EMS had reported that the scene was a working fire with smoke coming from the eaves. The unit slowed as it came to Willow and made the turn. Smoke billowed skyward and flames shot from the windows.
The situation hadn’t gotten better. Hopefully everyone was out of the house and they could knock the fire down quickly.
As soon as the engine rolled to a stop, the crew jumped from the rig. Across the street one of their medics restrained a frantic woman from entering the blazing structure.
“3–1 and 3–6, set up water supply!” Chief Jones called. “Parker, O’Neil, mask up. Victim inside—fourteen-year-old girl, possibly in the bedroom upstairs on the south side. Window inaccessible. Let’s go! Let’s go!”
The crews went to work.
Tyson’s heart jackhammered as he and Luke geared up with oxygen tanks and masks and headed in. The smoke was already thick, the air hot, the house fully involved.
“Fire department, call out!” Tyson said as they headed through the living room. They searched through the smoke for movement. Where was she? Seeing no one, they moved toward the steps and started up.
At the top landing he called out again. The only response was the roar of fire and the sound of his breathing. The smoke was thicker up here. The landing led to a long hall. Flames shot out of the doorways.
Ty used his com. “Chief, we need a knockdown.”
“Copy. They’re coming. What’s the situation?”
“Upstairs hallway is partially collapsed. We can get through if wecan get this fire knocked down.” He was tempted to make a dash. But the hallway was long and narrow, and the collapsed beam would slow them down. Egress with a victim would be hazardous.
He glanced down the stairs for the firefighters.Come on, come on.
A lifetime later Riggs and Novak showed up on the nozzle. They aimed the spray at the first door, knocking the flames down quickly, and the crew progressed down the hall.
“Don’t like the looks of this.” Riggs glanced at the ceiling where smoke rolled. “It’s not stable.”
“We have time,” Ty said. They had to. He wasn’t about to let a fourteen-year-old kid die in this blaze. Not when they were right here. An image of that dead seventeen-year-old boy flashed in his head. Anxiety threaded through Ty.
That was not happening today.
“Two minutes!” Chief called over the com.
Riggs and Novak advanced down the hall, knocking the fire down as they went.
“Fire department, call out!” Ty and Luke swept the two rooms on the way to the southernmost room. But they were empty.
Just before they reached the last room, a loud crack split the air. Novak and Riggs dove out of the way just in time. Another beam dropped, raining down smoke and fire.
“Riggs!” Ty checked the downed firefighter.
“I’m fine. Novak?”
“I’m good,” he called.
They cleared the debris and helped the men to their feet.
“Parker, report!” Chief Jones called.
“We’re all good, Chief.” The ceiling had come down, but there was still space to get to the bedroom.
“Get out of there now!”
“Copy that,” Riggs said, and the other three turned back toward the stairs.
Ty couldn’t just leave the kid! He glanced toward the bedroom, panic bombarding his every thought. “Fire department, call out!” He listened intently.
There.Had that been a voice?
