Rescued Hearts (Hero Series) (12 page)

“I don’t have the desire to be a senior reporter because that would mean more hours chasing stories and less time with my husband. I don’t want a nanny because I don’t want a stranger raising our child, that’s my responsibility. And I definitely don’t want to wait 4 years to have our first child.

Tom looked as if a heavy burden was placed on his shoulders, “Sounds like you want to be a house wife and if that’s right, we’d lose a lot of income. We need to be realistic about this.”

“If we’re going to realistic about this, we shouldn’t even be looking at homes in Tinley Park. We’ll just be working to pay for our lifestyle with very little money left over for any investments or savings. We would become slaves to that home.”

“But between what we both make, we’ll have a huge down payment?”

Susan didn’t respond other than let out a deep breath.
This just doesn’t feel right anymore!

Tom wondering what happened to the Susan he knew. “What do you see for us?”

“Tinley Park is very nice, but maybe we could find something closer, in this neighborhood maybe?” Tom stays silent but thinking
the Susan I knew and loved died in that fire. I don’t recognize her anymore.

Susan was excited on her first day of riding with the guys of Engine Company 43 especially to see Nick in action again. She arrived at 7:45 am during the stations shift change and James was already waiting for her in front of the station house. They both walked in together after being buzzed in, she quickly gravitated towards Nick, Mike and Alex. She told them how wonderful it was to physically experience the rescue of  the 2 window washers and how James caught the live coverage of the event. Then she heard the captain taking roll call and she and James automatically stepped to the side beginning to observe. During roll call the captain officially welcomed and introduced both Susan and James informing the station’s crew that for the next 3 days Susan and James would be riding, observing and filming a special segment for News 7 to show viewers what the firefighting world was truly like.

Her perception was that life at the station was pretty laid back until some emergency developed. She quickly realized her perception couldn’t be any further from the truth. Shortly after roll call, Susan and James followed the captain to his office where they could begin with an interview. With James filming, Susan began the interview asking, “Captain Miller, would you please run down what a typical day for a firefighter would look like?” Susan asked.

“A typical day doesn’t exist in the firefighting world, but let’s assume there were no emergencies on a given day, a 24 hour shift with Engine Company 43 would consist of the following,

8am: roll call where everyone receives their assignments for the day.

8:15am: Everyone verifies that every piece of equipment is fully operational including each fire engine while the captain logs personnel, verifies any training or inspection schedules for the day and perform admin duties.

9:30am: Like any other home, a fire station is our 2
^nd
home and we perform cleaning duties at this time.

10am: Workout time to stay in shape and maintain a level of fitness.

11am: This hour is usually filled for miscellaneous errands, for example, grocery shopping, loading up the fire truck with gas, picking up any medical supplies.

12pm: Lunch.

1pm: Our largest block of time till 5pm, is for any scheduled training events, business inspections or station maintenance. A training event could cover firefighting techniques, dealing with hazardous materials, updating paramedic skills or learning specialized rescue techniques. A fire engine company was responsible for 100 or more business inspections a year.

5pm: Any unfinished business interrupted by an emergency call is handled and completed during this hour as well as preparing dinner.”

However what Susan experienced from visiting the fire house in the late afternoon hours, was if Nick or Alex had a special dinner in mind and the schedule allowed it, they would begin cooking before 5pm.

Captain Miller continued, “6pm: Dinner time. 7pm: Clean the kitchen, dishes, study for any upcoming exams and general downtime.

11pm: Bed time.

7:30am: Anyone leaving their shift takes this time to share any important information about the fire engines, any equipment or any general information pertaining to the station house. When at 8am we have roll call etc., etc. but you’ll soon see that everything I just mentioned isn’t set in stone.

After hearing what a 24 hour shift consisted of both Susan and James were amazed at the level of detail and discipline that goes on in a fire station. It seemed no different as if one were serving in the military. They both discovered a new found respect for firefighters. While still filming the captain, Susan asked, “What would you say are the majority of your calls?”

“Medical assistance makes up about 70 percent of our calls.” The captain replied.

“Are you given any information before leaving the station to respond to an emergency?”

“The code will tell you if it’s a medical, fire, or rescue call, but you never really know what you’ll get on a call until you’re on the scene.”

fire alarm rings
.

“Looks like you’re getting some action your first day after all. This one’s a rescue call. Follow me please.” The captain said.

As we approached the accident scene the captain noticed it was a three car collision. Two cars were on the side but one was on the train tracks. Captain Miller grabbed his radio and contacted the emergency dispatch office. “Engine 43 to Dispatch. We have a three vehicle accident with possible entrapment. 1 vehicle is on the train tracks. Notify the train dispatcher to stop all trains on this line.”

“10-4 engine 43. Will advise on confirmation, over.” The emergency dispatch operator said.

“Copy that.” Captain Miller replied.

A crowd of spectators had already formed in the area. The trucks stopped and we all got out. Susan asked James to start filming as they followed the Captain. “Alex, check the folks in car # 1; see if they need any medical attention. Troy, do the same for car #2. Mike get the cutter; Nick your with me,” the captain said as they walked to the 3
^rd
vehicle sitting on the train tracks.

“Please step away from the vehicle and off the tracks.” Nick told the onlookers as they approached the car. It was an older couple, probably in their early sixties who were driving a small economy car. The captain asked Nick to check the passenger while he spoke to the driver. The driver didn’t wait for the captain to ask anything. “I can’t move at all. My legs are pinned” The driver said.

“Captain Miller, Chicago fire department. We’ll get you and you wife out of there in a moment sir.”

Nick looked at the captain and said, “She’s got a pulse but not responding.”

“Check for gas leakage.” The captain said.

Troy reported, “Folks in car #1 checked out fine, just shaken up.”

“Good. Grab the 2
^nd
cutter and bring it here.” The captain said.

“No gas leakage. We’re good for the cutters.” Nick said.

“Sir, You’re going to hear some loud sounds in a moment. That’s just us cutting the doors to get you both out. OK?” The captain asked the driver.

“Alright.” The driver said.

Captain motioned for Mike to start cutting the door frame on the passenger side when a bad situation had suddenly become much more complicated.

HORN, HORN

A freight train was heading there way but because the tracks were at an angle, there was no way the train conductor would be able to see them until it was too late. Captain Miller immediately grabbed his radio, “Dispatch, this is engine company 43. Inform the train dispatcher to stop all trains on this track. We have a car on the tracks.”

“Company 43. Unable to reach train dispatcher at this time.” The emergency dispatcher said.

Fire truck #1 was the closest and so was Troy. The captain yelled, “Troy, forget the 2
^nd
cutter and grab the winch. Hook it up to the rear frame of the car. Fast! While Troy did what the captain ordered he told Mike to clear all the onlookers from behind Truck #1. He then ordered Nick to get into Truck #1 and rewind the winch on his signal.

Throughout the rescue attempt, James had been filming. When Susan overheard that the train dispatcher couldn’t be reached she grabbed James’s arm to get his attention and she pointed to where she wanted him to stand and film. Getting a wide angle view of truck #1 on the left side, the car that needed rescuing on the right and the view of the freight train that would be appearing shortly. Her heart beating rapidly, Susan feared tremendously for the couple in the car.

HORN, HORN

That train was sounding closer thought Nick. “All done captain!” Troy yelled.

HORN, HORN

Standing next to Truck # 1, the captain gave Nick the signal to reverse the winch. It was working but not fast enough. The winch was straining. The front portion of the car still remained on the tracks.

“Nick, lock the winch.” The captain yelled.

HORN, HORN, HORN, HORN

Turning the bend of the tracks, the train conductor saw the catastrophe that lay ahead and immediately pulled the brake lever to stop. Hearing the sound of screeching steel as the train attempted to stop, all the train conductor could do was close his eyes and wait for impact. There wasn’t enough length on the tracks to stop in time.

“Reverse now.” The captain yelled.

Flooring the gas on Truck # 1, Nick pulled the car off the track immediately with the freight train narrowly missing the car’s front bumper.

“Tell me you got all that?” Susan asked.

“I got it! I can’t believe how close that was. The news stations going to love this.” James said in relief.

The captain went to check on the trapped driver and asked, “Are you OK?”

“Yes. Thank you. Can you get us out now?” the driver asked.

“Absolutely.” The captain said. “Troy, Mike, cut them out.”

Jumping out of truck #1, Nick looked at Susan who seemed to be a few shades lighter in her face and smiled at her. Susan walked towards him with her hand over her heart and letting out a sigh of relief, stated she was glad that was over. When she was in front of him she said, “What an adrenaline rush! That was fantastic! You were fantastic!”