The last of the fire fighters
The Last of the Firefighters is a new book available from Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. The Last of the Firefighters is a gripping near-future tale that follows Johnny Stasso, a firefighter with the Boulder Fire-Rescue Department, through four decades of unprecedented change. As Johnny experiences the personal satisfaction and enduring traumas of an active first responder, he witnesses and struggles with the gradual and disheartening transformation of his beloved profession.
From the introduction of advanced robotics, like PyroBots and AI-driven fire trucks, to the phasing out of traditional firefighting methods, Johnny grapples with the changing nature of heroism and his own identity.
Set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving world, this novel explores the intersection of tradition and innovation, the bonds of camaraderie, and the resilience of the human spirit. As Johnny navigates personal challenges, including his complex relationship with his wife Nina, and professional upheavals, readers are taken on a thought-provoking journey that questions the role of technology in our lives and the irreplaceable value of human compassion.
The Last of the Firefighters is an essential read for those eager to explore the future of emergency services, the influence of AI on traditional professions, and those seeking a deeply human story of our differing responses to change.
Click here to access The Last of the Firefighters on Amazon.com.
Characters
An exciting job, a brilliant and beautiful wife, a young family - what could go wrong? When Johnny and Sven complete the Boulder Fire Rescue Training Academy their futures seem bright. Nina adds fun and excitement, and they both love her in their own way. But then Tooie, a superhuman humanoid firefighting robot, is assigned to their station.
Johnny Stasso
Johnny is a firefighter's firefighter, cut from the centuries-old mold of heroic men willing to risk their lives to rescue those in danger and extinguish the flames. At the height of his career, Johnny confronts a new world where a humanoid robot firefighter becomes his constant companion...and how does Johnny's wife, Nina, fit into this dynamic?
Nina Stasso
Nina Stasso is a super-smart but also fun and exciting woman from Fort Collins, Colorado. When Nina meets Johnny sparks fly and they begin a wonderful long-term relationship.
Next to Motherhood, there is nothing more important to Nina than creating new AI robots that reduce risk in the workplace...and what does this mean for her relationship with Johnny?
Tooie
Tooie is a "PyroBot" manufactured by US Robots and Mechanical Men. PyroBot humanoid robots were first designed to help the Navy fight shipboard fires.
Tooie joined Boulder Fire Rescue to assist human firefighters with their duties. Will he be accepted as a member of the team, or will he and his kind be seen as a threat to everything that makes firefighting a unique and exciting profession?
Sven Johannson
Sven grew up on a farm in Minnesota, then moved with his parents to Fort Collins, Colorado. That's where he met Nina and their high school relationship grew into a lifelong bond.
Learning that college wasn't for him, he went to the Boulder Fire Rescue Training Academy and became a Boulder Firefighter. Starting out as Nina's boyfriend, he soon became Johnny's life-long friend and firefighting partner.
Saint Florian
St. Florian was a Roman officer born around 250 AD in present-day Austria, serving in the Roman army with a distinguished career. Known for his leadership and bravery, he became a symbol of courage not just in battle but in civil service.
According to legend, Florian led efforts to organize and command firefighting brigades in a time when fires posed immense risk to ancient cities.
Florian was martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith, reportedly executed by drowning in the Enns River with a millstone tied around his neck. His legacy lives on not only as a Christian martyr but as the patron saint of firefighters—honored for his protection of those who face danger to save lives and property from fire.
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Peter Brutus
When he first presented to Nina’s class at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Peter Brutus commanded attention, exuding wealth, intelligence, and a hint of arrogance.
Nina was fascinated. Brutus wore an impeccably tailored Armani suit. His stark white shirt contrasted with his dark features, while the unmistakable weight of a solid gold Rolex rested prominently on his wrist. Expensive Italian loafers anchored his look, conveying an air of calculated success and authority.
Brutus was the founder and Managing Partner of Boulder Palo Alto Venture Partners, and soon would become Nina's boss and mentor.
Tiny
Tiny is a four-legged robot firefighter about the size of a pickup truck. He looks vaguely like an elephant. He has a huge, V-shaped chest, two large dish antennae where the ears would be, and a twelve-inch-diameter flexible hose protruding out the front, looking like an elephant’s trunk.
Tiny can be given voice directions and participate in a natural language conversation. His huge belly contains a five-hundred-gallon water tank and a fifty-gallon foam tank. Tiny can lower his body and use the strong titanium plow that forms the bottom of his belly tank to cut fireline .
MedBot
The MedBot is a robotic emergency medical responder with six legs. It is able to straddle a human victim and provide medical care using four separate arms and with hands that can wield medical equipment.
The MedBot can place IVs, defibrillate, and perform other medical procedures. The Bot is transported to the scene of a medical emergency in an autonomous ambulance.
After initial treatment, the Bot can pick up a prone patient and walk with that patienr right into the autonomous ambulance. The MedBot then continues treating the patient during transport to the hospital.
Nellie
Nellie is a quadruped robot used to assist firefighters with back country search and rescue, wildland firefighting, and other tasks where a robotic beast of burden can literally take the load off firefighters.
Equipped with GPS and onboard intelligence, it can navigate for itself and assist firefighters with transporting gear and carrying victims in a Stokes Basket.
