Minutes Later
As a stretcher with a bodybag was rolled out of the bathroom by one medical examiner, another medical examiner took photos of the scene.
Soon On The Floor Apparatus…
With police patrol cars outside, the Mayor of Hillwood held a press conference in the engine bay. Behind Squad and Truck 55, the Mayor and Stella attended to the media while police officers were in the middle of the trucks.
"Mr. Kimball's rash and tragic decision to take his own life will not slow or alter our investigation. We want to know why and how this fire happened, and we will get answers. My office is working with the Hillwood Police and with HFD. Our city and our people are stronger when we come together, and it is my hope that the citizens of Hillwood will continue…"
As the Mayor kept speaking, Tanner looked at the officer looking after Kimball. "And you didn't think to pat this guy down? Isn't that common sense?" He whispered. "I was there to protect him, Sir, not arrest him." The officer replied.
"Mr. Kimball was under threat at the fire scene, so Lieutenant Hubble asked if we could bring him here." Michelle added.
"... This is a tragic end, to a tragic day…" The Mayor finished. Reporters started talking all at once.
Later…
Stella was sitting in her office in dead silence. While reflecting on the past twenty-four hours, Michelle knocked on her door.
"Chief?" Stella motioned her in. "Hey."
"I'm heading out, just wanted to check in and see if you needed anything." Michelle offered. Stella shook her head. "No. No, I'm good. Now go on, get out of here."
Michelle approached her desk and sighed. "Chief, we both talked to people on ledges. Usually, we can tell they're gonna jump. How'd we miss this?" She asked. Stella shrugged. "Didn't look like he planned ahead, just heat of the moment thing, got overwhelmed and shot himself. Whatever the case is, I wish we could've prevented this." Stella replied and exhaled deeply.
"Yeah…" Connie knocked on her door. "Chief, Lieutenant Shortman is here." Arnold came back from helping out FIU (Fire Investigation Unit). "Chief, you're gonna want to see what we have." Stella picked up her radio and soon got up.
In the briefing room, Suzy had several files on a desk with many photos of the investigation scene.
"Okay. What did you find?" Stella asked. Suzy handed over the photo. "That's where the fire started."
Both Michelle and Stella looked at the destroyed light bulb. "That's what we found there." Arnold mentioned.
"Electrical fire?" Michelle asked. Arnold shook his head. "That's a timing device. You take a brown paper bag, and you fill it with an oxidizer, kitty litter, or chlorine. Then you take a light bulb and you fill it with fuel, gasoline, cooking oil, whatever. And you see that hole? That's where they drill into it and fill it with those chemicals." He explained.
"You put the light bulb in the bag." Stella added. "Right. And now you have yourself a simple incendiary device. Just drop the bag on the floor, you step on the bulb with your heel, and simply walk away." Arnold added.
"A chemical reaction would start right away. Instructions are easy to find with a quick internet search." Suzy added. Stella soon walked out after grabbing her radio. With this information, she now had something for the Hillwood P.D..
That Afternoon…
"See you, brother."
"I'll see you." Arnold dapped up with Donovan after shutting his locker. While Alexander stayed, Arnold walked out to the apparatus floor to find Spinelli sitting on the bumper of Engine 55.
"Hey, w- what are you doing here? I thought you would've clocked out by now." Arnold decided to sit next to her.
Spinelli took a deep breath. "These past twenty-four hours have been unimaginable, and I honestly can't believe that something like this can happen." Arnold put an arm over her. "I remember having Third Street as my home, and I thought shit like this would never happen. Ever since I moved to Hillwood, well… I feel at home. While Third Street is my childhood home, Hillwood is my real home." Spinelli was reflecting on her past. "I never thought of love as something serious, more or less as a joke, to be fair… But then I met you, Arnold. Despite the rocky start of our friendship, I'm glad we remained friends, and now look at us." She let out a soft chuckle. "Getting married a month and a half from now. I guess what I'm trying to say is… I never imagined this crazy life. Sure, there were chaotic moments at Third Street, but Hillwood… I feel like it completes me, especially you, Arnold. I love you." She smiled at him.
Arnold smiled back. "Come to think of it, I wonder how far Third Street is. But that doesn't matter. I love you, Spinelli." He then pulled her head close for a passionate kiss.
At MedStar…
"Excuse me, can you tell me where Lexi Olinsky's room is?" Tanner was at the hospital looking for Al.
"Sergeant!" Stella soon walked over. Tanner looked over. "Chief?"
"FIU has a conclusion." Stella told him. "And?" Tanner asked. "That fire was intentionally set. This was mass murder." Tanner looked at her in shock and confusion.
An alarm started blaring. "Dr. Deegan!" Teddy walked by them. "Chief. Sarge."
Teddy walked in to see Lexi's condition dropping fast. "O2 sats are tanking, she can't oxygenate. Get another blood gas, drop her tidal volume to 300, increase her rate to 25, and up the PEEP to ten. Start paralytics. Fifty of Atricurium." Teddy ordered as another nurse walked in. "Close that curtain. Now!" Teddy told the nurse as she put on her stethoscope.
As the curtain closed, everything went black once the curtain closed…
That Night…
It was around ten-thirty-three P.M., and Arnold, Pep, and Spinelli were in Andy's room. Andy was cradled in Spinelli's arms while Arnold hugged her from behind, and Pep rested her head on his shoulder.
"... There we are. Sh, she's finally asleep." She lightly kissed Andy's forehead and delicately placed Andy in her crib. The three of them smiled as they took a moment to admire Andy's cuteness.
"You two are raising such a beautiful baby girl." Pep told them with a smile. "Thanks, Pep. Really means a lot to hear that." Spinelli smiled back.
"Alright, you guys, I'll see you tomorrow." Arnold looked back at Pep. "Alright, goodnight, Pep." Arnold gave a light peck on her cheek. After Pep soon walked out of the room, Arnold kissed Spinelli's cheek twice. "She does have a point, even if Andy isn't of your DNA, we're still raising a beautiful girl. Not just that, Andy's lucky to have such a role model like you, and I'm lucky to be marrying you." Arnold smiled.
Spinelli turned around and cupped his face. "The light of my life. My love. My all. My everything. You're the most special person in my life. I'll always love you, Arnold." She started to slowly kiss him.
After a minute…
"Alright, let's get some rest ourselves. Another day, another shift." Arnold chuckled. Spinelli shrugged. "Hopefully Phoebe will be home by morning since she's working the night at Med." She mentioned.
Arnold put an arm over her. "Alright, let's get some rest." He smiled. Spinelli smiled back. Arnold kissed her cheek as they walked out.
The Next Morning
Overhead of the Firehouse, while the sun shined, Engine 55 was outside the garage area.
"Alright, Squad, top off your cylinders at forty-five hundred PSI, and check over the power tools and equipment. Cruz, check the fuel tank to see how much it has." Arnold told his unit.
"Copy, Lieutenant."
"Sure thing."
"Copy that."
When the compartment doors were opened, Arnold walked out of the engine bay and found Spinelli coming down the stairs while drinking a cup of orange juice.
"Hey, sweetie." Arnold smiled. The two got close for a kiss.
After their kiss, Spinelli tossed the cup into the trash. "Engine! Let's take a ride!" She called out. Arnold gave a curious look. "What do you have in mind?"
"B-Shift didn't fill up Engine and left it with little gas in the tank." She rolled her eyes. Arnold rubbed her shoulders. "Just be careful." He kissed her forehead. Spinelli softly chuckled. "Don't worry, I will. I can handle myself." She smiled.
Arnold rolled his eyes with a smile. "Love you, Spinelli." He kissed her forehead again. "Love you too, Arnold."
Minutes Later…
Engine 55 soon rolled out of the commercial gas station after filling up with fuel.
"Alright, Doss, just get this rig home and hope we have some time before the first call of the day…" Spinelli told her while she pulled her phone out of her pocket.
"Lieutenant, uh, is that what I think that is?" Vic asked after the truck came to a stop. Spinelli looked over in confusion. She finally noticed what Vic saw and grabbed the truck radio. "Engine 55 to Dispatch. Any reported smoke on Snell 33rd Avenue?"
"Dispatch to 55, we have no reported smoke in the designated address." The dispatcher replied. Spinelli gave the go-ahead nod, signaling to check out the source.
While the sirens weren't on, the siren lights were on as Engine 55 took a sharp turn to drive over toward the street.
After taking a left turn, Engine soon drove close to where the smoke was coming from…
"Looks like we caught a stray…"
A two-story school had smoke coming from the second story.
KA-BOOM
CRASH
An explosion went off, a fireball flaring out of the second story.
"That's it. Call it in, Johanssen. Doss?" The Tomboy Lieutenant looked at Vic, who was one step ahead, and put her foot down.
"55 to dispatch, we have a…" As Gerald was radioing dispatch, Engine 55 arrived in front of the school. Students came running out, and only one teacher was outside keeping count.
Engine 55 parked at a slanted angle as everyone started to hop out.
"Clyde, get a supply line going! Larson, Wiggins, Johanssen, fire attack! We're two members short for primary search…" Spinelli looked around after handing out assignments. While she had a quick moment to debate her next move…
Meanwhile…
"Squad 55. Truck 55. Battalion 55. Aid 55. Respond to school fire at Snell 33rd Avenue. First Box Alarm." The station alarm went off and dispatch called out 55.
"Wait, isn't that near the commercial gas station Engine was headed to?" Arnold asked Dean, he only gave an unsure shrug.
Everyone ran into the engine bay as the garage doors opened.
Minutes Later
Squad 55 came to the school from a different direction. As the truck parked at a slanted angle, Arnold immediately hopped out with his SCBA strapped on.
Spinelli came over after yanking off her air mask. "About time you guys got here!" Arnold placed his. hands on her shoulders. "Spinelli, w- what's going on?"
"Long story short - at first I had an exterior attack planned but I had to cut out that idea and have Larson with a line while the rest of us went for primary search." Spinelli explained and coughed twice.
Arnold looked back at his unit. "Alright, Squad, we're joining Engine on primary search! Cruz, Smith, you two join Truck on ventilation! Gibson, you're with us!" He called out.
"Dispatch, I need a third Box Alarm and an EMS Plan Two!" Stella went on her radio.
"Alexander, Montgomery, Cruz, Smith, you guys are on ventilation! Lieutenants, I'm coming with you!" Michelle came over as another Engine company arrived. Stella gave the go-ahead nod at Spinelli. "Lead the way."
Spinelli nodded back. "Alright, let's move it! We still have more people inside!"
As they stopped at the entrance to mask up, "Third Box Alarm, all units respond, be advised, EMS Plan Two, all available Aid Cars respond to 33rd Snell Avenue." Dispatch radioed more companies.
"Truck 49 to Dispatch…"
"Proceed with caution, guys, we don't know how long we have before this fire spreads even more!" Michelle warned. She then gave the go-ahead.
"Let's split up! Squad, with me, but I'll take Spinelli, Suarez, McCaffery, you're with Cap!" Arnold called out.
"Copy, Lieutenant!"
"You got it!
"Alright, let's go!" Michelle shouted as Engine 77 came in with a hoseline to back them up.
Minutes Later
More and more students were pulled out of the school, and thankfully, they were alive.
Spinelli soon came up to Stella while she assessed the outside. "Chief! We have to go in one more time, we heard voices on the Bravo side!" Stella didn't answer as she looked at the smoke, which was slowly turning black as the flames grew.
"Two minutes, no more. As soon as I give the command, you get your asses out like yesterday!" Stella looked at Spinelli. She immediately ran off, signaling over Dean, Arnold, Pep, and Gibson.
Michelle and Donovan came out with two teachers.
Soon, Spinelli and the others masked up and headed inside to find the missing victims.
"HILLWOOD FIRE! ANYONE HERE?" Dean yelled.
"FIRE DEPARTMENT! CALL OUT IF YOU CAN HEAR US!" Pep shouted.
"Hey! Gibson! We got one!" Arnold pointed. "I got him, I'll get him out and join back with you guys!" Scott walked over to the collapsed teenager.
"ANYONE IN THERE?" Spinelli yelled after hearing a noise at a door.
"Help- Help us!…" A weak woman's voice tried to yell. Spinelli raised an eyebrow, thinking she recognized the voice. "Clemente! Help me get this door open!" She called Pep for help.
Spinelli tried wedging her halligan through, but Pep hit it twice to fully wedge it through. Soon, Spinelli forced her halligan away…
CRACK
She pried open the door. "Stay low! Stay low!" Spinelli called out while radio chatter went on.
Inside, they found one of the teachers unconscious, and Spinelli recognized who it was…
"Mu- Ms- Ms. Finster?!" She stood there in disbelief as Dean and Arnold walked in.
"Spinelli, get that teacher out, Smith and I will get her out!" Arnold and Dean grabbed their webbing ropes. Dean looked back to see Spinelli standing in disbelief. "Lieutenant? Lieutenant!"
Spinelli finally snapped out of it. "W- What?"
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Arnold asked as he and Dean wrapped their ropes under Ms. Finster's arms.
Gibson soon came into the room after rescuing the collapsed teen. "Gibson! Get that teacher out, we'll follow behind!"
"Copy that, Lieutenant!" Scott helped the female teacher to her feet. Spinelli heard coughing coming from the halls.
"Hey! Guys! I think we have more! Clemente, come on!" Spinelli ran off with Pep following.
Dean looked at his Lieutenant. "Any idea what's with her?" He asked. Arnold shook his head. "No idea but let's ask questions later, let's get these people out of here!" He the. looked at Scott and nodded.
"Alright, let's go!" Scott started heading off with Dean and Arnold behind, dragging Finster with the webbing ropes.
Spinelli and Pep found who was coughing, but Spinelli couldn't believe her eyes…
"No, no, no, NO!" She clenched her helmet. It was her 4th-grade teacher, Ms. Grotke…
Pep helped Ms. Grotke. "Ma'am, is there anyone else?"
She coughed and pointed behind. "T- I thought I heard people over there but- but there was so much smoke and I couldn't go any further!" Ms. Grotke coughed again. "Alright, you did well trying to come back but let us check it out!" Pep told her and grabbed her radio. "Lieutenant, we may have more people, Charlie side!"
"Copy that, Clemente! Sending in McCaffery to join you, you have ONE MINUTE. NO MORE." Stella exclaimed on her radio.
Suarez and a firefighter from Engine 63 came over. "Suarez, Hammon, take her outside to triage! Lieutenant, come on! Lieutenant?" Pep saw Spinelli with horrible body language. Spinelli looked like she couldn't go anymore.
"Chief, send someone else to replace Spinelli, she doesn't look good!" Pep radioed.
Outside, Arnold heard over his radio but had to stay.
McCaffery soon came along after passing by Suarez and Hammon.
"Where are they?" Russell asked. "Charlie side, over there by what the teacher said. Come on, let's go!" Pep started walking along.
"Lieutenant, are you good or…?" McCaffery looked at Spinelli, who finally calmed herself. "Let's keep going, we have lives to save, and I'm not gonna be the reason you guys were held back! Let's move!" She replied and went ahead with Pep. McCaffery followed behind.
"ALL UNITS, EVACUATE THE BUILDING! YOU'RE OUT OF TIME!" Stella had shouted on her radio.
Suddenly, a loud creaking was heard. Pep froze as she looked up. The breathing of their air masks as the creaking got louder and louder…
Suddenly… "LIEUTENANT, LOOK OUT!" Pep forcefully shoved Spinelli away.
CRACK
CRASH
THUD
CRASH
BOOM
CRACKLE
THRASH
WHIRRR
KA-BOOM
CRASH
CRACKLE
As the interior collapsed, a huge explosion of fireballs went off outside.
Stella gave the go-ahead to Arnold, Dean, and Scott. "GO!"
…
…
BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
After the smoke somewhat cleared from the collapse, a PASS Device alarm was triggered inside. Spinelli quickly got up after getting hit with debris. After helping up McCaffery, she heard the PASS Device alarm.
After a few seconds of looking around, she heard in which direction the PASS Device was blaring.
"PEP!" She ran over to the collapsed debris. Only her hand was sticking out, with her helmet covered in dust and near her hand.
After a few seconds, Dean and the others ran over.
"FIREFIGHTER DOWN! FIREFIGHTER DOWN! IT'S PEP!" Spinelli yelled at them as she kept pulling debris away. Most of them froze for a moment before running over to help. "OVER HERE, IT'S CLEMENTE!"
McCaffery helped her move away more debris. Scott and the others started moving more debris.
"On three! One! Two! Three!" Everyone grunted as they moved away fallen lockers.
Thankfully, she wasn't pinned or crushed under major debris. After moving away ceiling tiles, they finally uncovered Pep, and Spinelli turned her on her back and stopped her PASS alarm.
"Clemente!…" She whimpered. "Oh no… Hold on, Pep, hold on…" Spinelli held her head. Pep's air mask was fogged, cracked, and somewhat crushed. Her hose regulator was torn off while the regulator was still on her mask and somewhat crushed.
Outside…
Passing by the rear of Truck 55… "FIREFIGHTER DOWN! FIREFIGHTER DOWN!" Spinelli yelled.
Spinelli and Arnold carried Pep's arms, while McCaffery and Dean had her legs. Murray and Vic were ready at the Aid Car.
They ran to the stretcher and placed her on it. Stella gulped as she feared the worst after that explosion. "What happened?! Is she responsive?" Murray asked as Arnold and Scott tried getting her coat open.
"No! No, she's not!" Spinelli frantically replied.
"Just stay with us, Clemente!…" Arnold begged.
Murray started cutting the head harness cloth on the G1 face mask. After he cut around, he cautiously lifted the face mask off Pep, revealing her face with smoke stains, significant cuts, and a large burn area around her neck. Spinelli gave a horrified look, Arnold looked in shock.
"Come on! Let's get her in and to MedStar!" Vic tugged on Spinelli's coat. Spinelli stepped aside in shock.
After Vic got inside with Murray in the driver's seat, Arnold, Gibson, Dean, and Russell lifted the stretcher and pushed it inside. Michelle and everyone else stared in disbelief.
After the stretcher was placed inside, Arnold patted Spinelli's back. "Go…" While in the background, Stella and Michelle, who stood near other Aid Cars, were both in shock.
Without hesitation, Spinelli hopped in and Dean closed the rear doors and slapped it twice.
The sirens started wailing as Spinelli took off her helmet, looking just about shell shocked…
Vic cut open Pep's shirt, only to reveal significant bruising on her shoulders, with fractures in her arm. Her lower torso had signs of internal bleeding.
While Vic got to work, Spinelli only yelled in frustration and sadness. "AAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHH! FUCK!" And right after, she just started to break down in tears while holding onto Pep's coat sleeve. Vic could feel Spinelli's pain, it wasn't just their friend, their family...