Episode 2

It’s the height of winter and, with the county facing plummeting temperatures and snowfall to add to problems posed by the Covid pandemic, firefighters are tested by a series of challenging fires and nightmarish driving conditions. In the build-up to Christmas, crews on rigid shift patterns do their best to enjoy the festive period away from their families, but it’s all brought into perspective as a village community near Halifax is shaken by a devastating gas explosion which leaves two people seriously injured.

In Huddersfield, veteran firefighter and local lad Mo reflects on how times have changed in the service and how he feels his background is vital for forging bonds with the communities the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service protects.

On New Year’s Eve, the Killingbeck crew from Leeds drive through the fireworks to reports of distinctive smelling smoke coming from a house where huge quantities of cannabis are being grown. In Bradford, a Victorian school building falls victim to a huge blaze which sees rookie firefighter Danielle head up onto an aerial platform to tackle a major fire for the first time. She played semi-professional football and taught PE before joining the fire service and her training is thrust into sharp focus as she battles to save the building.