Writing Prompt: A Burning Desire

I entered a contest where they gave the first sentence and I had to continue from there. It is to be no longer than 200 words. The bold is the line given and the rest is what I came up with. Enjoy!

He smelled something burning.

Ah yes, that sweet smell. It made his mouth water and the hair stand up all over his body. Since Nick was a child, he craved fire. What his parents thought was a “cooking accident” at the age of 15 was no accident at all. Nick watched the flames lick the wall and consume the home he was born in. He had never seen anything like it.

Nick stood on the sidewalk, mesmerized by the hot glow. He wanted to reach out for it, embrace it, and let the fire consume him. He remembered that day like it was yesterday.

There were a few other fires and no one could deny Nick had a problem. He had some medication and regular shrink visits…

Then, the doctors said he was better. Cured was the word they used.  Everyone could breathe a little easier.  What would his doctor’s say if they saw him now? What would they do if knew how he felt?

Nick inhaled deeply.

He put on his helmet and dashed into the flames wearing the fireman uniform his father passed down…