“I’ve got a wheelchair bound male trapped. No way we make it down the stairs.”
“Copy that. Can you make it to a window?”
I looked around?the windows were obscured by the flames. I debated and came up with an idea. I wheeled the guy through the lobby and farther down the hall where the offices were. I twisted the knob to Aaron’s main office but it was locked. My heart rate quickened.
“We’re gonna get you outta here, buddy,” I assured the man. “Do you know if anyone else is in here?”
“I-I don’t think so.’”
I nodded and raised the hatchet I’d been carrying with me this whole time. Making sure the guy was far enough from my swing, I swung the hatchet into the door, breaking an inch or two into the wood. It took about five more swings before I had a hole big enough to reach my hand through and get to the lock. Opening the door, I wheeled the guy in and closed the door behind us, trying to put a small buffer between us and the flames.
“Aaron!” I called, searching the office.
“The boss is out of the office today at a meeting.”
My shoulders slumped in relief just a little bit. I didn’t have time to rejoice that my brother wasn’t in danger since I still had a trapped man that needed rescuing. I made a beeline for the windows, feeling them out. One opened, allowing for some ventilation, but both of our bodies would never fit through the space.
“Alright, buddy. What’s your name?” I asked, removing my mask.
“M-Mark.”
“Okay, Mark. We’re going to have to go through the window.”
“What? No, no! I can’t. I can’t walk. How will I be?”
“Mark,” I yelled, palming the sides of his chair, “I know you’re afraid but I’ve done this countless times. If I said we’re going to make it out of here, we’re getting the fuck outta here!” I didn’t have time for niceness. “Keep that shirt over your nose and mouth!” I ordered, picking up my hatchet again and heading back to the window.
“Carter to Rescue Four. Come in.”
“Rescue Four to Carter.”
“I’m on the southeast end of the thirtieth floor. I’m going to break a window. I need you to send that harness down as fast as you fucking can!”
“Copy that. Heading for the southeast part of the roof.”
Again I lifted my hatchet and took my best swing at the office window. It cracked but didn’t shatter. For that I needed three more swings, but eventually glass was everywhere at my feet instead of being the barrier to the outside it once was. And despite it being close to the low eighties outside, the gust of air felt at least twenty degrees cooler than the air in the lobby had felt.
“Okay, Mark, my guys are sending down the harness. We’re going to have to leave the wheelchair behind. I’ve got you,” I stated sharply when he began to protest. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw something swing past the now bare window. Running over, I caught the harness the next time it passed.
“Few more inches, Rescue Four!” I stated into my intercom. Seconds later the rope of the harness slackened and I was able to pull it in enough so that I could step into one of the two attached harnesses and strap it tightly around my legs and waist.
“Alright, Mark, let me guide you.” I put the second harness over his feet and up his legs before attempting to lift him from the wheelchair. Mark and I both grunted when I lifted him from the chair.
“I got you!” I had to partially drag Mark toward the window. When we made it, I said, “Alright, Mark, we’re going out of the window. I need you to just let yourself be moved, okay?”
He nodded, obviously terrified.
It took a bit of work to get us both out of the window. I lifted a hand from Mark and then tugged at the rope to let my guys know it was safe to start lowering us.
“Oh God! Oh God!” Mark began repeating over and over.
“We’re okay,” I consoled. I looked up to see Eric and Corey looking down over the edge of the roof.
“Ladder’s beneath you on the fifteenth,” came through my walkie-talkie.
I nodded and gave a thumb’s up to the guys above me.
“Mark, we’re going to be lowered to the fifteenth floor to the ladder of my truck. It’s already in position to receive us and will lower us to the ground,” I informed him. By then his entire upper body was trembling. “Don’t look down,” I advised when I saw his head beginning to lower. Worst thing anyone in this position could do. I glanced up to stare above us. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I took a mental picture of how beautiful it was and how grateful I was to do the job I did.
