Fire

Understood as the eternal counterpart of Chicago, the Fire is an entity that occupies roughly the same geographic territory as Chicago. Not quite Chicago’s opposite, the Fire exists in a constant state of dialogue with the city. The Fire has also been known as the Great Fire, the Blaze, and the Ignition. 
The Fire cannot, and should not, be extinguished; however, it cannot be allowed to run rampant and exercise wanton destruction upon Chicago, her inhabitants, and beyond. It is allowed to persist, for as much as it causes harm it can also bring great good. If Chicago represents community, tradition, and bureaucracy, then the Fire represents passion, change, and upheaval. Chicago’s purpose is to moderate the Fire; the Fire’s purpose is to challenge Chicago. 
Reports out of Flermilab suggest that, while sentient, the Fire is capable of less precise cognition than Chicago. While not a perfect analogy, it has been suggested by casual observers that the Fire is to an animal as Chicago is to a human. 
There is also some speculation as to which came first: Chicago or the Fire. It is, among Chicagoans, an extremely heated debate.
==Aspects==
It is understood by residents of Chicago that there are four main components of fire, which are balanced and equal. Chicagoans call them ‘Aspects’, and there are certain attributes associated with each Aspect. Some Firefighters fans commonly correlate certain players with different Aspects. Like fire, these understandings are fluid and ever-evolving.
===Aspect of Light===
The Aspect of Light is associated with the color yellow, the ‘Ignition’ stage of a fire, and oxygen, the first of four components to every fire. While Light can illuminate, clarify, and show the path which must be taken, there must be moderation, for Light can be blinding and overwhelming.
===Aspect of Warmth===
The Aspect of Warmth is associated with the color orange, the ‘Growth’ stage of a fire, and heat, the second of four components to every fire. Fire can provide warmth, safety, and security: a hearth to cook at, a place to rest. Left unchecked, though, Warmth can turn into heat, pain, and suffering.
===Aspect of Destruction===
The Aspect of Destruction is associated with the color blue, the ‘Fully Developed’ stage of a fire, and fuel, the third of four components to every fire. While Destruction is correlated with death and the razing of all things, it is also Destruction which allows for renewal, a clean slate, and new life.
===Aspect of Smoke===
The Aspect of Smoke is associated with the color red, the ‘Burnout’ stage of a fire, and chemical reactions, the fourth of four components to every fire. Smoke is the Aspect of choking, confusion, and isolation; however, Smoke is the ultimate warning, a call for help, and the acknowledgement of danger.
==Avatars==
Like Chicago, the Fire can appoint representatives to do its bidding; they are generally referred to as avatars. These can include, but are not limited to, arsonists and other agents of change. 
It is widely believed that Betsy, one of the Firefighters’ mascots, is herself an avatar of the Fire. 
==Great Fires==
Great Fires are phenomena occurring approximately once per generation. Much larger than smaller, more common fires, Great Fires are classified as such when they burn 33% or more of the city. 
Various folklore and oral traditions suggest they come at times of great upheaval and social change. Notable fires of this scale include the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Great Chicago Blaseball Fire.
Category:Chicago Firefighters