FIREMEN'S TEARS

By Canadagal

The fire had been hot and smoky.  All it took was a spark and the whole structure had gone up.  The men worked feverishly trying to douse the already out of control flames. 

A woman ran up to the group.  "My children, they are still in there!" she screamed, hysterically.  They are on the second floor!" she fought against Captain Stanley as he worked hard to keep her from running into the building.

Gage and DeSoto grabbed their gear. 

"How many children are we looking for?" Johnny asked quickly.

"Three. My son is 14 and my twins girls are 5," she sobbed.

There were no more words spoken as they two rescue men ran quickly into the building. 

They fought back against the flames to try and get to the second floor.  It was almost fully engulfed.

Lopez and Kelly were right behind them, offering them as much water coverage as they could.

Johnny and Roy began to check the rooms quickly.  Yelling for the missing children to come out.  Door after door was opened and checked.  The flames were getting hotter and hotter.  The ceiling was becoming dangerously close to collapse.

It was becoming impossible to see with the thickness of the smoke increasing.  The walls were starting to buckle from the joints being weakened.

There were still 4 rooms left to check when the HT cracked, "Engine 51 to HT 51.  Evacuate immediately.  The ceiling is coming down."

"We’re almost done, Cap. Only 4 more rooms to go," Roy yelled into the HT.

"Evacuate immediately.  It’s too late.  Get out, " Cap yelled back, trying to be heard over the roar of the fire.

Johnny and Roy looked at each other, acknowledging the order."10-4, Engine 51, evacuating now," Roy said.

They tapped on Lopez and Kelly's shoulders and yelled, "evacuate now!" The 4 men ran as fast as they could for the doors.

They burst out the front as the building flashed behind them.  They were met with a blast of water, as Stoker was holding a line on them to douse the flames that were licking at their heals.  The four flung themselves to the ground, patting out the flames from their turnouts.

No words were spoken.

They all looked back at the structure as it collapsed onto itself.

The children's mother ran to them. 

"Where are my children.  Where are they?" she screamed.

"We’re sorry," was all Captain Stanley could say, "we couldn't get to them," he said sadly.

The woman collapsed to the ground and was helped away by a concerned neighbor.

The other engines roared onto the site.  The flames were brought under control.  The three children were found in a back bedroom, huddled together.  As they were carried out, the crowd was silent.

Station 51 returned to quarters two hours later, after the fire had been declared out.

They all sat at the kitchen table together.  The room was silent except for the sound of coffee being poured into cups.

Each man looked at each other.  Faces were blank.  Pain evident in their eyes.

Slowly the tears came, silently, without shame, and without reservation. As the men reached out to each other for silent support, the firemen cried.  

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