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mrsandman · 04-18-2005, 10:35 PM

The fire was pretty much confined to the main building entrance. As I drove by the scene the next day, it was surreal to see the lifeless building standing there. The funerals wouldn’t be held here, but it seemed as if they should.

It was difficult to visualize the events of the night before, when chaos reigned and the building was totally engulfed in flames. The heat was a barrier you couldn’t get past without protective gear and precious water to start the attack. Radios crackling, men yelling orders, running.

Gone now, were the fire engines and ladder trucks, and gone were the media as well.
The Salvation Army’s catering vehicle, which always showed up with coffee and doughnuts, had departed around dawn. The tired and hungry firemen were always grateful for their arrival

It somehow seemed fitting that it was a Sunday morning when I first saw the aftermath. A back draft was the hidden killer on this devastating inferno that took three firemen’s lives. Two of the three deadly elements were already present: Heat and fuel. The wooden paneling and furniture and carpet just smoldered, forcing the temperature to steadily rise, waiting for the third and final element…oxygen!

The rookie fireman was on a ladder just trying to ventilate. He was attempting to let the heat and smoke out by breaking a window. This seemingly practical act, started the chain reaction that led to the powerful explosion that snuffed out three firefighters lives. He was one of the three that perished. When he broke that window, he introduced the third element, oxygen, which rushed in and was the catalyst for the resulting explosion.

This was one of the one's that would be talked about for years in firehouses throuoghout the city.

Firemen, not necessarily fearless, race into harms way, when people, rats, roaches, and any other living thing, are dashing headlong in the opposite direction.

Most people don’t give a second thought to a fireman or a cop, for that matter, unless they see their vehicles racing to some real or unknown disaster. When their services are desperately needed, then people are like a man overboard, begging for dear life for anybody to throw him a rope.

Flags will be flown at half-mast, until further notice.

04-18-2005, 10:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
mrsandman Addict Location: 3rd coast area	The fire was pretty much confined to the main building entrance. As I drove by the scene the next day, it was surreal to see the lifeless building standing there. The funerals wouldn’t be held here, but it seemed as if they should. It was difficult to visualize the events of the night before, when chaos reigned and the building was totally engulfed in flames. The heat was a barrier you couldn’t get past without protective gear and precious water to start the attack. Radios crackling, men yelling orders, running. Gone now, were the fire engines and ladder trucks, and gone were the media as well. The Salvation Army’s catering vehicle, which always showed up with coffee and doughnuts, had departed around dawn. The tired and hungry firemen were always grateful for their arrival It somehow seemed fitting that it was a Sunday morning when I first saw the aftermath. A back draft was the hidden killer on this devastating inferno that took three firemen’s lives. Two of the three deadly elements were already present: Heat and fuel. The wooden paneling and furniture and carpet just smoldered, forcing the temperature to steadily rise, waiting for the third and final element…oxygen! The rookie fireman was on a ladder just trying to ventilate. He was attempting to let the heat and smoke out by breaking a window. This seemingly practical act, started the chain reaction that led to the powerful explosion that snuffed out three firefighters lives. He was one of the three that perished. When he broke that window, he introduced the third element, oxygen, which rushed in and was the catalyst for the resulting explosion. This was one of the one's that would be talked about for years in firehouses throuoghout the city. Firemen, not necessarily fearless, race into harms way, when people, rats, roaches, and any other living thing, are dashing headlong in the opposite direction. Most people don’t give a second thought to a fireman or a cop, for that matter, unless they see their vehicles racing to some real or unknown disaster. When their services are desperately needed, then people are like a man overboard, begging for dear life for anybody to throw him a rope. Flags will be flown at half-mast, until further notice. __________________ Hail to ALL the troops and shadow warriors.