-
About two years ago, I was assigned
to Truck 1 on Platoon 3. We received a call for a reported fire
on Craig St. in the area of Petta's restaurant. Upon arrival,
we found heavy fire and smoke coming from the third floor. T-1
set up an aerial pipe operation to protect exposures, and I went
to find the seat of the fire.
I joined up with Tom Lecce and Lt. Steve Ralston, as well as several other fire fighters. We attacked the fire with 2 hand lines. The fire was located in the kitchen and adjoining bedroom, and was really cooking. Very hot, very thick smoke. I knew we were in trouble when I heard Lecce say that maybe we should back up to the landing.
Lecce never backs up.
The Fire had greatly increased
in intensity, and the smoke had begun to bank down. As we backed
towards the stairs, I stayed
behind to make sure everyone was
through the door and into the third floor landing. It was at that
point that I somehow backed past the exit, and became separated
from the group and the hose line. I continued to crawl around
looking for a way out. The smoke was now almost at floor level
and visibility was zero. My ears were beginning to burn - and
that's never a Good Thing. I finally located a wall and stood
up to find I was directly under a window. Looking out I saw DC
Santor and the Chief.
I don't remember what I yelled
but I think it was something like,
" Put up a f---king ladder!!"
Brian Justin and some guys from the local commercial ambulance
service showed up with a 24' job and put it up to the window.
It did not reach. 3 feet short. No problem. I looked back at the
room. It was now fully charged with jet black smoke and flashes
of fire could be clearly seen cutting through the smoke all along
the ceiling. I decided I was leaving, ladder or no ladder.
I remember thinking that I was perfectly happy to jump rather than stay and wait for my turnouts to fail. Anyway, I reached out the window hooked my feet onto the window sill and was able to just grab the top rung of the ladder. Without hesitating I let gravity do its thing and fell head first out the window. But I kept my grip, with help from Scott Doherty, and wound up swinging 180 degrees around and hooking the ladder just behind Scott. In the mean time Lecce, Ralston, Colose, Braungart and Gerfin had made a hasty exit down the stairs with Lecce winding up on the 2nd Floor porch.
I remember the call well because
I could not believe then and still can't believe now that we all
weren't killed. I also remember how strange it was that I was
so willing to jump from the 3rd floor when faced with the prospect
of burning up in that living room. That is a fire call I will
not forget.