.
Donald
Alderman, I have an uncomplicated job: To determine if a fire is arson or not, and if so, to catch the son-of-a-bitch doing it. And if my investigative methods happen to muck up the campaign of certain mayor wannabes, I gotta tell ya... I'm not gonna go losing any sleep over it.
Tension Over Task Force Accountability
Stephen
Hey, Swayzak! You missed it, buddy! Oh, you should have been there, man! Really, it was fuckin great. I mean, we almost lost it. We almost lost a whole goddamn company for you just because, well, you know, since you shut down Thirty-Three. Well, there's no fuckin backup, right? And we do, we appreciate it. I mean, I don't know about the rest of the guys, but you got my vote for mayor!
Swayzak
Look, Lieutenant, if you have a problem, why don't you help us? Why don't you work with the task force...
Stephen
Task force? Three guys have died already this year because of the cuts made by your FUCKIN TASK FORCE!
Understanding Fire's Nature and Behavior
Rimgale
In a word, Brian, what is this job all about?
Brian
Fire.
Rimgale
It's a living thing, Brian. It breathes, it eats, and it hates. The only way to beat it is to think like it. To know that this flame will spread this way across the door and up across the ceiling, not because of the physics of flammable liquids, but because it wants to. Some guys on this job, the fire owns them, makes em fight it on it's level, but the only way to truly kill it is to love it a little. Just like Ronald.
Questioning the Motives Behind a Phony Study
Donald Shadow Rimgale
These detectives would like to question you on how come you paid Donald Cosgrove, Jeffrey Holcomb and Alan Seagrave to create a phony manpower study! Ask him who made money off firemen dying!
[Rimgale and Brian crash Alderman Swayzak's press conference]
Facing Danger Alone in a Crisis
Schmidt
Yeah, it's jumping floors, Lieutenant!
Stephen
Well, where's the second-in companies, huh?
Schmidt
Sorry, man, John Wayne time. You're on your own, boss.
The Dangers of Oxygen in Fire
Taglines
One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage.
Moment of Choice: Hero or Secret
Taglines
In that instant it can create a hero... or cover a secret.
Determination in the Face of Adversity
Brian McCaffrey
I'm not gonna quit, Stephen. You hear me?
Safety Advice for Fire Situations
Stephen
Well, when the doors open, if it's hot, don't get out.
Union Bylaws and Company Drinks
Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
Well, I thinks its union bylaw that if you get your picture in the paper, even if it's bullshit, that you gotta buy the whole company a drink.
The Constant Role of Firemen
Ricco, Pathologist
Jesus Christ! He's not going to sell you insurance, pick him up!
[to Brian about picking up the burned body]
Ronald Bartel
The funny thing about firemen is... Night and day they are always firemen.
The Harsh Realities of Firefighting
Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
The only problem is that in this job is there's just no place to hide. It's not like having a bad day selling log cabins. You have a bad day here and somebody dies... and that's just not fucking good enough.
Mystery Surrounds Collectible Magazine Incident
Ronald
I sent away for the copy of Life Magazine. The one with your picture on the front. It's a collectible.
Brian McCaffrey
Who's doing this, Ronald?
Ronald
Wrong question. Who isn't? It's not a spark because there's not enough damage. He wouldn't have had any fun. It's not an insurance scam because there isn't any profit.
Brian
Do you know who's doing this?
Ronald
Yes.
Brian
Then tell me.
Ronald
You want to know who? I want to know if this kid really wanted to be just like his dad.
Brian
I wanted to be him. I wanted to be him more than anything else in the world.
Ronald
And you loved him?
Brian
Yeah.
Ronald
And you watched him dance with the animal. You saw your dad burn.
Brian
Fuck you, Ronald! Who's doing this, huh?
Ronald
Did it look at you? Did the fire look at you? It did. Whoa. Wow! Our worlds aren't that far apart after all, are they? So, whoever did this this knows the animal well, doesn't he? He knows him real well, but he won't let him loose. He won't let him have any fun, so he does not love him. Now who doesn't love fire? And is around trychtichlorate all day long?
Brian
Oh, my God!
Ronald
See... that wasn't such a long walk after all.
A Lighthearted Comment on Aging and Spending
Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
One case of scotch, Brian? Man, you're getting cheap in your old age!
Career Reflections in a High-Stakes Environment
Swayzak
You know that little glow that’s starting to blink in the corner of your eye? That's your career dissapation light. It just went into overtime.
Stephen
If anybody's lights are about to go out, believe me they're yours.
Revelations About Betrayal and Consequences
Stephen
Jesus Christ, Axe!
Axe
You don't understand. My cousin, my cousin, Sally, used to work at Swayzak's office. She saw the files, Stephen. She saw what he did!
Stephen
You set me up with those chemicals on the boat?
Axe
I'm trying to explain—
Brian
Stephen!
Axe
You back off!
[to Brian]
Stephen
Axe...
Axe
Somebody had to stop these pricks, Stephen!
Stephen
Would you look at me, Axe?
Axe
Would you please listen to me?
Stephen
What were you thinking? You burned people!
Axe
You didn't see—
Stephen
You're a fireman!
Axe
When Sally showed me what was in Swayzak's files—
Brian
You saw Swayzak's files?!
Axe
I should've told you. I should've let you on it.
Brian
Let him in on what, John? Murder?
Axe
Swayzak and those assholes were closing firehouses. They were getting our friends killed for money! I had to, Stephen! I had to do it for the department!
Brian
Did you do it for Tim, John?
Axe
That was an accident!
[to Brian]
Stephen
Did you start that fire?
Axe
Jesus Christ! Why'd you have to go in there so fucking early?
[to Stephen]
Stephen
That's why you wanted me to wait.
Axe
Let me finish Swayzak!
Brian
No, John! It's over!
Axe
You shut up! Your dad would fucking puke if he saw how you shit on his department!
[to Brian]
Brian
What would he say about what you're doing, John?!
Axe
Your dad died saving my life. He died saving my life, and these people were killing firemen for money.
[to Stephen, ignoring Brian]
Stephen
Swayzak...
[realizing]
Axe
He killed our friends for money! What the fuck would you do?
Brian
Look, you're his lieutenant, Stephen! You've gotta handle this!
[to Stephen]
Axe
It's going!
Stephen
Get to the side, Brian! It's gonna go!
Questioning Motivations and Consequences of Actions
Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
How do you do it, man? How do you manage to keep coming up with new and amazing ways to fuck up? I mean, that Scotch bullshit? Am I really supposed to believe you came crawlin home because you felt heartstrings moan for the family biz? You were bankrupt, man! The scary thing is, you probably coulda got away with it for awhile.
Brotherly Concern in a Crisis
Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey
Look at him. That's my brother, Goddamn it.