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He chuckled at that one, then sent the fireman emoji, along with a flexed bicep and a flame. Then he drew in a steady breath, and texted, Wanna be my date for the wedding? Give the town something to talk about?
They’d given up keeping their relationship to themselves. Between the firehouse and the Blue Drake bar, that would be impossible. But hanging out at Mariano’s was one thing; going to a wedding together would mark them as a real couple.
You mean, besides the town’s first same-sex firehouse wedding?
Plz, not even shocking anymore.
But an interracial rebound is?
Doubt it. But Kendra and Jason might be.
You seriously want to go pubic?
He burst out laughing, and was still chuckling when she sent the followup, PUBLIC!!! Geez.
I always want to go pubic with you, baby.
Shut up. Can’t stop laughing. Gotta go.
He did too; the tone was sounding—a call was coming in. Structure fire at 2400 Bailey Drive. Three-alarm fire.
Shit. He knew that address. The Lake Bittersweet Home for Seniors was located there. A fire at a nursing home could be a disaster. He snatched up his pager, with which he could contact all members of the volunteer department, even those not currently on duty.
All-crew alert: we can use all the hands we can get at 2400 Bailey. 3 alarm fire.
Adrenaline surging through his veins, he ran to the apparatus bay and donned his turnout gear. The familiar process helped calm his nerves. This was the biggest fire event that had happened under his watch. He had to get it right.
He swung into the ladder truck along with Colleen, Erwin, and Donnie. The rest of the crew loaded into the paramedic van, which was the only other official rig. Sirens sounding, they hurtled down Main Street. A blur of faces in the streets watched them careen past.
They reached the senior home in just a few minutes. Heavy dark smoke rose from the rear of the structure. Soaring flames licked at the roof, aiming for the sky. Jason saw that ten or so volunteers had already assembled and were busy donning helmets and fireproof pants. Everyone kept a set of turnouts with them at all times, just in case they couldn’t make it to the firehouse to gear up.
Jason climbed out of the vehicle, already assessing the situation. He’d spent many hours at the nursing home, doing everything from locating missing residents to running fire drills with the staff. He’d even taught dance classes here. He knew the layout inside and out. The flames were coming from the kitchen area on the bravo side. The kitchen occupied an L that had been added on in recent years, which meant that if they could get the fire out quickly, the rest of the structure could be saved.
He quickly took command of the scene. He directed Colleen, the engineer, and Donnie, the best aerial operator, to position the truck around the back. From there, they could extend the ladder and attack the flames from above.
In the meantime, the most important thing was to clear the building. The staff members had already started the process, and a steady stream of wheelchairs and gurneys and oxygen tanks trickled from the building. Jason knew that eight of the residents used oxygen tanks, and when he head-counted those eight, he nodded in relief.
A number of residents were mobile enough to walk themselves outside, but now they were milling around, confused, not sure what to do.
“Set up a triage area,” Jason ordered the volunteers. “Set up barricades and get the residents to stay behind them. Paramedics, where are you?”
Someone gestured behind them, and he saw Brent hurrying forward with the emergency kit.
“Find out if anyone needs medical help,” Jason told him.
One of the elderly people in a wheelchair raised his hand and shouted. “I left my teeth behind. Can’t talk without my teeth.”
“I understand you just fine without your teeth,” Jason reassured him. “We’ll look for them as soon as we can. First we have to get all the people out.”
“But someone might steal ‘em, they’re real good ones.”
Don’t laugh, Jason lectured himself as he focused on managing the scene. Serious situation here.
But fortunately, not life-threatening. Over the next hour, Jason, his crew and the staff members managed to get the forty or so residents out of the building and into the triage area. From there, everyone watched Donnie send a heavy stream of water onto the roof, while a two-person crew operated another fire hose from the ground.
The most dramatic moment came when the roof of the L collapsed, sending gasps and sobs through the crowd of elderly onlookers.
“It’s okay, everyone,” he called. “They’re getting it under control. It’s all good as long as we can save the music room, right? We’ll be putting on another dance class before you know it.”
