Scott was a veteran firefighter, he'd been on the job for about 15 years and had risen to the rank of Lieutenant. He was in top physical a member of the Firefighter Combat challenge team. Scoot loved his job because he was able to help people in their time of need.
Scott arrived at work at his usually time 0600, not knowing what the day had in store for him. He planned to do some rope rescue training with his crew as well as putting the FNG through some backbreaking work. First thing was his workout. Today was cardio day and he was ready for his 5 mile run on the treadmill. Scott flipped on the TV in the exercise room and got on the treadmill. He started off slowly and moved quicker and quicker. He was tooling right along watching the news when the tones opened.
"House Fire Box 18-6, report of people trapped and an explosion." Scott immediately jumped off the treadmill and even though he wasn't "working" yet, he was a fireman and always on duty. Scott grabbed his gear and ran to the truck. The Lieutenant he was going to replace was happy to see another person. Budget cuts had reduced the crews from 4 to 3. The truck rolled out of the station with the siren blaring.
The house was close and the truck was the first on the scene. Scott jumped out and immediately grabbed the heavy irons (a sledge hammer and Haligan), he also grabbed a 300 foot bag of rope. There was a group of people outside saying that a woman, who lived alone, was still in the house. Scott didn't hesitate, while running to the door he turned on his air bottle. He kicked the door opened and entered the house. The fire was coming from the kitchen and licking up the steps. He radio out to the crews outside giving them an update. The Chief told him that the bystanders saw the lady in the 2nd floor window just as the explosion happened.
Scott saw the fire licking around the steps and knew that he was not going to be able to bring the woman down. His gear would protect him but it would burn her severely. Scott fought through the heat on the steps. feeling the singeing on his neck. He made it up to the second floor. He quickly did a right hand search, nothing in room one, nothing in room two. The smoke started to really bank down, he realized that if the woman was still alive she only had minutes left until she inhaled enough toxins to kill her. He step up his pace...nothing in room 3...he could only see a foot or so in front of him as he entered room four...he reach out and grabbed a leg. He realized that the woman was unconscious. He knew that he was not able to climb down the stairs with her, so he smashed the window out and called down to his crew. They have been unable to get the fire put out. The were trying desperately to get into help but the fire had spread and if they put water on it from outside it may burn Scott and the victim.
Scott grabbed the rope bag and tied it to the four post bed. He picked the woman up and threw her over his shoulder. He jumped out the window just like the rope training he had planned for his crew, that day. But he had never done it with another person on his shoulder. He slid down the rope much faster than he had before. He hit the ground hard and felt his knee pop. He didn't think about his pain he immediately ripped of his mask and gloves. He felt for a pulse and breathing. She was doing both. She was unconscious but alive. The ambulance arrived but there was not a paramedic on board. He was the only paramedic on scene. He gingerly climb into the ambulance, gave her some oxygen and started an IV. They transported to the nearest burn/trauma unit.
During the transport, the woman became more alert. She didn't know what happened but she knew who she was. She said her name was Jeanie and she was getting ready for work. Scott introduced himself but made no mention of the heroic rescue. Once in the hospital, Jeanie was whisked into the trauma unit where a team of experts looked her up and down, ran tests and wanted her to stay overnight, just to make sure things stayed that way.
Scott on the other hand was getting he knee checked out and the doctors noticed that he had some burns on his neck. The weren't extremely bad but they would need some treatment and he had a tear in his MCL. Scott was placed in a room on the burn unit right next to Jeanie.
