From Wardrobes to Fire Engines: Narnian Wisdom for the Firehouse

Have you ever watched any of the Narnia films that came out in the early 2000’s?

​C.S. Lewis was a British author, scholar, and thinker best known for works like The Chronicles of Narnia. There are three main feature-length Narnia films in the series that began in the 2000's;

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
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J.R.R. Tolkien: The author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien was a close friend and intellectual sparring partner. His discussions with Lewis on myth, faith, and storytelling played a significant role in Lewis’s spiritual journey and in both men’s creative processes.

The Chronicles of Narnia, created by author C.S. Lewis, depict a series of adventures set in a magical world that children from our own reality enter through unexpected portals, such as a wardrobe. Once there, these young travelers find themselves fighting alongside talking animals and mythical creatures under the guidance of the great lion, Aslan—a symbol of leadership, integrity, and sacrifice.
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For firefighters, think of Narnia as a dynamic incident scene, constantly shifting conditions that demand courage, unity, and quick decision-making. The main challenges aren’t burning buildings, but moral conflicts, battles between good and evil, and the spread of fear and oppression—much like a fire spreading through structures if unchecked. Instead of hoses and axes, the children and their allies wield swords, bows, and personal resilience. The White Witch is the primary source of chaos and cold tyranny; taking her on is akin to containing the seat of a blaze before it engulfs the entire landscape.

Aslan’s presence is much like a chief arriving on scene with both wisdom and compassion, guiding everyone toward the right course of action. Just as firefighters must trust their training and each other to get through dire scenarios, the heroes in Narnia rely on loyalty, faith, and teamwork. Each book in the series focuses on different crews of children and creatures tackling big challenges that threaten Narnia’s safety and stability. The result is a timeless narrative about responsibility, heroism, and the triumph of courage over despair—values any team of first responders can appreciate.
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C.S. wrote two books on human suffering…(1) The Problem of Pain and (2) A Grief Observed

Ultimately, The Problem of Pain doesn’t deny the raw cruelty and mystery of suffering but aims to offer a framework in which pain, far from being pointless cruelty, can become part of a meaningful—and ultimately hopeful—narrative of growth and redemption. The Problem of Pain is an outsiders perspective.
Four key areas of focus in The Problem of Pain;
(1) The Nature of a Good God
(2) Free Will and Human Responsibility
(3) Pain as a “Megaphone
(4) Redemptive Suffering

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis is a deeply personal journal of loss, where Lewis grapples openly with the emotional and spiritual aftermath of his wife’s death. It is an insider’s perspective.

Instead of a neat set of answers, it’s more like sitting alongside someone at the scene of a devastating incident—where no easy fix exists, and the wreckage isn’t made of broken timbers or scorched walls, but of a shattered heart and shaken faith.

For firefighters, think of this book as exploring the emotional wreckage following a catastrophic call. After the flames are out, the aftermath might be full of questions, doubts, and feelings we can’t simply wash away with the hose. A Grief Observed shows that intense sorrow and confusion are normal human responses when something—someone—irreplaceable is lost. Lewis doesn’t preach at you; rather, he shares his own vulnerable struggle to find stability when the familiar frameworks of faith and understanding feel burned to the ground.

In the same way a crew might rely on each other after a tough call, Lewis’s words remind us that it’s okay to question what we thought we knew, lean on the support of others, and gradually rebuild trust—both in ourselves and in whatever we hold sacred. The book ultimately suggests that facing our deepest pain honestly and without shame can help us move forward, stronger and more compassionate, as we return to serve and protect.