by Piper Stone
“What engine companies are here?” He followed Landen as they moved closer and could see Boone, Stoker, Garcia, and Steel just up ahead, flanking the approaching flames as they established scratch lines. The damn ditches would be tough to dig given the rock terrain. The other side had a difficult access.
“Only twelve at this point. The others were dispatched to the city. We have our work cut out for us.” Landen grabbed his mask. “The smoke is acrid already. You’ll need all the gear. You’re in charge, buddy.”
In charge. Fantastic. Sawyer surveyed the scene one last time as he grabbed his mask. “We need to surround the flames. Cut off the air supply. The crown fires are only the beginning.” He pointed toward the trees. “Continue digging scratch lines so we can try and push this back toward the other team. Only way to shut this puppy down. I need to find the engine company. We’ll need them to work from this side.”
“They’re just around the corner,” Cooper acknowledged. “I’ll keep the coms on and find out what else we’re dealing with.”
Sawyer nodded before taking off, jogging around the corner until he found the captain. “Captain Banyon.”
“Sawyer Lincoln. Sorry to see you under these circumstances.” He raised an eyebrow as he walked closer.
“Need your men positioned on this side initially. We’re going to try and turn the fire. Then you’re going to need to head to the west and cut this fucker off.”
“Will do. There’s concern there’s another bomb and you know we’re too damn close to civilians.”
Sawyer exhaled, swearing under his breath. “If we see any suspicious packages, equipment or anything else, we’ll call out and pull back. Keep in radio contact. I’m terrified about the direction of the fire.”
“Not a problem and I know what you mean,” Captain Banyon stated, shaking his head. “We’re evacuating the school and the surrounding neighborhood. I have the sheriff’s department dispatched to block off several of the side streets approaching.”
“We should have the bomb squad on standby just in case.”
“Already underway.” The captain patted Sawyer on the back. “Be careful in there, son. We don’t need any loss of life.”
The words rang into the back of his mind as Sawyer jogged toward the fire. The first sight of flames was only a few hundred feet from the road, far too close for comfort. They had one location to turn the fire, moving outside the city but if their calculations were incorrect, the fire would roll through a park heading straight for the elementary school. At this point, all bets were off as to exactly what they were facing but his gut told him it was going to be ugly. As soon as he got to the outskirts, he headed toward the men. His men at this point. “What do we have?”
“A lot of shit. Damn explosion started two fires, but they’ve collided together. Hot as hell,” Stoker answered. He leaned over, as if catching his breath.
Wwwhhhhaaa!
Sirens blasted from every corner, screaming over the blocked off street. The city wide alert system had been engaged. Mayor Falk was obviously terrified.
“Damn this shit,” Sawyer huffed. “Stoker, you and Garcia get to the east, cut those damn trenches wide. Landen. You’re with me. We can’t have the fire crossing over. You know what that means.”
Stoker nodded. “I do. We can shut this thing down. We’ve been through a hell of a lot worse.”
“That’s Laney’s school on the other side,” Garcia insisted, the look on his face full of terror.
“They’re evacuating the school as we speak,” Sawyer answered, trying to keep his friend from going off the rails.
Garcia nodded several times.
“Come on,” Stoker encouraged.
Crack!
The noise came from the direction of the firefighters and he could also hear cries, yelling as if they were in additional danger. How in God’s name had this been allowed to happen?
“We’ve dug in several scratch lines and managed to cut away some brush, but only slowed down the damn flames,” Boone rubbed his eyes, coughing and spitting. “Whatever the fucker used is burning everything, including our eyes.”
“This fire is rolling hot,” Landen added.
“Keep your masks on. We need to cut through every scrap of brush. Take whatever trees are necessary,” Sawyer instructed then pressed the com button. “Giovanni. What’s your report?” Hearing clicks and hisses, he waited, walking away from the buzz of chainsaws. He could see clearly the swirling mass of smoke rolling in their direction from the city fires. The courthouse as well as the jail seemed to be in the direct path.
“We’ve turned the flames but it’s by no means contained,” Antonio replied.
“The engine company is headed in your direction. We’re on the move,” Sawyer yelled.
“Let’s get ‘er done.”
Sawyer didn’t hesitate, running toward the flames, snapping shut the visor on his helmet. The rush of intense heat was almost overwhelming, a product of the accelerants used as well as the trees, dead limbs creating instant combustibles. The beautiful terrain was full of animals and birds, nature walks and running trails. A shining jewel of the outdoor community. All they could do was fight fire with fire.
The acrid smoke was thick, preventing the ability to see past a few feet. He could see Stoker and Garcia working under a fiery canopy, flames shooting up the tall trunks of pines and oaks. Crackling sounds could be heard everywhere as the embers turned into firebrands, the larger chunks alive with scorching hot coals.
Whoosh! Wham!
“Shit!” Steel exclaimed, his ragged breath sounds shooting through the com system.
“Call out, Frost!” Sawyer jerked to a halt, turning in a full circle. Hearing nothing for a few seconds, he moved in the direction Steel had been sent.
“I’m here,” Steel huffed, his tone of voice husky from the smoke. “Trees are falling fast.”
“Get out of there.” Sawyer wasn’t taking any chances.
“I don’t think we can get a handle on this,” Landen stated.
“We can, and we will!” Sawyer insisted.
Crack! Boom!
“This thing is burning too hot,” Boone yelped, jumping backward as a massive pine tree top speared the ground.
Sawyer could see a hint of rising steam. The firefighters were also making headway. But Boone was right. The fire was burning damn hot and close to getting out of control. “Giovanni. We need to pull back.”
“We can’t. Orders. Keep going.”
“Damn it!” Sawyer knew there was nothing else they could do. The entire town was counting on them. He heard a series of snaps and looked up, hissing as a shower of embers and soot rolled down from the heavens. “Get out of the way.” He knew exactly where the tree was going to fall. Running at full speed, he shoved Garcia and Stoker back several feet, all three men grunting as the tree veered just off to the left, falling as if in slow motion, grabbing several other smaller trees along the way.
Bam!
The earth rumbled, creating a wash of smoke and soot from the force.
“Shit!” Stoker had rolled, landing on top of a mass of freshly cut brush.
“That was nuts!” Garcia yelled, helping Stoker to his feet and brushing off his pants.
Landen crouched onto the ground, catching his breath.
Sawyer sucked in his breath. “Call out!” He waited as the men sounded off, indicating they were okay. “Slow and easy!”
They set out as a team, surrounding the fire, controlling then containing their only goals.
No matter the level of danger.
As Sawyer cut through a series of massive limbs, working side by side along with the other men, he could tell after only two hours that they would need to establish a burnout if they had any chance of controlling the fire. The intentionally set fire could turn the tide, but only if handled carefully given the weather conditions. He motioned to Boone as the others took a break. “Damn this shit.”
Boone flanked his side, taking a
series of deep breaths. “Your call on this one. Using the flares might not be the best idea. Too dangerous.”
“If we control them, we might get a handle on this. Thinking a burnout. If we start a fire just to the south of the head, we may be able to cut her off. Coupled with the firefighters attacking from the tail, we can try and move this away from the park as well as the school.” Sawyer spoke into the microphone, allowing everyone on the team to hear. He could tell Boone was skeptical.
“Sounds like a good plan,” Giovanni said first. “Let’s do this!”
“I don’t know, man. Seems the wind direction has changed. Worries the shit out of me. What if those kids aren’t out of the school yet and something goes wrong?”
Sawyer held his breath as he glanced up at the sky. Trees were bending in all directions, making it difficult to decipher anything about the approaching weather pattern. “Cooper. What is happening with the weather?”
Click. Hiss.
“Damn this piece of shit!” Sawyer snapped. “Coop. Can you hear me?”
“Sketchy. Storm is moving slowly.” Cooper’s voice was almost garbled.
“Then maybe we have a short window at doing this,” Boone said as he looked Sawyer directly in the eyes.
If he got this call wrong, he would stand a chance of torching the school. But he knew in his gut as well as his knowledge of the trees, there was only one way of stopping this fire. “We’re going to do this. You’re up,” Sawyer directed Boone. “Take Frost and don’t go until I give the okay.” Even through Boone’s mask, he could tell the man was unsure of his decision. “Boone. Go. Now!”
“Yes, sir. Your call.” Boone backed away, keeping his eyes on his buddy before turning and heading to his gear.
Sawyer began to shake, adrenaline mixing with a mind-blowing fear. He could only pray to God that he wasn’t wrong. A flash of the nightmare rushed into his mind. Squelching the distraction, he refused to accept the dream was some damn sign. They were all getting out alive. Grabbing his ax, he continued cutting, falling into his training.
“We’re ready!” Boone called less than five minutes later.
“Giovanni. We are in position,” Sawyer stated, making certain the words were clear.
“We’re ready,” Giovanni answered.
Sawyer hesitated, waiting as he counted to five. Boone was damn good at tossing, the best they had and would take the target. Of that, he had no doubt. “On my go. Three. Two. One. Go!” The moment he gave the okay, a rush of wind roared overhead. Trees twisted, flames jumping from one to another as the embers rained down.
Crack! Whoosh!
Boom!
“No!” Sawyer screamed as the flair was caught by a falling tree and tossed. In the next several seconds, the entire area seemed to be engulfed by flames. He raced into the forest, jumping over fallen limbs, weaving back and forth as firebrands were tossed down from almost every direction, immediately setting the ground beneath on fire. “Giovanni. Get to the school. We have a full firestorm.”
“We’re on our way!” Antonio replied.
He continued running. “Cooper. We need another engine company at the school. What’s the report on the evacuation?” The flames were increasing, licking up every surrounding tree. “Shit. Stoker!”
Stoker and Garcia were down, the blast blowing them back several feet.
“Fuck!” Stoker moaned as he rolled over, barely avoiding a falling limb.
“I have you.” Jerking him to his feet, Sawyer could tell Garcia was okay.
“Lincoln. Giovanni. Listen to me,” Captain Phillips yelled on the coms.
“Sir?” Sawyer pointed further into the forest and only a dozen or so yards from the school.
“There are reports of another bomb that went off at the school with heavy damage and fire to one side.”
Sawyer could almost not understand what he was hearing. “A bomb?”
“There are also reports of children trapped inside the school,” the captain continued.
Stoker jerked to a halt, turning toward Sawyer.
“Shit. Shit!” Sawyer half screamed. He could see Boone as well as Steel up ahead. Jesus. They’d gotten separated. Think. Think. “Okay. I understand. We are almost at the school.”
“Whoa. Whoa! Don’t do anything stupid or heroic. We have a fire team coming in from Hamilton right now.”
“Hamilton?” Garcia chortled. “That’s forty-fucking-five minutes away. What about 15, 6, or 18? That’s a school over there. My fiancée works at that school! Those kids are in danger.”
“Son, they’re all working the fire in the city. You’ve got 12 for now.” Captain Phillips stated, his tone calm.
“This is bullshit!” Stoker managed, limping as he moved past a group of fallen limbs.
Garcia paced. “We have to make certain they are all right.”
Crack! Boom!
“Cooper. We can’t wait. We’re going in.” Sawyer pushed through the last group of trees, the other men behind him. “Oh my God.”
“Jesus. What in the hell?” Boone managed.
“What the hell. Laney. Dear God. Laney.” Garcia was shaking.
“Look, we have to do this. Get control. They evacuated the school. I’ll talk to the principal.” Antonio took the lead, giving a respectful nod to Sawyer.
“Find out what in the hell and where is Engine 12?” Sawyer yelled into the coms as he walked further into the parking lot, surveying the fire. “This isn’t our gig. Remember. The rest of you. Back this fire off. Get it shut down!”
Garcia stood where he was. “Where the hell are they?”
“They would have been taken completely away from the fire. Garcia. Move!” Sawyer tried to encourage.
“Come on.” Stoker pulled Garcia’s arm.
Sawyer paced the parking lot, grateful that he finally heard sirens in the background. He turned, hearing a noise as Antonio and another man came running in their direction. “What?”
“There are two children as reported unaccounted for,” the man was coughing, his expression of absolute anguish.
Sawyer turned back toward the building. “We have to get them out. Where would they be?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think. Think!” Sawyer insisted.
The man shook his head. “They were both in art class.”
“Where is the classroom?” Antonio flanked Sawyer’s side.
“Right there. Near the fire. I’m the principal. It was my duty to get them all out. Oh, God!” The man was almost hysterical.
“Where exactly. Tell me exactly!” Sawyer tried to remain calm.
“Second floor. Room 202.”
Sawyer glanced toward the road, cognizant that the firefighters were on their way. “We have to go in there now. We can’t wait.”
“Sawyer,” Antonio said through clenched teeth.
“We have no choice. Follow me.” Sawyer took off running, taking the stairs toward one of the entrances two at a time. He could hear Antonio following him.
“You’re nuts. We don’t know what we’re doing,” Antonio insisted.
“Maybe not, but we can’t leave them in there to die.” Slapping down his visor, he nodded as Antonio did the same. They had limited protection, but this was something he had to do. He felt the door. Cool to the touch, he yanked it open, taking a step back. While smoke filled the space, there was no sign of the fire. Both men headed up the interior stairs. When they reached the second floor, they stopped, looking both directions. “202. That has to be close.”
“Let’s hope so.”
They continued down the hall as the smoke began to rise, creeping along the edges of the hallway. Their vision became limited as they continued their path.
“Shit!” Antonio pointed. The flames were licking around the corner, headed straight for them.
“We might have one chance at this.” Sawyer moved back and forth along the hallway until he found the correct room. “202.”
“Come on.”
E
ntering, the lights were on but there was no sign of the children. “Is anyone in here?”
Antonio walked up and down the aisles, searching. “I don’t see them. Maybe they got out.”
“Children are told to hide.” Sawyer heard creaking sounds as the fire shot into the rafters. Flames would soon find their way into the room one way or another. As smoke filled the room, making it even more difficult to see anything, he noticed another door at the back. Taking long strides, he headed in the direction, yanking open the door.
Small faces peered out, both children trembling.
“Hi there. We’re fireman and we’re going to get you out of here.” Sawyer knelt down, lifting his visor so the children could see his face. “What are your names?”
“Sawyer, we have to get the hell out of here,” Antonio insisted.
“Just a second. Can you tell me your names?’
“Me-gan,” the little girl managed as she began to cry. “I want my mommy.”
“I know, honey.” Sawyer tried his best to keep a smile.
“The fire has breached the ceiling,” Antonio stated between clenched teeth.
“Who are you? One fine looking man,” Sawyer continued.
“Jimmy.”
“Well, okay, Jimmy. Megan. Take my hands. We’re getting you out of here.” Sawyer held out his hands. Every muscle in his body was tense, shaking from the intense adrenaline.
“Get them, now.” Antonio hissed and crouched down. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” Grabbing Jimmy, he stepped out of the closet first. “Oh, shit.”
Refusing to turn around until he had the girl secure, Sawyer picked her up, cradling her against his chest. “Okay. This might be a little scary but just close your eyes. Okay? Can you do that?”
“Uh-huh,” Megan said as she sniffled and buried her head.
“Come on, Sawyer. We could get blocked in.” Antonio led the way, heading to the door.
Sawyer followed as flames shot down the wall on the other side.
Whoosh! Boom!
Megan screamed as she clung to him.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s okay.” It was anything but okay. The hallway was now filled with smoke, flames covering the end of the hall, whisking up and over the ceiling, the bluish hue creeping, eating everything in its path.