As lost as he’d felt when first arriving in San Francisco, Beto has made a great life for himself here. Far from the rest of the Cepeda family back in Phoenix, Beto only has his abuela, who retired to the city some twenty years ago. But he also has the family he made with Engine #30, the firefighter crew he finished his probationary year with a month ago. They are the people he can count on for anything, a team he never tires of the company of whether in work or out. All Beto ever wanted was a simple life where he could do good, and to have his own space without his parents criticizing and interfering. Here, he has it, doing just that.
Under the scorching sun three days into unrelenting heat, Beto raises his helmet enough to wipe sweat from his forehead and eyes. He adjusts his goggles, t
