Just Doing Our Job. . .

By Terribv

“It has been an arduous 2 hours as firefighters fought to contain a highly volatile warehouse fire.  The situation was worsened by the fact that so many of Delta Manufacturing’s employees had been inside the building at the time of the fire.  Believing that someone was still inside the inferno two paramedics from Station 51 donned their breathing apparatus, and put their lives on the line once again as they went back inside the burning warehouse.  Shortly after the two men disappeared into the flames, an explosion rocked the building, and all efforts to communicate with the two men using the department’s handy talkies has been unsuccessful.  We will continue to update you as reports become available.  Back to you at the station, Jack.”

“We’re out,” the cameraman shouted as he lowered the camera from his shoulder. 

Christy Matthews looked around for someone that she might be able to get an update from.  So far, the fire department had been closed mouthed about the incident, but she’d been able to ascertain that the missing paramedics were from Station 51.  The department kept saying that they couldn’t comment on the situation, but two men were stuck inside the building and didn’t the public have a right to know who they were?  Didn’t the families of the two men have a right to know that they had loved ones in harm’s way?  Spotting the white helmet of a fire chief, Christy told Mark Winters, her cameraman, that she’d be right back, and casually made her way towards the men huddled around the chief.

Ten-year-old Christopher DeSoto had been watching his favorite Scooby Doo cartoon when Scooby and Shaggy were abruptly cut off.  All of a sudden, the news came on about a big fire.  He wondered if his dad was at that fire, but wished that they’d put Scooby back on.   He was sitting cross legged on the floor and rocked up to his knees to be able to reach the dial to change the channel when the lady said something Station 51.  “Mom,” he called out, but got no answer from his mother.  “Mom,” he hollered much louder, “I think you better come in here.”

Joanne DeSoto stopped in the doorway and leaned against the wall as she wiped her hand on the apron.  “What’s up, Chris.  I’m trying to get dinner started,” she said with a hint of impatience in her voice.

Chris looked over his shoulder and then back at the television.  “There’s a fire and the news lady said something about an explosion and Station 51.”

Joanne’s face paled as her eyes went immediately to the television set only to see Shaggy and Scooby being chased by a ghost. 

“My men want in that building, Chief,” Hank Stanly stated not for the first time.  He was frustrated by the fact that they couldn’t get anyone in yet to search for his two men. 

“I know, Hank, I know, but we have to make sure the building is stable first.  We’ll get your guys in there as soon as I get the okay from Henderson.  It’s his call.  I’m doing all I can.”

Hank Stanley threw his hands up in the air.  “Jesus H. Christ,” he mumbled as he turned his back on his superior officer.  He looked toward his two eager firemen standing at the ready and shook his head.

Christy Matthews perched herself in front of Engine 51.  A bunch of firemen were congregating around the engine, and she wondered why they weren’t doing anything to find the missing men.  Where was this brotherhood everyone was always talking about?

Chet Kelly and Marco Lopez dejectedly removed their helmets and masks.  Chet let loose with a string of curse words that would have made a sailor blush.  “That’s Johnny and Roy in there,” he said as if Marco didn’t know.  “How can they expect us just to sit on our asses out here while Gage and DeSoto are in trouble,” he asked rhetorically.  He didn’t expect an answer and Marco didn’t attempt to give him one.  They passed in front of the engine, and Christy Matthews, as they joined their comrades.

“Chet, what’s the word,” Mike Stoker, Station 51’s Engineer, asked.

“Can’t go in yet,” he replied angrily.

“They’re evaluating stability,” Marco added.

“That’s bullshit,” someone chimed in.  “Henderson doesn’t know shit.”

“He’s a puss.”

“I know we’re all itching to get in there and get to Johnny and Roy, but Henderson can’t risk that building coming down on more of us,” Stoker reasoned.

“Spoken like a future Chief,” another voice cackled.

“But true,” Marco said in his friend’s defense.

Johnny and Roy.  Gage and DeSoto.  Christy Matthews jotted the two names down on her pad.  She passed another fireman.  “Has there been any progress on the rescue of Johnny Gage,” she asked venturing a guess.  “Not yet,” he said as he moved on past her dragging a hose.  He hadn’t even looked at her, but he had validated her information that one of the men was named Johnny Gage and the other must be Roy DeSoto.  She went to find Mark.

Joanne was just beginning to doubt that Chris heard what he thought he had heard when Channel 2 cut back to the reporter on the scene.

“This is Christy Matthews reporting live from the scene of a horrific warehouse fire at Delta Manufacturing in Carson.  Approximately 35 minutes ago two paramedics from Station 51 entered this inferno behind me in search of a missing Delta Employee.  That employee has since been located, but shortly after the two paramedics went into the building an explosion literally rocked the foundation.  All attempts to reach the two men via their hand held radio have gone unanswered.  Channel 2 News has learned that the two missing men are Paramedics, John Gage and Roy DeSoto.  As you can see there is not much activity going on around me as fellow firemen are waiting word on the stability of the building before a search for the two men can begin.  I’m Christy Matthews and we’ll continue to bring you updates from the scene as we get them.”

Joanne sank into the nearest chair.   Roy will be okay.  Roy will be okay.  She knew if she told herself that a hundred times she still couldn’t make herself believe it.  Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of her husband, her friend, her soulmate trapped inside that raging fire.

“Mom?  Is Dad going to die,” Chris asked. 

Joanne looked up at her son.  She hadn’t even realized that he had moved beside her.  Forcing a smile, she assured him that Captain Stanley and the rest of his dad’s friends would do everything they could to make sure that his dad would be okay.  She just wished that she felt the same confidence that she had shown to Chris.

Hank Stanley walked back up to his Battalion Chief again.  “Tell me good news this time, Chief.  It’s been too long as it is,” he stated emphatically.

The Chief’s handy talkie sprang to life and announced that the building was safe to re-enter.  The two men immediately began to put together a search team. 

“Lopez.  Kelly,” he shouted, “let’s go.  You’re with me.” 

Marco and Chet quickly donned their gear and joined their Captain as he continued to give orders to other firemen.   All were eager to get inside and look for their friends.

Christy Matthews watched the search party being formed and wondered what would make these men want to go inside that burning building.  By this time she’d heard numerous men talking about the two missing firemen.  Some knew them, others only knew them by name, but all seemed to want to go into the fire to look for them.   She watched the Captain – she could tell by the white stripe on his helmet – give instruction to the waiting crew.  He seemed to ooze authority, and she doubted that any of these men would do anything other than what he told them to do. 

A commotion closer to the building grabbed her attention.  She shouted for Mark to get his camera rolling and grabbed her mic.  A little voice inside her head toward her something major was happening.   She gestured for Mark to follow her as she made her way closer.  She heard people cheering and saw some of the search group sprint towards the building.  She made sure Mark was capturing what was unfolding and looked back at the building.  Two men using each other for support were emerging from the fire.  She watched amazed as they stumbled forward seemingly through the flames and into the arms of the other fireman.

“This is Christy Matthews coming to you live from Delta Manufacturing.  We’ve been following this horrendous fire all afternoon, and are happy to report that John Gage and Roy DeSoto, two Paramedics who were missing after a massive explosion, have made their way out of the building.  For almost an hour, firemen were unable to re-enter the building to search for the Paramedics due to uncertainty regarding the structure of the building.  Just when word came down that it was safe to go inside, Gage and DeSoto made their own way out of the flames to the waiting arms of their fellow firemen.”

Joanne couldn’t stop the tears from streaking down her face as she watched her husband walking out of that fire.  Granted he and Johnny were leaning heavily on each other, but they were walking!  And then the camera panned in closer and she could see Hank, and Chet, and Marco racing toward them.  Hank tried to take hold of Roy, but he seemed not to want to let go of Johnny.  The camera zoomed in on Roy’s face as he finally let go of John to Chet and Marco, and pulled his helmet and mask off his face.  He was covered in soot but he was smiling.  Her heart jumped at the sight.  She could see him exchanging words with Hank, and then he glanced back over to Johnny as the camera panned back out. 

“Mom,”  Chris shouted, “Dad’s okay.  Dad’s okay.”  He looked back at his mother.  “Don’t cry, Mom, he’s okay.”

Joanne wiped her tears on her apron.  “These are happy tears, Chris.  Very happy tears,” she said.

The reporter came back on the screen.

“… As you can tell, a very happy scene has just unfolded here in Carson.  Two paramedics missing in today’s fire have walked out of the still burning structure on their own accord.  It was joyous reunion with the fellow firemen who were unable to enter the unstable building to look for them.  Here they come now, let’s see if we can get a word with one of them.

Sir, I’m Christy Matthews with Channel 2, can you tell our viewers what happened to you in there?”

Roy stopped briefly and gave the woman a small smile.  “Just doing our jobs, Ma’am,” he replied as he continued on his way.

“Well, there you have it folks.  Just another day for the men of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  This is Christy Matthews signing off.”

Mark signaled that they were off and Christy turned to watch the two firemen. Just doing our jobs, he'd said. She hardly thought so.  How could a man who'd been stuck inside a burning building for almost an hour say he was just doing his job. What could possibly make him want to do this job? Hmm, she thought, how can I sell this to my producer?

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