Mark Zawidzki, a volunteer firefighter, was battling a Halifax wildfire when he realized that the flames were heading towards his own home and his neighbors’ homes. Despite the danger, Zawidzki stayed with his crew and continued to work on saving as many houses as possible. He even took a moment to quickly text his wife and inform her of the situation before continuing with the team’s efforts. Unfortunately, his home and many of his neighbor’s homes were lost to the fire, including those of two full-time firefighters that Zawidzki knew. The wildfire was described as a “completely different beast” from any brush fire he had previously encountered in his 13 years of volunteering. Zawidzki described the situation changing at a “terrifying pace,” with visibility decreasing and air quality becoming horrendous as the fire rapidly spread. Zawidzki called his wife and instructed her to gather important documents, possessions, and pets and evacuate the area. With contractors in short supply, Zawidzki faces the possibility of a two to three-year rebuilding process and questions about potable water re-establishment due to possible contamination. Despite the traumatic losses, Zawidzki intends to continue volunteering as a firefighter, though perhaps not at the same station.