Chapter 2: Twenty-Seven
The awareness came first, then a click which was followed by an eerie silence. Next, the lights came on and an alarm went off. All this happened in less than a minute and his mind was awake, and he was sitting up in his bed.
"Car 20, Engine 24, and Rescue 27, report of a motor vehicle accident with possible entrapment, corner of Seventeenth Street and Bragg Drive, time of alarm zero six thirty hours," came over the in-house speakers.
Spinning in his bed, he dropped his feet into his turn out boots. With practiced ease, he pulled them up as he stood up. The suspenders were dropped on his shoulders and he cinched them up, and then closed the flap on the pants. He was out of the room and down the stairs with-in mere moments of the announcement from the speaker.
Kicking open the door to the truck floor he moved with a purpose, in a rush, but not in hast. He came to the rig he was assigned and grabbed his flash hood and donned it. Next, it was followed over his neck by his radio strap and finally his coat.
Taking one last deep breath he climbed into the front passenger seat of the rig. Quickly he finished closing his turn out coat. Looking over his shoulder he made sure the rest of the crew was settling in. Next, he turned to the rig's driver.
"You know where we're going?" he asked.
The Driver nodded, "Yes, it's a nasty corner," The Driver said.
"Let's come in from Bragg, and we'll try to stop traffic. I don't want to get stuck on the side street," he directed.
"You sure?" The Driver asked.
"Yeah, let's keep it simple," he said, "Let's get there and see what happens, guys you ready?"
"All set!" came from the back of the cab.
"Let's go," he said.
The man in the passenger seat reached for the radio mic as the overhead door finally cleared the top of the truck. He keyed up the radio mic, "Rescue 27 is responding," he reported in.
"Roger, Rescue 27 is responding, be advised PD is on scene confirming entrapment," The Dispatcher replied.
"Roger, PD on scene confirms entrapment," he said and hung the mic back up. Turning to the back seat, "Okay guys, strap it up, it's John Wayne time."
The Man in the passenger seat returned to his job. It was early, pre-dawn, and normally very few people were out on the streets are this hour. Usually the idiots and the drunks, but a few people did leave to start work at this hour. God only knows what goes through other people's mind, these were usually the slow hours of the night, when the world mostly slept.
Through the early morning, the large Rescue rig cut through the empty streets. As he though the quiet hours. He looked around, just in case, keeping track of all the intersections. Drunks don't care about a large red rescue truck with flashing lights, they just want to get home. His job was to keep track of the intersections and make sure it was safe to pass by them. Also, he kept an eye on the Chief's SUV that was just in front of them.
As they turned the last corner the accident came into view. It was a one-car accident, looks like the driver hit something and spun out. The car was sitting across two lanes of traffic and had a deformed door. The driver probably fell asleep at the wheel. He shook his head and reminded himself, it wasn't his job to determine what happened, just to get the driver out and mitigate the vehicle so it can be safely removed.
He turned to the Driver, "Pull across and block traffic," he said, it was a good habit, but it was still early and not many people were on the road. It was still better to protect his crew.
The Rig swung across the lanes of traffic and came to a stop. The Man in the passenger grabbed the radio mic, "Rescue 27 has arrived on scene," he said. He dropped the mic and grabbed his helmet and was out of the cab. The crew was sorting themselves out and started dismounting the rig and getting to the various compartments for the equipment they needed.
"Rescue 27, Car 20, one victim entrapped," The Chief reported over the radio.
The Passenger grabbed his portable radio collar mic, "Roger Car 20, one entrapment," he said and walked over towards the car to get a walk around of it done. As he walked, he donned his black helmet, on the front the Helmet Shield was white and had blue number 27 on it. At the car, he met the Chief by the driver side read quarter panel. He looked at the Chief who nodded to them. They see each other quite often as they were out of the same firehouse.
"Engine 24, Car 20, come in from Bragg and block traffic," The Chief ordered over the radio.
"Roger Car 20, block traffic," The other unit reported.
The Chief adjusted her coat and radio strap and looked at The Passenger.
"Lieutenant," Battalion Chief Simone Lowell said.
"Chief," The Lieutenant said, "How long before EMS arrives?"
He was starting to walk around the car looking it over. He was checking for leaking fluids and other possible hazards. The Lieutenant finished his walk around and looked at the Chief.
"About one-minute ETA," Chief Lowell reported.
The Lieutenant nodded and walked over to the mangled driver's door. He looked in at the driver. "How are you doing?" The Lieutenant asked.
"What do you think, I'm hurt and stuck in the car, and I'm going to miss work," The Driver said.
The Lieutenant nodded, "Well, we'll get you out of here," The Lieutenant said, "Just give us a few minutes to set up." Walking away from the door he could see the crew had everything set up. The Lieutenant sighed and walked to the Chief, "Have EMS check his blood sugar, his breath smelt a little off," he said.
"Are you sure?" Chief Lowell asked.
"We know what it is," The Lieutenant said, "But you know."
"I get you," Chief Lowell said.
The Lieutenant walked over to his crew. He looked them over. "Butler crib up the vehicle and try to get the battery pulled, careful it's a hybrid. Smeadly, we don't need the glass broken, the door we have to pop lost its glass, help Butler. Oakley, pop that door. Davis, back him up and get ready follow up with the cutters," The Lieutenant ordered.
The small huddle broke up and headed towards the car. The Lieutenant grabbed his radio mic, "Start the clock for Rescue 27," he reported.
"Roger Rescue 27, the clock has started," The Dispatcher reported.
The Lieutenant took his position near the driver's side of the car where he could keep an eye on all his people. The lights reflected off the reflective strips of their gear. On the back of the Lieutenant's coat near the bottom was the name of whose coat with was, The Lieutenant's said Burke. Watching and keeping his hand off the vehicle. Butler finished cribbing the car to stabilize it. Next Butler and Smeadly started working on trying to get to the batteries under the deformed hood. It was a hybrid SUV, so that worried The Lieutenant.
That was when the ambulance arrived, finally, The Lieutenant thought. He looked over and saw the crew that got out. The Lieutenant tried to hide the sigh of frustration when he saw the crew. Finally, he looked at Smeadly.
"Smeadly, work with EMS," The Lieutenant said.
Smeadly looked toward the advancing ambulance crew. "Are you sure, Loo?" he asked.
The Lieutenant nodded, "Yes, I am," he said, making sure in his tone to let Smeadly know he didn't want him to question him.
"Yes, Loo," Smeadly said and went to meet the EMS crew.
The Lieutenant turned his attention to Oakley and the driver's side door. Oakley turned on his Hurst Electro-Hydraulic Spreaders and set them into the deformed gap between the car and the door. Huck walked over to the other side of his two guys and looked at the vehicle's driver.
"We'll get you out soon," Lieutenant Burke said.
"I'd hurry up if I were you," The Vehicle Driver said.
"How are you doing?" Lieutenant Burke asked.
"I'm trapped, how do you think?" The Vehicle Driver asked.
The whine of the electric motor of the spreaders started to spread the gap in the metal of the SUV. Lieutenant Burke took a step back to stay out of the way of his people.
"Can we get into that door?" a voice asked Lieutenant Burke.
Lieutenant Burke turned around and saw EMS standing there. There was a grunt when Lieutenant Burke saw who was asking. He was hoping it was the other member of the EMS Crew, but it wasn't. The EMT was about average height, heavyset, a bit of a beer belly and had a haircut that would fit in with 1940's Germany.
"What RC?" Lieutenant Burke asked, knowing who exactly the Local EMS EMT was.
"Can we get into that door?" RC asked.
"Why?" Lieutenant Burke asked.
"You know why, Jimmy," RC said, "To get to the patient.
Lieutenant Burke looked at his crew, which were in front of the rear door. He looked back at RC the EMT and shook his head. Lieutenant Burke sighed and looked directly into RC The EMT's eyes.
"My crew is in front of the door, working," Lieutenant Burke said.
"I have to get to the patient," RC the EMT said.
"There are other doors," Lieutenant Burke said.
RC the EMT thought about it and nodded. He walked around to the other side of the car and met Smeadly who held the Passenger Side rear door open for RC. Finally, Oakley got the driver's door to pop. Lieutenant Burke walked around and grabbed the door to support it. Oakley moved out of the way as Davis moved in with the cutters and cut the hinges of the door. Huck moved the door, now separate from the car, and put it out of the way.
After RC the EMT checked the Driver the Engine Company Crew came over with a backboard and the stretcher. Many hands make light work as they removed the driver from the car and got him on the stretcher. EMS was moving the stretcher away for the ambulance.
Lieutenant Burke looked at his crew, "Let's finish safing the car and do a quick clean up," he said, and grabbed his radio, "Rescue 27, Stop the Clock," He reported.
"Roger Rescue 27, the clock has been stopped, extraction complete, time of extraction six minutes," The Dispatcher reported.
Lieutenant Burke sighed, not the best time, but it was still an okay time. He walked over to Chief Lowell who was standing by her SUV.
"Victim is removed and we're starting to safe the car and clean up," Lieutenant Burke said.
Chief Lowell nodded, "Y'all did a good job, Huck," Chief Lowell said, "Made good time with it."
"Thank Chief," Lieutenant Burke said, his full name was James Longstreet Burke, usually he signed his name JL Burke, and was commonly called Huck. He removed his helmet and ran a hand over his tightly cropped red hair, one thing people rarely commented about Huck Burke was the fact he was a ginger.
"I didn't see your name on the list to take the Captain's exam, Huck," Chief Lowell said. Lieutenant Burke nodded, ever since he joined The Tree Hill Fire Rescue, his career was followed by Chief Simone Lowell since she was a Lieutenant. He never knew why, she took interest in his career, and never asked. He suspected it had to do with his Dad, Cade "Red" Burke, who was a line of duty death, but he wasn't sure.
Lieutenant Burke shrugged, "I'm not aware there is a sitting list," he said.
"There's not, but I didn't see your name listed to take it," Chief Lowell said, "I know you meet the requirements to take the exam."
"I've not made my mind up about taking it, yet," Lieutenant Burke said.
Chief Lowell nodded, "You should take it. What do you have to lose? Anyways you'll make a good Captain," he said.
Lieutenant Burke nodded, "Thank you, I'll think it over. I'm going to check on my crew," he said.
"You're welcome," Chief Lowell said, "You can clear when you're all set."
"Roger Chief," Lieutenant Burke said and walked back to the Rescue Rig. The Driver was standing by the cab of the rig watching him talk with Chief Lowell. As Lieutenant Burke walked up the Driver shook his head.
"What Bogart?" Lieutenant Burke asked.
"What did the Chief say to you, Loo?" Bogart asked. He was Lieutenant Burke's senior firefighter and was sort of a mother hen of the crew. Which included calling out The Lieutenant, politely when he had his head up his ass.
"When we're done, we can head back," Lieutenant Burke said, walking over to the passenger's door of the Rescue Rig. He put his helmet inside the cab and closed the door behind him. He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a black watch cap, and pulled it on, to keep his head warm.
"That's not all of it," Bogart said.
"That's the gist of it," Lieutenant Burke said and walked over to the car. He looked it over and turned to Butler, "Do we have everything picked up?"
Butler nodded, "Yup Loo," he said.
"When Y'all are done, let's get on the rig and head back. It's fucking cold," Lieutenant Burke said, "Hopefully the Engine has the coffee on."
The crew laughed at their Lieutenant's statement. He walked around the rig one more time just to check everything. Standing back, he watched as the crew picked up their equipment and headed back towards the rig. He watched as the equipment was placed back in the compartments and secured. The men mounted back up in the cab, and Lieutenant Burke followed them in his seat. Once Bogart finished his walk around and mounted back up, Lieutenant Burke looked at him, "Let's go," he said.
Bogart nodded and started the Rig. The way he parked it he didn't have to back up, he just finished the U-turn. Lieutenant Burke reached for the Truck Radio Mic and keyed it up, "Tree Hill, Rescue 27, is available and returning to quarters," he said.
"Roger Rescue 27 is available and returning to quarters," The Dispatcher responded.
Lieutenant Burke kept his mouth closed as they rode back. He looked out the window and watched the early morning light reflect off the glass from buildings and cars. It was the birth of the first day of a new year. A new set of potential. That was when they stopped at a traffic light.
"What else did Chief Lowell talk to you about?" Bogart asked.
"What I told you and the fact we did a good job with the extrication," Lieutenant Burke said.
"Why are you so silent?" Bogart asked.
"Though silence is not necessarily an admission, it is not a denial either," Lieutenant Burke said.
"Who said it?" Bogart asked, knowing Lieutenant Burke very well.
"Cicero," Lieutenant Burke said, as the Rescue Rig started moving again. As the Tree Hill Fire Rescue Headquarters approached in his eyesight Lieutenant Burke reached out for the radio mic, "Tree Hill, Rescue 27, lights," he requested.
"Roger, Rescue 27, lights," The dispatcher reported.
Bogart put the Rescue Rig on the ramp. The crew dismounted and two of them would back up Bogart as the rest started to head back in and doff their gear. Once the rig was back in the building and the overhead door was coming down, Lieutenant Burke took his turn out coat off. He shivered, it's bitterly cold on the truck room floor as well as outside.
The crew assembled by the front of the Rig. He looked over the other five guys. Over his eleven years on the department, there were women hired, and there were women already in the department when he was hired. Chief Lowell was an example of that, but still to this day, most of the crews were men. It was what it was, Lieutenant Burke had no control over the hiring practices, he would occasionally work with a woman on his crew when they or he worked overtime. He did have a particularly good woman on his crew before he was transferred to the Rescue when he was out on Engine 29. His crew was all men. He was a Dad of four daughters, and as a dad, he didn't and wouldn't want his daughters to run into a glass ceiling.
"Let's get the equipment cleaned, and ready to go. Make sure the batteries are charged in the tools," Lieutenant Burke said, "I'll see if there is coffee."
Lieutenant Burke went upstairs and saw the Engine Company was up. The Engine Companies were usually the house company and ran the house. They were responsible for the maintenance of the station and cooking. Lieutenant Burke always made sure his people helped, not all the officers did that. He surmised that when the alarm came in, someone from the Engine Company got up and started making the coffee. It was a good thing, and he appreciated the Engine Guys. He pulled out paper coffee cups and poured cups for the crew and himself. He carried them down and handed them out as the crew was finishing up with the equipment.
Next Lieutenant Burke returned to the second floor and went to his room/office and started to fill out the report for the car accident. Once he was done, he collected all the run reports for the shift and bundled them together. He then left the office.
He walked to the opposite side of the building to the Chief's Office. He dropped the bundle off into the Chief's. Being in the same station as the shift commander has its own advantages and disadvantages. One advantage was he could drop the paperwork off himself instead of having the chief come around and collect it. Again, not every officer took advantage of this. He was about to head off to check on his crew.
"Huck," Chief Lowell said from behind her desk.
Lieutenant Burke turned and looked at her, "Yes Chief?" he asked.
"You did good this shift," Chief Lowell said.
Lieutenant Burke nodded, why was she reinforcing the compliments? "Thanks, Chief," he replied.
"Seriously consider what I said, I'd think you'd be a good captain," Chief Lowell said.
"I will Chief," Lieutenant Burke said and walked out of the Chief's area. He came into the rec room, where the engine company was. They said hello and he greeted them. Lieutenant Burke went to head downstairs to check on his men but was greeted by them coming up. They were done, and he nodded.
Lieutenant Burke returned to the company office and cleaned up his bags. He stripped the bed of his bedding and packed it up in his locker. Once his bags were packed, he returned to the desk chair and looked over things. That was when his relief came in.
The incoming Lieutenant looked at him, "Morning Huck," he said.
"Morning Doug," Lieutenant Burke said.
Doug dropped his bag on the bed. He opened his locker and was getting ready for the next twenty-four-hour shift. "Anything I need to know?" he asked.
Lieutenant Burke shook his head, "Nothing, did six runs, the last one was an extrication," he said.
"Alright, see you next time around," Doug asked, "Are you playing at our next game?"
"Who are we playing?" Huck asked.
"25, 26 and 28," Doug said.
"I should be, and I'll bring the cheering section," Huck said, "I also have the fire marshal duty on the Ninth at the high school."
Doug nodded, "Brett is having a hell of a year, but did she have to go to Notre Dame?" he asked.
Huck shrugged, "It was her choice," he said got up and grabbed his bag. "I'll see you, next shift."
"See you, Huck," Doug said.
Huck went downstairs and put his gear away. Doug has already placed his gear on the truck. Huck went outside and felt the cutting cold of the morning. It was too damn cold. Shaking out of it, Huck walked over to his black crew cab pickup truck. A few years ago, he sold his old red Ford F150, that had gotten him through high school, college, and the early years of marriage. He purchased the crew cab because he does have kids, five of them, not that he gives Brett rides much anymore, she has her own car. But having four kids under twelve he needed space.
The wind was cold; it cut like a whetted knife. Huck was a sailor and never experienced winds this strong and cutting. It was cold, damn cold, the coldest he could remember. He was shaking as he put his bag in the bed of the truck. Climbing into the cab of the truck he started the truck and turned up the heat.
Once the truck was warmed up, he put the truck in gear and left. Heading out in the early morning light. As the stress and adrenaline started to wear off, he felt tired. Huck looked over his dashboard and spied an old and tarnished Saint Christopher's Medal. Huck was not practically religious, but he had added the medal after a bad year. It was the year he also bought this truck. It was a memory, a reminder for him.
"And now we welcome the New Year. Full of things that have never been," Huck said, quoting Rainer Maria Rilke, as he drove into the early morning winter hazy. It was a way to get his straight and focused that there was nothing but positives ahead, an unwritten book.
