| ...The Intrepid Firefighter Always Fight Fire With | | | | phone, so they are all hanging in there. But, |
| Fired-up Courage | | | | hurry--you'll have to go up the stairs. The elevator |
| Just as firefighter Jimmy Santos closes his weary | | | | is out of service." Wasting no time, Jimmy puts |
| ash-colored eyes and places his head on the | | | | on his gas mask and rushes into the building with |
| narrow cot in his lower Manhattan firehouse, the | | | | an extinguisher, a few of his fellow firefighters |
| sirens began to wail. He immediately jumps up and | | | | right behind him. The others douse the building's |
| reaches for his fire-proof coat, hastily throwing it | | | | exterior with the truck's hoses and set up a |
| on over the rest of his uniform, one that still | | | | safety net, in case anyone needs to jump. He |
| reeks of smoke from the office complex that | | | | reaches the third floor in a matter of seconds and |
| was ablaze just hours before. He slides down his | | | | surges through the office, his heart pounding. |
| firehouse's pole, picks up the remainder of his | | | | "Christine, can you hear me?" he yells, as he pulls |
| gear, and joins the rest of his company, who are | | | | the pin from the fire extinguisher and begins |
| clambering onto their fire truck. | | | | trying to put out the blaze. He can't see a thing, |
| "Where's the fire?" Jimmy asks, as the truck's red | | | | including his guys--the smoke is just too thick. |
| lights begin swirling. | | | | Why isn't anyone answering, he wonders, |
| "Over on 13th and Sixth," his Captain replies. Why | | | | panicking. Beams above him start to shake, and |
| does that location sound familiar, Jimmy wonders. | | | | he realizes he does not have much time. Heading |
| Sixth and 13th, he says to himself, trying to jog | | | | in the direction of the greatest heat, he nearly |
| his memory, which has been kind of foggy of late. | | | | stumbles on four crouched bodies. He touches |
| Four major fires in two days will do that, he | | | | what looks like Christine's blond head, and her |
| knows. | | | | petrified eyes look up at him. "Jimmy! Thank God!" |
| "Is the ARA Corporation at 13th and Sixth?" he | | | | "We have to move fast," he urges, as he |
| yells above the clamor, coming to his senses. | | | | instructs Christine's three co-workers to move |
| "Yeah, apparently something in their kitchen | | | | behind him while he and the other firefighters fight |
| caught on fire," the captain shouted back. "Most | | | | the flames that have practically filled the office's |
| of the employees evacuated, but a few people | | | | kitchen. As soon as Jimmy sees a window, he |
| are stuck there." | | | | proceeds to open it and sticks his head out, |
| "Oh, no. That's where my brother's wife, Christine, | | | | looking for the safety net below. He spots it as |
| works!" Jimmy exclaims. He doesn't mention that | | | | his company sees him at the window. Jimmy |
| she's also pregnant. He needs to stay focused on | | | | signals them to place the net directly below him. |
| rescuing all individuals and stabilizing the building. | | | | He then guides the three businessmen, who are |
| Since 9/11 and the horror that he witnessed and | | | | coughing heavily, to the window, and tells them |
| survived as he watched the Twin Towers fall, he | | | | how and where they must jump. At the same |
| is still having a hard time concentrating. You need | | | | time he lifts Christine, who is clutching her belly |
| to focus, he reminds himself, as he feels his head | | | | and staggering. "We're all going to get out of here |
| begin to throb. His brother needs his help. Maybe I | | | | fine!" he shouts to everybody. "Let's go!" And |
| should call him, Jimmy thinks fleetingly. No, that | | | | down the stairs Jimmy and Christine go, while the |
| would worry him more. He decides that he'll find | | | | rest of the firefighters help the businessmen, who |
| Christine and bring her home to the small Cape | | | | are about to jump into the safety net below. |
| Cod house she and his brother just moved into, a | | | | Two minutes later, Jimmy and Christine are safely |
| few streets away from his own duplex where he | | | | outside. After placing Christine on the gurney |
| lives, upstairs from his parents. Think good | | | | provided by the ambulance corps, who then take |
| thoughts, he says to himself. | | | | her to the hospital to check on her and the baby, |
| The smell of smoke reaches Jimmy's nostrils, and | | | | Jimmy runs around the corner, soot flying from |
| he turns his head up. He can see the flames | | | | his normally jet-black hair. He breathes a sigh of |
| clearly, as they begin to engulf what looks to be | | | | relief upon seeing the safety net in place and |
| the third floor. As soon as the fire truck pulls up | | | | learning that everyone landed OK. He then |
| alongside the six-story building, Jimmy looks | | | | stumbles to the nearest pay phone, calls his |
| quickly at the evacuees congregated across the | | | | brother, and lets him know that Christine will be all |
| street. No Christine. "How many are missing?" he | | | | right as well. It's this bravery, unselfishness, and |
| asks the police officer waiting for them. | | | | respect for humanity that makes Jimmy and all |
| "Looks like three men and one pregnant woman," | | | | the other firefighters worthwhile persons in more |
| the policewoman replies. "They are stuck in the | | | | ways than a million! |
| kitchen and have been communicating via cell | | | | |
