Chapter One

Three Alarms

05/24/2003

It's been quiet today, something you should never say aloud in the fire department unless you wanna get punched, but we're one of the busiest stations in the city and we have only had three calls today. The boys and I are making dinner, I don't even know what it is, I'm too focused on making the desert to bother asking what the main course is. Our ears perk up as we hear multiple different tones dropping, then the dispatcher put out a call for a structure fire. The voice loudens as Ted turns up the speakers in the room. "Multiple calls received, structure fire with heavy smoke. Newgate Avenue and Newkirk Street at the Hamilton Grain building. Respond tach- 12. 21:34"

The guys start hollering about how we're going to get hit for this call, they always knew that building would burn up one day, ya know, everything every firefighter says when they think it's going to be a big one. "Alright, let's not get too excited yet, It'll have to go three alarms before we respond. Someone go grab a radio and let's get dinner served," I tell them, knowing they all get raging fire boners anytime a fire that sounds even semi- promising gets dispatched.

Our plates are fixed up and set out just as I pull the slutty brownies out of the oven. Not sure when I picked up baking but I can bake just about anything. Slutty brownies are my own concoction, it's a chocolate chip bottom, then brownie on top with Oreos dropped into the brownie batter. Once cooled its three delicious deserts in one.

"Engine 33 arrived. We have a 15 story building, heavy smoke and fire on all sides from floors four to nine. Strike out a second alarm." My heart races at the thought of this size of a building fire. I've been in the Baltimore City Fire Department for about two years, this would be my first large structure fire in the city. I worked at the volunteer level for about six years before getting a job in the city fire department, I have just about every certification a firefighter can have.

The main dispatch channel on the overhead speakers takes my attention, "Engine 33 arrived, heavy smoke and fire showing. Requesting second alarm." Another series of tones come through as they dispatch the next set of units due to the location.

We all sit down to enjoy our dinner, the meal is pretty quiet. It usually is when we have the radio out listening to the communications going on at the fire ground. It sounds like the fire is going pretty strong, there's a lot of talking on the radio which means things haven't really gotten under control. A vibrating in my pocket pulls me from my attention on the radio. I already know its Tegan, she always calls me when there's a fire nearby that I might end up on. "Hi Teeg."

"Hey Sara," I can hear the worry in her tone. I smile at how sweet she is, after putting up with me for almost two years, she still calls me when there's a risky call I could be one.

"Got your radio on with you, huh?"

"Always. The way Clea is talking it sounds like they're gonna go three alarms on that building fire. I know you are a great firefighter but please be careful babe."

"Always Tee. I'm always going to be coming home to you, okay?"

"Alright Sara. We got a call so I gotta go. I love you so much. Remember, careful."

I promise Tegan I'll be careful and tell her I love her before letting her of the phone. Tegan is a paramedic in the city, though we technically met in a grocery store a few years ago, I went after her for a few months before I finally got her to say yes to a date. The whooper blares through the station, signaling that we got a call. I run to the engine bay and put my gear on, getting in the truck before the other guys make it down stairs. "I swear Quin, you make us all look bad with the speed you have."

I laugh at Ted, since day one here he's always made comments about how strong and fast I am despite how short and weak I look. "Didn't take long for them to strike a third alarm, did it?"

Jason, our lieutenant on the truck, smiled faintly "Not long at all. Old manufacturing plant though, should be mostly vacant, except for a few homeless people, but it still has all the equipment left. It'll be a long night."

My hood slides over my head, then I secure my helmet as we pull up to the scene, tons of fire apparatus already being put to work. Our crew climbs out of the truck and meets Jason in front. We all finish fiddling with our gear, I reach my hand up to my helmet to turn my GoPro on, the Lt. tells us each our duties. I grab a halligan bar and head to the entrance of the building with the other two firefighters from our truck. They just now announced allowed entry into the building now that they have the flames controlled to their area and it is mostly done spreading.

We make our way up multiple flights and begin search and rescue. The interior of the building is very much that of an old factor, metal walkways, machines and pipes all over. The floors are mostly open, about half of the building has no flooring, just the walkways and steps to get to the next set of walkways above. "I got one over here," I hear Shaun yell from about 30 feet away. I start to make my way to him but find another victim in the process.

"I got another here," I shout back. I grab my radio in my hand while I help the man off the ground, "Ladder 49 portable 3 to command. We have two victims on floor eleven."

Just as I speak those words, a large section of duct work comes crashing down and blocks the easiest exit for me to bring out the man. "Portable 3 to command, bring a ladder truck to the window I'm about to break through. Exit now blocked by debris, prepare the ladder and basket for extrication." Command copies. I set Vic, the man I found, back on the ground, taking my halligen bar in my hands, pulling it back and slamming it against the large glass window, I cover my face as the glass shatters outward. My flashlight shines down, identifying our location to command and the truck. Within a minute I have Vic harnessed with a rope and I'm behind two steel beams, using them to brace the weight as I slowly lower him down into the awaiting basket.

After lowering him about 30 feet, I feel the line slack, letting me know he has made it to the basket. M fingers loosen the rope from the beam and wrap it back up quickly and attaching it back onto the carabineer clip. I turn to resume my search when a loud crash come from above and below me, the ground gives way and I fall through the floor.