Kelly felt better. He loved to be outside, paced back and forth taking deep breaths and his mind seemed to be empty of any thoughts or doubts he had previously.
Maybe I should come back, he thought when he heard sirens announcing a fire or an ambulance accident.
"Fire Engine 51, Truck 81, Team 3, Ambulance 61, Car 25 Fire at a West Sarts Avenue Factory."
In a few moments Kelly was already beside his truck ready to gear up and go.
The journey passed quickly, that street was not very far from the barracks. After about ten minutes you could already smell the smoke.
Lieutenant Hermann told colleagues who were with him about the fire engine.
- We're almost there, guys. We will soon have something big ahead of us. You can smell the smoke even from here. -
When they arrived on the scene, they all got out of their respective trucks and observed with amazed eyes the grandeur of that hell.
It was a fabric cloth.
Looking at the map of the building obtained by the chief, it was evident that there were several floors.
In the basement there was the tailor's shop, the first customers could access to try on the clothes requested or to have their measurements taken and in the next three there were houses. Five houses in the first two and two at the last because it was surrounded by huge verandas.
A hell indeed.
The firefighters tried to get a rough idea of how many people there might be in the building.
In the tailor's shop and shop alone about 15 people worked, including seamstresses and shop assistants.
At least 10 families with children lived on the upper floors, only two houses were vacant at the moment.
After taking stock of the situation, truck 81 and team 3 were already entering and fire engine 51 was preparing to send water to put out the fire. Commander Casey and his men had to clear the upper three floors, while Severide and his own the basement and the first.
In no time they were all inside with masks and wriggling between fire and smoke to save as many lives as possible.