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INCIDENT TYPE: STRUCTURE FIRE - RESIDENTIAL
BOX AREA: 0412
ADDRESS: 3405 Ronnin Way
CROSS STREETS: E 14TH ST / TELEPHONE RD
MAP GRID: 494-D
DISPATCHED UNITS: - ENGINE 22 (Primary Attack) - LADDER 22 (Search & Rescue) - AMBULANCE 22 (Medical Support)
INCIDENT DETAILS: 911 caller reports heavy black smoke and visible flames coming from all front windows of a ranch-style residential home. Caller states that elderly male and female may still be unaccounted for inside.
As soon as we pull up to the scene, we shift from transit mode to tactical execution as the police break the line to let us through. The thick black smoke, unruly fire, and sounds of shattering glass are clear signs that this fire is out of control. While Jay and Priest size up the structure and start to pull lines, Kyron, Hale, and I exit the engine to go inside, contain the fire, and find the elderly couple believed to be trapped. I’m zoned in and focused until I hear the sultry voice etched in my mind…Enani.
“Oh God! Oh God! Let me through! That’s my grandparents’ house. They’re inside! Let me through!”
Her voice is filled with worry, anguish, fear, and heartache, and it pains me to hear. The people trapped inside are her family. She loves them, I can feel it, and I’m going to save them for her.
Right outside the house, the heat from the fire brushes across my face as I raise my hands and take in some of the fire. Hale and Kyron do the same and reduce the raging flames to a manageable level and enter the house.
“Firefighters! Call out!” I yell and they repeat the same until we finally hear a faint female voice.
“Back here…Oh God,” she says, then coughs. “Help. Help.”
I follow the voices and Kyron and Hale zone in on the other areas of the house. Fire absorption is tricky. While we can take a lot in, there is a such thing as too much and the line is fine. Too much does the opposite of an acceptable amount. The right amount energizes me and heightens all my senses. Too much drains all my energy and has me out of commission for a day or two.
I locate them through the thick smoke and fire in the back right side of the home. They’re both on the floor, backed into a corner, under a mattress. To reach them, I take in more fire and push my way through. There are flames on the mattress, burning it slower than the remainder of the house.
“Hi. I’m Noab, here to get ya’ll out. Can you move?” I ask and she nods. After placing a mask on her face, I explain what I’m going to do. As soon as I tell her she’s going out first, she shakes her head fast. “I’m going to get him too. I’m just taking you first. I’m pretty fast,” I assure her.
Her husband is not in the best condition. The side of the mattress in flames is on his leg and I smell his flesh burning. I don’t want her to see him until I can help.
When she nods, I swiftly lift her and rush her to the EMS. I hear Enani gasp and scream as I rush back into the house.
In the short time I was gone, the mattress has passed the flashover point and is engulfed in flames. I absorb most of it and pull him out. As soon as we are in the back of the house, I let my team know.
Both are out. It’s bad. I have him out back. Send the rain.
As the hoses extinguish the rest of the fire, I place the mask on his face then visually assess his injuries and listen to his heart. His right leg and stomach have serious burns and there are minor ones on his arm. I’m more concerned about his heart though. His heartbeat is weak. He has severe smoke inhalation and it’s obviously straining his heart. When his eyes flutter then open, I explain to him in detail what’s happening.
“You are burnt pretty bad and your heartbeat is faint. I can heal you though, with my blood. Do you want me to do that?” I ask very clearly. Vampire blood has healing agents. If he drinks a little, it will go a long way in saving his life.
Using his non-injured arm, he removes the mask and mumbles, “Yes.”
I protract my fangs, bite my wrist, and position it over his mouth. He drinks my dripping blood, and within seconds, I hear his heartbeat normalizing. His burns start to heal and eyes look less weak.
After pulling my arm back, I let him know that I need to get him to the EMS and he nods. As I carry him to the front of the house, he heals even more. His wife has already been transported to the hospital, so they load him up and take him next.
Both of her grandparents are safe and all the main flames are out. While the guys check for hidden hot spots, remove debris, and use salvage covers to protect any salvageable belongings from water and smoke damage, I go to her. She’s standing right behind the caution tape blocking the street. Her hands are tightly clasped under her chin, tears streaming down her pretty face as she repeats an emotionally charged prayer.
“God, please protect my nana and papa. Let them make it out and be safe. Don’t let anything happen to them. Please protect my—” She stops midsentence when she spots me. Her tear-filled, sad eyes lock with mine and her mouth remains open. “Noab,” she cries. “Oh God. Did you get him out? Are they okay? Please, did you save them both?”
When I’m directly in front of her, I rip the caution tape, nod, then answer. “They are both out and on the way to Regional.”
“Are they okay?”
“Yes. Some smoke inhalation but they’re good.”
