Chapter 15
The Fire Department chopper was circling above the winding dirt road. Its' mission wasn't only a possible transport vehicle for the injured paramedics but also to locate them faster, it had been relayed that they were off the road and in the canyon somewhere.
The ride to the Canyon road was seemingly unending. County had relayed the information Dixie had given them. In one way knowing was a good thing, it gave them an idea of what they were walking into. However in another aspect, it made it abundantly clear how critical the situation was and how grave it was that the golden hour had already slipped away.
The three men in the squad were all pensive, but one was on the fringe of emotional shock. It had been less than twenty four hours ago that she had been in his arms. He finally understood both sides of the coin, so to speak. He knew the perspective of the firefighter and what the better half of one goes through as well. "Please GOD, give her some of the strength that she gives the rest of us everyday." Then he rephrased feeling guilty for leaving Brice out of the first one. He may be many things but he was a great paramedic and partner to his love.
Roy was filled with relief that Brackett had come along. They were good paramedics but having a doctor and surgeon in the field was what could make all the difference. He glanced past Kel, when he could to check on his partner. If the situation was reversed and this was Joanne involved, he didn't know if he could have remained this calm.
Brackett was calculating in his head how quickly her lung collapse could develop in a deadly problem. When a lung collapses, air seeps in between the lining of the lung, building pressure in the chest cavity. It can then smash the heart into the unaffected lung, killing the patient, even if there is immediate medical treatment, much less if none is given.
Then the chopper pilot voice answered their first of many prayers, "Squad 51; I have located the over turned squad."
Engine 51 and Ladder 110 had also been driving the area trying to find their missing collegues. The engine was a head of the squad, they returned to the previous calls location and were working their way back towards the squad and ladder truck. The ladder had come up from behind the squad, depending on where and how they were stranded, the ladder and its' bucket could come in handy.
When it came across the airwaves that they or rather the vehicle had been spotted, it brought a sigh of relief from all. The first step in the rescue had been accomplished. They had known on the way in that the victims were not together any longer, a fact that didn't make this any easier.
All of the responders merged together at the site. Each man got out and began to do their jobs in unison. Rope rigging, two stokes, a back board and of course all of the medical bags and equipment, among other items were gathered together. The crews using both hand lights and portables on tripods, began to look for the missing paramedics, several rope lines were set up to make the decent into the canyon as safe as possible.
Davidson from the 110 was standing at the smashed squad, scanning with his flashlight, shinning it away from his location and slowing back toward the squad. After a minute of two he heard an almost inaudible voice, "Over here! Can anyone hear me?"