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Here are some facts about fires:
The elements fuel, oxygen, and heat are what's needed to make a fire burn.
Most house fires start in the kitchen; often the cause is overheated grease.
Inhaling the smoke is what causes more people to die, not the flames.
The color blue is the hottest part of the flame. Next is white, followed by red, which the coolest part.
Like many, firefighters are afraid of failure. In these situations, there is no redo, no time to think clearly. In an emergency you have to make the right judgement, and ensure everyone's safety, the what-ifs swimming through your mind and playing out so many scenarios. What if you arrived a minute too late to save someone? What if you made the wrong call and costed another firefighter's life? What if you couldn't save the day?
It's around 5:30 a.m. that Andy Fowler usually wakes up, somewhat bleary-eyed when he showers, gets dressed, drinks tea, then heads off to work. The routine is like clockwork to him, and he'll be one of the early ones at the fire station.
So it makes him surprised that particular day when he sleeps in through his alarm.
Of course, last night's events are the probable cause, not that he really wants to remember it all. It's a mistake, and he sighs, a bit wistful. Under different circumstances, he supposes he'll be happier about it.
He turns his phone alarm off. He isn't that late, but it will require a ten-minute morning preparation, so that's a no to a shower and tea.
He stumbles out of bed, and runs a hand through his hair that seems to never want to cooperate on its own. He hurriedly brushes his teeth, all the while searching for his car keys, a task proven to be difficult when he looks at the state of his messy home.
Pants, right, he should probably put on pants. He should also probably do the laundry, throwing a wary glance to the piling heap.
It can only go up from here, he thinks, but that's sort of a lie, and he quickly rinses out the toothpaste in the kitchen sink.
The keys are found on the kitchen table, beside a half-empty mug of tea made from last night.
Andy grabs the keys and makes his way out the door, into his grey Honda Civic, whom he's dubbed as Frodo (not that he's revealed this to anyone, he doesn't want to seem that nerdy), and, okay, maybe he speeds though a yellow light, but the only witness is a blue jeep blaring out some loud, godawful song about a guy who lost his turtle. The melody is now stuck in his head. Stupid catchy song.
While some people speed through yellow lights, Andy can't remember the number of times he'll accompany Amy, and the police officer will remind him of all the traffic laws and regulations to follow. Mostly to annoy him. Andy sort of gears it in his head to drive like Little Miss Daisy just to please Amy. It's a good thing they're dating now, or Andy's pretty sure he'll have multiple warnings and being pulled over, as that was Amy's way of flirting (unlike asking him out for coffee, like a sane person).
He sees the turnoff to his workplace, and upon entering the grey concrete and masonry building, finds his coworkers shuffling along, the atmosphere easygoing in the morning. He heads to the gear room to do his routine inspection. The door opens, and he searches to see Jack Duff, the Irishman giving a quizzical look.
"You're here later than usual," Jack observes, though his tone isn't accusatory.
"Look who's talking." Andy smiles, because out of them all, Jack's likely the one who'll take any opportunity for a nap.
"We have the new recruit today," Jack says.
Andy clicks his tongue. He isn't annoyed, but that means they will need to train a probie; a new firefighter. He often finds them overeager, and distracted by everything. It's tradition to haze or make it difficult for candidates. They need people thick-skinned. If people are too on-guard and serious, then they're difficult to work with. "Who's training with him?"
"Captain said she'd want you to."
"But I'm not the lieutenant." Andy gives a pointed look.
"Yeah, but we all know that he'll be terrified by Beaumont."
Andy laughs under his breath. "Right. Because Rye's so intimidating." He has to admit, the first time he met Rye Beaumont, it wasn't at all a good first impression. Rye isn't scary, but really knows how to push people's buttons. On the job, you're forced to get along. They place their lives in each other's hands numerous times, and Andy realizes Rye isn't so much of a prick. They're all like family, and growing up without any siblings, he appreciates the camaraderie.
"His name's Brooklyn Gibson Wyatt," Jack continues, "or something like that. He's nice, super enthusiastic. Like high on endorphins personality."
"No surprise, everyone acts like that in their month." Andy grins teasingly. "Remember your first day? You acted so nervous, I think you followed me around the whole day asking questions."
"Hey," Jack protests, slightly embarrassed. "I don't think anyone acts chill on their first day."
"True. Rye wore his PPE on wrong his first day." Andy shakes his head in memory. Rye acts sort of cocky, yet there will always be that nervousness going into a job, with new people to work with. He has to admit, throughout his time working at Station 16, Rye is a natural leader, and knows how to plan ahead. There was the recklessness part, but that's what makes some good calls. Being on the front line, first response team, it doesn't do any good to risk firefighter lives, though Rye brazenly faces danger head on while Andy will usually be the one who has to cover for him.
Andy makes his way to the station's lower floor, Jack following suit, to where the engines are stationed. Since Andy is the driver engineer, he has to ensure the vehicle is in proper shape, and all of the equipment is cleaned and maintained. Each have their assigned tasks, and they can help each other out, and alternate, as long as it gets the job done. He finds Harper Hunt and the rookie standing by the truck.
"Hey!" Andy calls. Harper and the new guy almost in unison sheepishly straighten up, as if they're caught whispering in class by the teacher.
"I'm Brooklyn Gibson Avraam Creaven Kleanthos Wyatt," the guy says, without a short of breath. He wears a easygoing smile, brown hair cropped short, almost military style.
Andy wonders if Brooklyn is joking, but just goes along with it. (Is it even possible for a person to have that many names?) "Nice to meet you, I'm Andy Fowler. This is Jack Duff."
"Yeah, we met earlier! Me and Jack," Brooklyn clarifies.
Jack gives a slight nod in affirmation.
"So, uh, I'm sure Hunt here already showed you the ropes?" Andy hedges.
"Yeah! We were just admiring this bad boy." Brooklyn beams. "Do we get to use the fire pole?"
"We're sort of banned from it. It's reserved for special days." The energy radiated from the candidate makes Andy want to grin. In some shape or form, they'll always act the same. Even Rye had the question about the fireman's pole, and downcast upon hearing the same news. Whatever makes them come to this job, it's almost the inner kid in them, thinking of the flashy red fire engines, the sirens, and the heroics of it all. "So, you probably know that Beaumont's the lieutenant--"
"Beaumont's out for today," Harper says.
Andy frowns. "Why is Beaumont away?"
Harper shrugs, and before there is further explanation, an alarm blares overhead, leaving them all attentive. A voice announces over the intercom, Accident. Building fire, 117 Franklin Street, ambulance 16, engine 18.
Their captain, Sarah Lowe, enters. Mikey Cobban races in, accompanied by Sonny Robertson, the two recent firefighters at Station 16 that year. "Everyone! Get your gear and move out! Fowler will be acting captain for this one, Duff as acting lieutenant."
They quickly assemble, Andy feeling the familiar weight of the gear and the ease into the engine. He has Duff beside him as driver, and Hunt in the back as the deckie.
Andy wonders why Rye's away, and why he'll be filling in as captain when Lowe is here. Was this some kind of surprise test?
"Yes! I get to blare the siren!" Jack's green eyes light up in excitement, clutching the wheel as if it's his birthday.
Andy hides a smile as they drive out. It feels wrong to feel this rush of exhilaration, since buildings are on fire, and civilian's lives are at stake. But the rush that they get, it's incomparable to any other job. Whenever people ask why Andy wants to face danger everyday, he honestly doesn't know. Maybe it's the idea of putting your life on the line like that; being a part of something bigger than yourself.
"Ambulance 16 responding," Andy reports over the radio.
"Copy that."
Once they arrive to the location, Andy surveys the scene, checking for external hazards. They're at the rundown part of the neighborhood, and the residents are already standing outside. The dilapidated flat is several stories high, and flames fan out from the top westside window. Structure fire, fire resistive, concrete and steel, the information filters through his mind, giving a reminder of those days back at the fire academy where he'd open his textbook and memorize up until the crack of dawn.
"Cobban, check the elevators. Robertson, Duff, vent the roof. Wyatt, Hunt, and I at the top and work our way down, clear the doors. Lowe--" Andy hesitates, it being rare to give orders to the usual captain.
"I'll gather a report from the police," Lowe supplies. "And I'll give the sign when the fire can be contained."
As each race to their given positions, Andy scans the area on the top floor, vaguely impressed that the new guy easily keeps up with them. The heavy smoke clouds his vision, walking in blindly, and the sound of cracking and popping makes his pulse race, full-on concentration mode. No matter how many times they did this, it will always be different. Since they never know what they're dealing with, or the exact layout of the building, their senses are critical, and the adrenaline helps them.
Lowe keeps with the updates. None of the inhabitants have been reported missing. Andy and his team survey the hallways and close doors and windows when needed, so the fire won't have any oxygen to burn. Hopefully the fire stays where it is--a direct attack on it should suffice.
"Roof is open," Duff's voice comes over the walkie.
Arriving closer to the lower floor of the building, Andy knocks on a door. "Fire department! Anyone here?" Andy checks into a room, and strains his ears for any voice calling out. He glances beside for Wyatt, but finds no one. "Wyatt? Wyatt!" He makes his way to a room. A door is slightly ajar. "Wyatt!"
Panic runs through Andy. He can't see much through the damn smoke. He prays the warning bell on his air tank doesn't go off.
"Hunt," he says over the radio. "Is the probie with you?"
He's met with silence. Scanning through the last of the doors, he races down to the first level. Approaching from the left side, that's when the sound of an explosion goes off, causing disorientation. Andy nearly blacks out from the jarring impact, the debris and the heat surrounding him. Something combustible must have been from a floor above... He isn't sure how, when the fire's contained on the top floor. Was it possible that something set off another fire?
The sound on his tank reminds him to go outside. Andy blindly trudges his way through. He finds plaster and drywall, where there's a lot of smoke and dust. That's equally dangerous, and Andy isn't sure he can escape through.
Stumbling through the detritus, the light goes off on his breathing mask, warning him of the limited time. He nearly trips over something, and he slowly lowers to the ground. He taps around, feeling the familiarity of gear like his. Inspecting, he finds Harper, who is half crushed under the plaster, maybe falling from the floor above. Andy yanks the plaster off, hoping Harper is still conscious.
"Hunt? Are you with me? Hunt!" Andy swears under his breath, the man unresponsive. He checks through the ABCs, and blinks. He finds a faint pulse, but knows they need to move out quickly. He's lost Wyatt, and now Hunt's injured, it almost makes his anxiety go crazy.
"Mayday, mayday, mayday!" he shouts over the radio, though it's pure static, and he desperately glances to the nearest exit. He hopes that the Rapid Intervention Team is already on their way, he isn't sure, the signal quite poor.
He rises while half supporting Harper, and isn't sure he can make them out alive. He drags Harper with him. All he can feel is the heat consuming everything, and by now he's running out of air. They have five, six minutes, tops. His worst fear is confirmed when he sees that the fire has spread.
He recalls another mission, when he and Rye were trapped in an infrastructure building. They ran out of the compressed air, after doing buddy breathing. They had to go low to the ground, since the air was cooler and cleaner there, while using their sleeves over their faces as protection. They stayed still for what felt like eternity. They trusted that someone would come rescue them, and that was something Andy never wanted to go through again. The moment where he feels like there is nothing left but a dim flicker of hope that they are saved in time. It's being utterly defenseless, and so fucking terrified that they're going to die.
Andy read somewhere that the leading cause of death for firefighters was cancer. With the dust that settles in their lungs, the exposure to the chemicals, the asbestos, the fumes--it's killing them slowly. Though in this case, it's not from cancer, or a heart attack, or even old age, it's the very thing they're meant to combat; and even though the risks are always high, Andy likes to believe he won't die while on the job.
It takes awhile for Andy to follow a light, not fire, but the bright shine of white, and he wonders if it's a trick of the mind. He sees Brook and Mikey emerge wearily.
"Fovvs!" the nickname slips out from Mikey, and he helps support Harper from the other side.
The relief that floods through Andy is short-lived. They're all struggling with their air supply.
"Other end," Mikey manages. "Huge barrier, the fire is right above us."
"Okay." Andy quickly leads them forward, almost a dizzying effort, as there is a lot of chaos happening.
They go into a room, the flat still neat and evidence of people who live there, with the silverware set out on the table and pictures hanging on the mantel. It's strange, how much you can tell about a person from their room.
Andy scrambles to find a wall, hitting against it, questioning its durability. The building shouldn't be that sturdy, based on its exterior. Searching to where the outside would be, he finally rests on a spot. Cobban and Wyatt wisely back up to give him space, supporting Hunt between them. Andy uses his air-tank, and with all of his strength, swings it, to bust open a hole in the wall.
Wyatt springs forward and quickly helps make their escape route wider, and when they finally reach outside, the EMS rush over to them, Duff and Robertson leading them.
Andy takes off his breathing mask that's useless at this point. He crouches to the ground, coughing violently. The air is overwhelming, his senses fucked up. Someone yanks him up by his elbow, and places the mask over to help him breathe.
Once Andy regains his bearings, he sees that the second fire ambulance has commenced putting the fire out, and he can't bring himself to look anyone in the eye. He's supposed to be the acting captain, and they barely survived. He's frustrated at himself, and when he sees Harper being checked in the back of the ambulance, he holds his breath. While Harper will likely make it, Andy has an unsettling feeling.
"And." Jack places a hand on Andy's shoulder, eyes full of worry. "The explosion that happened was random. Someone must've accidentally left their chemical cleaner by a heat source--That's what triggered the second fire. You guys would've died if you didn't get out when you did."
Andy stares numbly at the scene. "I nearly got us killed."
"No, you didn't."
"Jack," Andy argues. He's still trying to absorb what just happened.
"Andy," Jack returns knowingly, "shut up. We're all alive."
Andy somewhat registers the words. He knows Jack is trying to make the situation lighter. The loss of a firefighter is tough; they're a team based on trust and respect, and Andy knows that the team trust him, and he trusts them. So when you let someone down, it's basically losing that.
Andy looks away, knowing perfectly well when he gets home, he'll breakdown. He'll think of everything that went wrong that day, how he isn't meant to be captain, how he could he screw up something so, so simple. It's his fault; he thought he could do this, and clearly he didn't. Mostly it's the guilt over Harper being hospitalized, that he almost failed the mission, and how he knows he shouldn't have brought the probie along, it was best to team Wyatt and Duff on the roof, clear out of direct danger.
Once the scene is cleared, and the fire is fully put out, the ride back to the station is quiet.