“Secondary team has entered the structure,” Cody says through the mic.
“Copy,” Hallie answers him.
Debris falls from overhead. We pivot to avoid it. I locate the staircase and test the stairs.
“It still looks solid,” I tell Hallie.
“Let’s go,” she says.
I head up the stairs first, spraying upward to take down the heat and flames and staying low and to the wall. Hallie comes right behind me.
“Hello?” I shout into the flames and black, sooty smoke. The heat’s intense up here.
“Help!” The voice comes from the corner.
I carry the hose in the direction of the voice, staying low,spraying short bursts to control the heat and flames. Hallie is right behind me on the hose.
I call out to the teen. “We’re right here!”
“I’m here! Help!” A boy’s voice comes through the smoke, followed by a series of coughs.
I feel through the darkness, making contact with his leg.
“I’ve got him!” I tell Hallie.
“Releasing the hose on three!” I tell her.
“Bracing,” she replies, taking the weight of the charged hose and widening her stance. We’re right at the wall.
“One, two, three!” I count, releasing the hose.
“Got it!” she says, taking full control of the line, continuing to spray the fire back and controlling the heat.
“I’ve got you,” I tell the boy. “We’re getting you out.”
I use a drag technique to move the victim to the top of the stairs. Then I shift to an assisted carry, lifting him, looping my arm around his back and under his arm and draping his arm over my shoulder. Hallie continues to spray in bursts around us.
“We’re going down!” I tell Hallie.
“Got you,” she says, spraying above the stairs.
I take the steps one by one. I’m halfway down when a step flexes softly beneath my foot. I hear a creaking. Then a crack. In an instant, I tug the teen into my body, tucking him tightly as the stairs give way.
I hit the ground with the teen still in my arms. The wind is knocked out of me. I hear a snap and feel a pain so sharp I shout into the mic.
“Greyson!” Hallie’s voice is panicked.
“I’m here,” I moan. “Victim safe.”
Hallie’s voice comes through the radio, “Firefighter down! Firefighter down! First floor. Stairs gave out.”
Me. She’s talking about me.
Cody’s voice is next. “Where are you, Hallie?”
“Second floor,” Hallie answers. “Stairs collapsed. Grey went down with the teen. I’m trapped.”
“Grey, are you with me?” Cody asks.
