Twitter User Shares Touching Story About Los Angeles Firefighters – Twitchy
As the Los Angeles fires continue to burn, we have witnessed an almost endless stream of incompetence, negligence, and corruption on the part of the elected and appointed leaders of the city and state.
It’s our job at Twitchy to cover these terrible people β and we love our job. But we can’t lie. It can eat away at your soul a little when you hear stories of, say, a fire chief saying that a man trapped in a fire who she can’t carry to safety is somehow his fault, or a California governor faking a phone call to avoid speaking to one of his distressed constituents.
With all this background, and to feed our souls some chicken soup, we came across a wonderful and sad topic on Twitter this week. Although we don’t normally make micro accounts the focus of an article on Twitchy, this woman’s story resonated so deeply that we simply had to share it.
So, here’s Brianna Kapp recalling her recent encounter with some Los Angeles firefighters in the parking lot of a Target.
Literally crying in the Target parking lot right now. π§΅
I was having a hard time unloading my toddler and my bags and carrying a runaway stroller (seriously – why do some people lack power steering?) A fire truck from Redondo Beach (E61) had just parked nearby and four firefighters got out.
β Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
Are there shopping carts with power steering? We didn’t know that. But never mind that now; This story is about a group of outstanding first responders.
As they walked toward the store, one of them offered to help but I laughed, βNo, no… You guys have done a lot this week. I’m fine. Thank you for everything.β
Then one of the men, covered in dirt and ash, came up, smiled and said, βI will take care of this for you.β
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
Recommended
This was the point where the story could have gone in a different direction, had Cap been concerned with unrelated issues like βtoxic masculinity.β
But she decided to go in the right direction in her response to the firefighter who offered her help.
Normally I would have turned down the help, but this week? Firefighters get a permit this week.
Do you want to help me with my bags? Sure, my car is there.
Want lunch? It’s on me.
Do you need Gatorade? What flavour? (Orange is best…don’t tell me)
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
(Obviously blue is Gatorade’s best flavor, but we’ll leave that aside.)
While he was loading my bags into the car, I asked him how he was doing. He said he had been doing this since Tuesday and that the situation was very bad there. He said that 80-90% of the Palisades is basically gone and that anyone in Los Angeles who has a home to return to is one of the lucky ones.
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
When we think about the hellish nightmares that firefighters have witnessed with their own eyes in recent days, it is terrifying to imagine. But then we remember that they continue to do so no matter what they saw, and that fills us with hope and gratitude.
I thanked him profusely, and once the bags were loaded, this kind stranger offered my child a fist bump, which I happily accepted. The contrast between her angelic little, dimpled, flawless hand and his scratched, dirty, worn fist was striking.
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
We wish she took a photo of it because she looks nothing short of beautiful.
In particular, because the firefighter’s hands inspired Cap to pour her heart out to the men she met in the parking lot and their colleagues.
Those hands, that man and all the firefighters, have been through hell this week. Those hands have been hard at work for seven straight days, pulling 24-hour shifts (some even doing double duty!) in the craziest conditions and worst-case scenarios imaginable.
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
Those hands have saved lives, homes and animals. Those hands rescued items from burning homes and lovingly placed them on the sidewalk so that their owners would have something, anything to go back to, besides the smoldering pile of ash where their home once stood.
β Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
These hands ate sparse meals, slept little or no sleep, and were far from their partners, pets, and dear children.
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
Those hands have boldly and unhesitatingly walked through literal fire this week. But today, in the Target parking lot, when they could easily go about their business, those hands were a beautiful display of how selfless, kind and generous firefighters are.
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
Is it all dust here or is it just us?
These people are servants in every sense of the word. They are a beacon of humanity and a light in a truly dark time for our city. They are heroes.
β Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
Heroes. a period. That’s all that needs to be said.
Can anyone imagine one of these guys saying that it’s important to look like the people they help?
No, because DEI is toxic and irrelevant. What is most important for firefighters is that they have the commitment to others that these men demonstrated.
I am so grateful to all of our brave firefighters, but especially to Firefighter Fist Bump for giving me a much-needed reminder: When things get scary (and oh my goodness this week was scary), remember what our good friend Mister Rogers told us β βLook for the helpers.β π€π½π€π½@firebeach
β Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
βFind the helpers.β Fred Rogers was a wise man.
Kapp added a funny bit to her post that makes us love the firefighters she met even more.
PS: Fist Bump even returned my stroller for me, so it’s definitely a go-to for moms everywhere
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 13, 2025
That was the perfect touch to include.
But it didn’t end there. As if to prove her point, Cap was showered with appreciation from firefighters thanking her for her sweet tweets.
Hello @BrianaCap Thank you for the kind words. As Redondo Beach Fire Chief, your position has truly lifted our morale. This is a video taken during @RedondoBeachFD Engine 61 battled the fire while 80 mph winds tried to test its resolve, but could never break our spirits. pic.twitter.com/LwmFLjGNp9
β Patrick Isidoro Butler (@rbfdChiefbutler) January 14, 2025
May God bless them all.
And now @CAL_FIRE He joined our love fest. More tears. π π«Άπ½ https://t.co/3eE1Yg2A6f
β Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 14, 2025
After what these firefighters saw, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if being able to safely hold a little girl’s hands and share a moment of kindness with her mother was the highlight of their week.
In the spirit of her encounter, Kapp concluded her thread by encouraging others to be βhelpfulβ in any way they can.
amazing. Soaked in all the love here. If you would like to continue this chain of kindness, please contact your local station to find out what they need. Some have reached their limit while others still need donations, so it’s best to check first.
– Briana Cap (@BrianaCap) January 14, 2025
This is the way.
Although Twitter can be a heartless place sometimes, it can also be full of love. Many people have realized this.
Incredible post from Brianna. The Internet needs more of these stories! https://t.co/pmjI1wm2ma
– TERF (Father) (@TERF_Father) January 14, 2025
Thanks for sharing your story. ππ»β€οΈ
The real heroes are out there. ππ»β€οΈπ
β AmericanWoman_USA (@AmericanwomanU1) January 14, 2025
This is your excuse everyone. pic.twitter.com/Gt6RuW3pkq
– Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) January 14, 2025
right? Damn allergies!
You need to read this entire thread.
Trust me. https://t.co/xcm9Nfdidf-Gudiana (@Gudiana) January 14, 2025
Do yourself a favor and read this non-political post.
I promise you will love it https://t.co/GvtaDDhkH4β Mary Walter (@MaryWalterRadio) January 14, 2025
We have read the entire topic. And we loved it.
We hope you did too.
We will continue to hold leadership accountable for its disastrous failures in California, North Carolina, Maui, East Palestine, Ohio, and many other places.
But we want to thank Brianna Kapp for reminding us that no matter how much these leaders fail, the American people are loyal to each other.
And first responders are leading the way.