The fire from within

Alex Coolman

COSTA MESA -- Some Costa Mesa firefighters have launched a second

career as writers, contributing stories to a recently released anthology

of work about the emotional challenges that come with battling blazes and

aiding the needy.

“The Heart Behind the Hero,” the project of husband-and-wife team Curt

and Karen Yoder, takes its readers into the world of fire trucks and

flare-ups. The collection of stories brings home what Karen says is a

simple message: firefighters are not just robots, but people who are

profoundly affected by the situations they encounter, often finding that

their lives are changed by difficult calls.

The Yoders know what they’re talking about. Curt has been working as a

firefighter for Costa Mesa for 25 years and can regularly be seen behind

the wheel of Engine No. 5.

Karen, who worked with a childhood learning center for 13 years before

devoting her energies to publicizing the book, is a member of the

California State Fire Assn. Ladies’ Auxiliary.

The idea for the book, the Yoders said, came from considering the

depth of rich experiences firefighters accumulate in the course of their

work.

“But these stories [in the book] aren’t necessarily the ones they’ll

share at the kitchen table or that they tell each other,” Karen said.

“Writing this stuff down, for a lot of them, was actually pretty

cathartic.”

“The Heart Behind the Hero” compiles tales from firefighters

throughout the United States. And the subject matter of many of the

stories is challenging.

A firefighter from Schenectady, N.Y., describes his horror and fear in

dealing with the shooting of a young boy. A paramedic recalls the scene

in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. And Capt. Gregg Steward

of Costa Mesa’s Fire Department tells the story of responding to the May

3, 1999, attack on the Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center in

Costa Mesa.

But the message of the book, Curt said, is intended to be hopeful. The

wrenching situations and the moments of powerlessness that firefighters

encounter have something to say about the difficult times faced by

ordinary readers.

“You come out of it knowing you did your best, and that you made a

difference,” Curt said. “That helps you go on.”

Then too, there are many stories in the book that recount moments of

victory.

Costa Mesa Battalion Chief James Ellis contributes a story about

battling a blaze at Malibu -- a situation that grew extremely

threatening, but then was overcome by the persistence of the men on the

front lines.

The Yoders self-published their book in July, and they say response so

far has been strong. After an initial printing of 4,000 copies, they are

moving on to a second run of more than twice that amount.

The Yoders will read from and sign “The Heart Behind the Hero” at 3

p.m. Sunday at Borders Books, Music & Cafe, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa

Mesa. For more information, call (949) 631-8661.