This week has been on fire—figuratively. A pile-up of nerve-wracking things left me with no time (or headspace) for writing. But maybe that’s a fitting lead-in to today’s post: fire trucks.

In the U.S., fire trucks are hard to miss—giant, shiny red machines that dominate the streets, and impossible to ignore with sirens that stretch for blocks. They’re built big, because American streets (and emergencies) often demand it.

But at Grand Central Station the other day, I saw a miniature fire truck. Or rather, a compact “rescue cart.” These nimble vehicles are designed for indoor spaces like airports, train stations, stadiums, or convention centers—anywhere a full-size truck simply can’t go. Despite their size, they’re fully equipped: carrying medical gear, firefighting tools, and even a stretcher strapped to the roof, ready to help first responders reach people quickly in crowded or hard-to-access places.

Actually, it’s quite calming to know that in the middle of these busy crowds, help can arrive fast if it’s ever needed.