saved. correct. reporter: this one you might have to let go. yep. reporter: mike garmin also has a safe. after all, it s his crew fighting the flames. he reads the house itself. stucco, wood, wood roofs, tile roof, you know. if it s combustible materials, it s definitely going to be a harder home to defend. reporter:insensitive, but in past, firefighters have stayed too long simply because it was a home and died trying to save it. another deciding factor is the big picture. balancing, say, saving a home versus saving a subdivision. that s james shaddel s call. although a single resident as his property is dear to that person, we have to look at the overall picture of the community in general. reporter: and from todd to mike to james, it s all done in just minutes in the heat and chaos of a roaring blaze, and they say it s never, ever easy. it s going to be the difference,