The Fighting Russell

Introduction

Let me introduce myself,

Hi, my name is Lieutenant Sophia Russell, 22 years old and I'm a firefighter with Chicago Fire Department. Before you question it, yes I'm a Lieutenant because I have worked hard to get the role. Being a firefighter wasn't always the dream. I wanted to be a racing driver like my big brother George Russell, a Formula One driver. 

When I decided I wanted to be a firefighter, I didn't want to be a firefighter in the UK, it was always going to be in the US. More specifically Chicago. Just before I turned 18, I applied for CFD and within a couple of weeks I had an interview over in Chicago, which my dad kindly took me to and a couple of days later, we flew back to the UK.  A few days after I got back from the interview, I got accepted and I was so happy. I was literally living the dream. So at 18, I made the move to Chicago on my own, leaving my 3 older siblings and my parents on the other side of the Atlantic. But the family was proud. 

George took it the hardest when he found out I was moving because I was closest to him out of my other two siblings Benjy and Cara. I always promised that I would keep in contact with him and we would text each other every day and call every other day but George knew the dangers of my job and that if I didn't text or call him, not to take offence and that it's probably because I'm either asleep or on a call out. But he was fine with it. 

After I completed my training, I was placed at Firehouse 51 and put on Truck 81 with Matt Casey as my Lieutenant, but I also met Lieutenant Kelly Severide and they both took me under their wing and became like brothers to me. Gabby Dawson also became like a sister to me, so I had my family away from home. When they asked how old I was and I told them that I was 18 and I've moved 4000 miles away from my family, they all went wide-eyed in shock that someone of my age decided to move that far away from family but I told them that I was living my dream.

A year after I joined 51, I loved being on truck and Matt saw so much potential in me and told me that I was a natural-born leader and that I would make a great Lieutenant one day. Even Chief Boden agreed with Matt. It was just after my 19th birthday, I sat my Lieutenants exam and passed! I was over the moon and couldn't be happier. I was a Lieutenant on Truck 81. It felt weird at first but then I eased into the role and the confidence just shone from there. 

In the almost 2 years I've been a Lieutenant, I've not even told my family because I've been busy with so many call out, being on call on my days off and even working Christmas. But I was going to tell them, the next time I see them in person. I tried to see if I could get time off to go and see my brother for his birthday in February but I couldn't get the time off. But I could get time off for the British Grand Prix weekend. Mum, Dad, Benjy and Cara knew I was coming home but I was going to surprise George in the Mercedes garage and I'm going to get the help of team to surprise him. 

So, let me take you on my journey of being a firefighter and having a famous brother in the world of motorsport.