Page 8 of Burning for the Truth

Chief answers, “Ten-four. Keep your eyes open and be careful. Remember your training.”

Instead of talking, we preserve the air in our tanks as we continue to search. We stay low as we look through every room on the first floor carefully, and we only have about twenty minutes left on our tanks once we’re done. It’s getting hot. The fire is out of control, meaning the house is unstable. We hear something creaking and look up to see the second floor falling on top of us with no time to move.

Everything goes black for what I think is a few minutes, but I can still hear the fire raging around me. When my vision returns, I’m disoriented. I feel heat searing me as well as pain in my left arm and leg. I try to move and find I’m pinned. How much time has passed since the collapse?

I can’t move my left leg or my left arm. I glance around and see Drew lying under the same beam I’m under, but it’s across his back. I manage to get my right arm up to my shoulder to key up my radio.“Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Drew and I are both down and pinned on D side!”I set my personal alarm off so when the others come for us, they’ll know where we are.

Once I’ve done that, I know we don’t have much time. I glance around me trying to get my bearings. “Drew! Can you hear me, buddy? Are you okay? Talk to me!” He doesn’t answer at first as I try to free myself. He’s on his stomach, still clutching his Halligan.

I scream to keep from passing out as I try to pull my arm out from the beam. When I finally do, I see why I felt searing pain in it. The pick end of my Halligan is lodged in my arm under my left shoulder. I know better than to try to remove it. My leg is a no go. I can’t get any movement and this room keeps heating up.

Drew finally lifts his head slightly. “I’m here, man. But I don’t think I’m gonna make it out of this one. I can’t feel my legs. And we don’t have much…much time,” he says through coughs.

“Hey, no. You’re getting out of this. And we’ll get through whatever comes next together. Don’t give up, Drew! Do you hear me?” I shout.

He laughs the best he can before coughing again. “I hear you, and I’m not giving up, but Iambeing logical.”

I hear shouts getting closer. “Listen, that’s Slade and Alex. They’re getting us out. Both of us.”

He coughs again. “Dean.” I still struggle to get my leg free.

“Yeah, buddy,” I answer.

He lifts his head to stare at me. “I need you to do something for me.” I stop moving.

“Anything.” I’m all ears, making sure he knows he has my attention.

“I need you to tell Briella I love her and I’m sorry I broke my promise. Tell her there’s something for her in the top drawer of my dresser.” He coughs again and I can tell he’s fading. “Take care of her for me. Please…let her know I love her and I’m sorry I couldn’t…I couldn’t keep my promise.”

My heart lurches into my throat. “Drew, you listen to me! I promise, but you’re going to tell her those things. Do you hear me? Don’t you dare give up!” He doesn’t answer me. “Drew!” He lifts his hand to let me know he hears me, but he’s continuing to fade.

“Dean! Drew!” Alex and Slade shout as they reach us. They’re able to lift the beam enough for me to slide out. Then they lift it off Drew and I slide over and pull him out from it, feeling the muscles rip in my left arm. They can’t get us both out right now because I can’t walk.

“Take him!” I shout. “I’ll start pulling myself behind you!” Alex hesitates. “Go!” I bark.

They carry Drew out carefully as I start to slowly pull myself behind them. I can feel burning pain on my leg from where the burning beam was on me for so long. If my leg is burned, I know Drew is burned far worse. After about five minutes, Slade and Alex come back for me, and we all exit the house. Multiple ambulances are on scene. Drew is being shut into one, and then they drive away running lights and sirens.

“How…how was he?” I ask trying to catch my breath as I rip off my helmet and mask the best I can with my right hand.

Alex won’t meet my stare, and Slade’s expression is grim. “It’s not good, brother.” I shake my head.

“No. He’s gotta be okay.” My heart is racing as I see Sterling running toward me.

“Dean!” he shouts as he gets closer. “What happened?” EMS personnel are trying to load me in the back of their rig so they can stabilize my arm until we get to the hospital to have the Halligan safely removed.

“We were searching the bottom floor and the last room we were in…the second floor came down on us. We were both pinned… Drew, he…it’s bad.” I hang my head.

Sterling grabs my right shoulder. “Hey…he’s in good hands.” He stays by my side as Hart joins him. He says something quietly to Hart as they secure me in the ambulance. Hart nods and claps Sterling on the shoulder before walking off. Then Sterling climbs in as the paramedic closes the doors.

“You didn’t think you were going alone, did you?” He smirks at me even though his eyes are filled with worry. I smile back through the pain starting to take hold of me as the adrenaline wears off.

“You should call Bree. She needs to know he’s at the hospital,” I almost whisper, my heart full of dread.

He nods. “I will, but let’s get you settled first.”

After arriving at the hospital, they got me through triage quickly and took me to surgery for my arm and leg. That’s all I remember. I’m beginning to wake up now. I slowly open my eyes and blink against the fluorescent lights overhead. I hear beeping and glance over to see my parents dozing off in chairs by the window.

I shift and feel sharp pain down the left side of my body. My movement alerts my mom. “Oh, Dean.” She stands and turns to wake my father and he stands with her.

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