Red Tyler announces his intention to become a fireman, to the annoyance of Captain Smokey Shannon, who believes that Red does not have the perseverance to succeed. The two men come to blows later that night at a dance when Red sings a comic song about firemen. After knocking Red unconscious, Smokey steals his date, Betty, and wins the dance contest making Red more determined than ever to join the department and get back at Smokey. Red attends firefighting school and, after graduation, is assigned to Smokey's station along with fellow classmate Skillet. Although he willingly loans Skillet the money to buy dentures for his mother, Red's careless attitude alienates the other firemen. Smokey's harsh discipline irritates Red so much that when he sees Smokey with Margie, the attractive manicurist from the barbershop, he vows to steal her away from him. Red charms her into dining with him, and when he telephones her on his next leave, Margie invites him to dinner at her house. Smokey happens to visit while Red is there, and not realizing that he is Margie's brother, Red forces him out of the house. Margie begs Smokey to apologize to Red, and he agrees to be less harsh, but when Red asks for a few hours leave, Smokey refuses unless he can find a substitute. Red bullies Skillet into breaking his plans for the evening, but while Smokey is with Margie, the men answer a fire alarm. One of the ladders on the truck comes loose because Red failed to secure the hook, and Skillet is thrown from the truck, breaking his leg. Red is tried for negligence and only remains in the department because Smokey, on Margie's request, intercedes for him. He is suspended for a few days and transferred to a fire barge. The events change Red's careless attitudes. He pays for Skillet's mother to visit her son in the hospital, even buying her a new set of dentures. During a disastrous fire in the harbor area, Red rescues Smokey from the roof of a burning building after he is overcome by smoke. After his life is saved, Smokey reconciles with Red and agrees to his marriage to Margie.