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Relief flooded through her as Michael's voice crackled through the phone. “Michael, it's Liv. I'm on my way. What's happening?”
Michael's response was swift and filled with gravity, his words painting a stark picture of the severity of the situation. “Liv, I've been turned around to the scene. Initial reports indicate that it's bad. Really bad.”
A shiver ran down Olivia's spine at his words. “Understood,” she replied, her tone resolute. “I'll be there as soon as I can. Stay safe.”
As Olivia hung up the phone, her knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, her resolve deepening with each passing moment. With a silent prayer for Jackson's safety, she navigated the streets with unwavering determination. The radio blared, broadcasting the enormity of the emergency response.
First responders scrambled to set up an emergency triage area. The tranquil night was filled with flashing lights, blaring sirens, and the urgent shouts of firefighters and paramedics.
Chief Lamply needed to manage the growing crisis. He swiftly issued orders for a disaster response, calling for additional resources and manpower to assist with the influx of patients expected from the fire.
“Set up triage here!” he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. “We need to prioritize the wounded and get them to safety.”
Responders sprang into action, setting up makeshift triage stations and working tirelessly to assess and treat the injured. Medical personnel rushed from one patient to the next.
Chief Lamply coordinated with Dispatch to request assistance from neighboring hospitals. The number of casualties was far beyond what their local hospital could handle alone. The dispatcher advised devastating news: helicopter response was unavailable due to high wind conditions and the return of heavy rain.
* * *
Through the haze, Engine 3’s company heard faint cries for help above the roar of the flames. Jackson signaled his team to stay tight and follow the sound.
At the walk-in freezers, Jackson's team located a group of ten trapped customers. As Jackson's Firefighter Assist and Search Team approached, smoke billowed around them, obscuring their vision and choking their lungs despite their Paks. But they pressed on, driven by the desperate need to rescue those trapped inside.
Just as they prepared to unleash a deluge of water onto the flames blocking their path, a sudden and alarming issue arose—their hose ran dry.
Jackson's stomach dropped as he watched the once steady stream of water falter and sputter to a stop. Panic surged through the team, their shouts of alarm drowned out by the roar of the fire.
“We're out of water!” one of the firefighters shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
Jackson considered their options. Without water to quench the flames, the fire threatened to consume everything in its path, including them and those trapped inside the freezers.
Luke stepped up to reassure the frightened customers, urging them to stay calm. He backed them into the still cool freezer. “We’re here to get you out.”
Jackson radioed for immediate assistance. “Dispatch, this is Engine 3. We've lost water supply—intervention needed. We've got customers trapped in the freezers, and our air tanks are depleting. We are in the rear of the store by the freezers,” he repeated the location. An intervention request meant firefighters were in danger.
Time moved too slowly. Their trouble continued as the air in their tanks began to dwindle rapidly. As the firefighters anxiously awaited a water supply, tension hung thick in the air like a suffocating blanket. Smoke billowed around them, obscuring their vision and stinging their eyes, while the crackling of flames echoed ominously in the background.
In the midst of the madness, Firefighter Edwin Peeples suddenly staggered, clutching his chest in agony. His face contorted in pain as he struggled to draw breath, each gasp coming harder than the last. Panic rippled through the team as they watched their comrade's distress, their hearts pounding with fear and helplessness.
“Ed,” Jackson cried, rushing to his side as Edwin doubled over in pain. “Hang in there, buddy. Help is on the way.”
But Edwin's condition rapidly deteriorated, his breathing becoming shallower and more labored with each passing moment. His face grew pale, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead as he fought to stay conscious.
“Jackson, take care of my family,” Edwin pleaded as he grasped Jackson's arm with trembling hands. His eyes were filled with fear and desperation.
Jackson's heart clenched at the sight of his friend's suffering, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him. With a heavy heart, he clasped Edwin's hand in his own, offering what little comfort he could amidst the mess surrounding them. He went over the radio, “Mayday, we have a firefighter in need of assistance. Possible heart attack.”
“We'll take care of them, Ed,” Jackson promised, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging within him. “Focus on staying with us, okay? Help is coming, I promise.”
As they waited for assistance, Jackson and the rest of the team rallied around Edwin, offering words of encouragement. Jackson had heard the expression “feeling of impending doom” before. He shared what little air remained in his tank with the struggling firefighter, his focus on keeping both the team and the trapped customers safe.
The situation worsened as distressing updates echoed over the radio—other teams encountered similar issues with water shortages, failed rescues, and the deaths of customers.
Offering some relief, another company arrived with a charged hose line. Jackson wasted no time, swiftly hoisting the ailing firefighter over his shoulders as they made their way out of the freezer, guiding the trapped customers to safety through the corridor of swirling smoke and intense heat dulled by the hose line.
Emerging from the hazardous environment, Jackson swiftly handed over the sick firefighter and the relieved customers to awaiting EMS. He leaned over his friend and squad member. “Ed, you hang in there.”
Twenty-One
