This is a interesting quote, googling it only shows this article, did the person writing the story make it up, or is this actually a saying that "some" say.
“Some days you are the dog and others you are the fire-plug.”
“Some days you are the dog and others you are the fire-plug.”
I would assume the fire plug is the name of one of the things that failed while he refueled. Doesn't quite go together in my head, but once you understand the original quote it makes sense. Some days you're on the giving end, some days you're on the receiving end.