Owen Strand, the lone survivor of his Manhattan firehouse on 9/11, takes his progressive philosophies of life and firefighting down to Austin, Texas, where he helps the firefighters of Firehouse 126 start anew.

The crew races to a disaster at a wave pool, and an outbreak of mercury poisoning that is leaving its victims in a a zombie-like state. Meanwhile, Owen must come to terms with his illness and what the side-effects of treatment may do to his vanity. Also, Michelle follows a new lead on her missing sister while TK is unsure how to handle his budding relationship with Carlos.