Wet and Wild Wednesday (Chapter 5)
While the two paramedics were making their way out of the burning and extremely unstable building, Mike and Hank watched anxiously through the pouring rain, for the paramedics to emerge safely, hopefully with some victims in tow. Hearing the sound, a loud creaking that to Johnny reminded him of the sounds of breaking ice on a frozen Montana lake from his childhood, knew what was about to happen…the roof was about to give out. Knowing they had no time to waste, Roy and John, each carrying a man over his shoulder, did Roy's Olympic event, the blind dash in a state of total panic.
Mike called out to his captain. "Any sign of 'em yet?"
Before Hank could respond to the engineer, there was an almost deafening roar. The two men looked up in horror as part of the roof started to collapse. Mike's mind immediately went back to the nightmare that he had had recently, and hoped that it wasn't about to come true.
Then, almost magically, the two paramedics appeared.
Carrying the two men over to their squad, they were met by their captain who wasted no time in getting two of the yellow blankets down on the ground so they were able to place their victims down on the ground.
Pulling off their masks and helmets, they immediately went to work on examining them.
"Cap, you wanna get Rampart on the phone, please?" Johnny asked.
Doing as he was asked, Hank got the phone set up and hailed the hospital. "Rampart, this is Squad 51, how do you read?"
"I read you loud and clear, 51. Go ahead," replied the easy voice of Dr. Early.
"Rampart, we have here two male victims of a large structure fire. Both males are currently unconscious. Please stand by for vitals and additional information."
"Ten-four, 51."
While helping his paramedics, Hank looked up to scan the view before him. He wanted to get on the radio and make sure that Chet and Marco were both okay.
Almost as if they were reading their captain's mind, Marco's voice came over the radio.
"Engine 51, HT-51."
Pulling his radio out from his turnout coat, Hank responded. "HT-51, this is Engine 51…go ahead."
"Cap, we're just checking in. We're okay, but it's bad. Is everyone okay out there?"
"Everyone's fine. I'll be in touch. 51 out."
Continuing to assist his paramedics, Hank pulled out both oxygen tanks from the squad, while Roy and John shrugged off their air tanks, and continued with the examinations of their two victims.
Coming around, the soot covered man that Roy was examining started to mumble about the rest of his friends. "Did they all get out? Did…did you save 'em all?"
"Relax okay? My focus right now is on you. The others are getting cared for."
Hearing the man ask about the other men, Roy suddenly remembered that there were still four men unaccounted for, unless they had been found by other firefighters or paramedics.
After taking their victims' vitals and assessing the possibility of any injuries, Johnny got back on the phone to Rampart to report their findings, and to get their treatment orders.
Seeing the ambulance pull up to the squad, they quickly and carefully readied both men for transport to the hospital.
A quick look behind them, Roy knew that they would be back on scene at the fire, after their trip to Rampart…the scene was that bad.
Jumping into the ambulance, Johnny got himself settled between the two victims, one on the stretcher, and the other one on a backboard on the bench seat. He was happy to be out of the rain, he was again soaked from head to toe.
After giving the ambulance its customary two taps, Roy collected the rest of their equipment and got in the squad to follow the ambulance.
"Be careful Roy."
Wiping the rain out of his eyes, Roy smiled back at his captain. "Always, Cap. We'll be back soon, unless dispatch has other plans for us."
Watching as the ambulance left, followed by the squad, Hank silently prayed for their safety going to Rampart, and back. He knew from personal experience how bad the roads were, not to mention the other drivers, in these extremely rainy conditions.
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Happy to have arrived safely to Rampart's E.R., Roy and John were enjoying a quick cup of hot coffee in the staff lounge, before returning to the warehouse fire, or being called out for something else.
Looking at the paramedics with a discerning eye as he entered the room, Dr. Morton was interested in how both men were feeling, especially after how they had both taken a swim in the lake earlier that day.
"How are you gentlemen feeling?" the doctor asked.
Johnny couldn't help but to let out a small laugh despite it all. "Well, we got pretty toasty for a few minutes at the fire…a little too toasty, if you know what I mean. I feel fine though…just wet and tired."
Nodding his head in approval at the junior paramedic's response, the doctor then cast his glance at Roy. "And you?"
Roy didn't say anything at first, though he admittedly was starting not to feel so great, but kept that bit of information to himself. "I'm doing okay too, Doc. Come on, Johnny we should probably head back to the fire."
Being caught off guard by his partner's decision not to take a few minutes off to relax before moving on and going back out in the rain, Johnny gave his friend a confused look.
Seeing the look, Morton stood and crossed his arms. "Roy…I'd expect this from your partner, but you? What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing," replied Roy as he got up from the couch. "I'm tired too. I guess I figured that the sooner we get back out there, maybe this crazy shift will get to an end sooner."
Not convinced that the senior medic was being completely honest, but also knowing that the two paramedics needed to get back on duty, Dr. Morton chose not to pursuit things any further.
"Okay. Well, good luck fellas. Stay safe out there."
Forcing a smile on his face, Roy nodded his head as he picked up the radio that had been resting on the couch between the two friends. "Sure thing, Doc. I'll make us available, Johnny."
Shrugging to no one particular, Johnny sighed softly and waited for future instructions on what their next move was.
"L.A., Squad 51 available at Rampart."
"Ten-four, 51. Stand by for response."
Standing quietly, the two men waited to hear back from Dispatch.
"51, please respond to 5-2-2-9 Palmer Street…man down…that's 5-2-2-9 Palmer Street."
Pressing the button down on the radio, Roy lifted it up to his mouth. "Ten-four, L.A.. Squad 51 responding."
Fastening their turnout coats, and replacing their helmets, the two paramedics started to make their way out of the staff lounge.
"Be careful fellas. Judging by what I see out the window, it's gotten worse out there."
Over his shoulder, Johnny called back to the doctor. "Didn't think that was possible."
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Back at the warehouse fire, the flaming beast was now contained and under control, thanks largely to the heavy rain that continued to fall, but did make things quite treacherous for the men who were still battling the fire. The four men who had still been missing after the initial six had been found and rescued, had also been found, and were on their way to the hospital.
Taking a short respite from their duties, Engine 51's crew was in the engine trying to stay dry, as well as get a little rest.
"Cap, any word on Roy and John?"
Looking back at the curly haired firefighter, Hank shook his head. "No. But if they're not back by now, my guess is that they were called out on another response."
Sitting quietly watching the pouring rain, Mike tried not to think of anything bad happening to any of his friends, but it was a feeling that he just couldn't shake. He hadn't wanted to tell anyone about it, but when Johnny offered an ear, he had to confess what he had on his mind, or he would have become even more of a basket case than what his captain and other crewmates had already considered him to be, that day.
Observing his engineer for a few moments, Hank wasn't sure what to make of things. Though he had seemed a bit distracted that day, Mike was never anything less than professional and competent on the job…with the exception of his snapping about the whistling on a few occasions.
For all of the drama of the day up to that point, Marco was currently smiling. He allowed himself a few minutes of thinking about the lovely lady that he would be meeting for breakfast the next morning…Nikki her name was.
Glancing over at his good friend, Chet became slightly annoyed when he noted the grin on his face.
"Marco…what the hell are you smiling about? It's awful out here, and we're about to go back to dealing with that fire."
"Well…"
Craning his neck a bit so he could here Marco's response, Hank waited to hear the firefighter's reply.
"I'm thinking about Nikki. You know, the girl that I have a date with in the morning."
Smiling to himself, Hank was glad that at least one of his crew wasn't completely miserable. He himself was thinking about the very pleasurable morning that he had had with his wife that day.
Looking at his watch, he sighed loudly. "Okay guys…let's get back at it."
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Arriving at 5229 Palmer Street, the paramedics did a quick survey of the small house. Nothing seemed amiss, at least nothing that was obvious to them. Whatever the problem was, had to be inside, at least that's what they were hoping.
Parking the squad, they went around to get out their equipment, and then made it up the front walk, which was made of large smooth stones, and was actually quite slippery in this bad rain.
"Careful, Roy. This stuff is slippery."
Nodding his head, Roy continued up the walk.
At the door, they were met by a very wet older woman.
"Hurry, it's my husband Arthur. He fell off the ladder."
"Where is he?" Johnny asked anxiously, hearing what had happened.
"He's in the back yard…hurry."
Following the older woman through the house until they got to the sliding doors that led to the back, the two paramedics braced themselves for what they might see.
"Ma'am…you wait here inside. If we need you, we'll signal for you. If you have an umbrella handy, please use it so you don't get hurt too."
Carefully the two men made their way outside and to where the fallen man was laying on the ground.
"Arthur…" Roy called out. "Can you hear me?"
Met by loud groans, they at least knew that the man was still alive.
"Arthur, we're paramedics…we're going to help you. We need you to just lie still."
Looking up at the roof, Johnny guessed that the fall was maybe from 25 feet or so. He wasn't sure if the man had gotten up to the roof, or if he was still on the ladder, as the ladder was lying on the ground on its side.
Immediately they started taking Arthur's vitals, and checking out what possible injuries he may have had. Regardless of anything, it was obvious that full spinal precautions would be taken.
"I'll get Rampart on the phone, Roy."
Receiving a nod from his partner, Johnny spotted some awkward body movement from him. Though concerned, he knew that now wasn't exactly the time to say anything about it.
Setting up the bio-phone, Johnny exhaled loudly and contacted Rampart.
"Rampart, this is Squad 51. How do you read?"
"I read you loud and clear, go ahead 51." This time it was Dr. Brackett on the other end of the line.
"Rampart, we have an elderly male, approximately 75 years of age. Victim's wife reports that he had fallen off of a ladder…could be from a height of up to 25 feet. Victim is currently semi-conscious…vitals are…"
Reporting all the information that they had, Brackett gave them their orders, telling them to go ahead and use full spinal precautions as expected, and to get him to the hospital as soon as possible.
"Ten-four, Rampart. Ambulance has just arrived. ETA is about fifteen minutes."
When Johnny told the doctor about the ETA being about 15 minutes, he realized that he hadn't taken into account the lousy weather.
Motioning to Arthur's wife to step outside the door, Johnny yelled out to her to meet the ambulance attendants out front, and lead them to the back yard.
While they were continuing to prepare Arthur for transport, Johnny also kept an eye on his partner. There was something not quite right about him. He made a mental note to make sure to have Roy re-examined by a doctor once they got back to Rampart. That was something that he wasn't looking forward to doing, but he had been on the other side of that kind of situation on numerous occasions…turn around was only fair play. Besides, he owed it to Roy to help keep him safe and look after his best interest.
When the attendants came outside, Arthur was lifted onto the stretcher, and strapped safely in place.
Quickly gathering up their equipment, the paramedics followed the stretcher back through the house and to the ambulance.
"Ma'am, you could ride up front in the ambulance. I wouldn't suggest driving in this weather."
The older woman smiled appreciatively at Johnny, and nodded her head, before climbing inside the front cab of the ambulance.
"Roy, you ride in with him, I'll take in the squad."
Giving his partner a suspicious look, Roy wasn't happy to hear Johnny's suggestion, but agreed to it nonetheless.
"Okay. Meet you at Rampart."