What happens in Vegans Definitely didn't stay there

Chapter 20: Secret Skills

An unexpected incident ends a firefighter's career, Sylvie reveals a hidden talent, and she helps a friend get back in the saddle.

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"I guess I could get the torch out and just braze something together real quick." Sylvie walked in to Cruz, Herrmann, Mouch, and Otis manoeuvring a halligan and a sledgehammer together. She stared at what they were doing, working it out for a moment.

"No, a brazed joint won't be strong enough. You want to MIG weld it." The four men turned and stared at her, jaws on the floor at her comment. "I grew up on a farm. When the cultivator threw a shank, who do you think fixed it?"

"So could you do it?" Cruz recovered quickly.

"Yeah, if I had a welder. Do you know where I can get time on—" She was cut off by the oh too familiar bells.

Engine 51, Truck 81, Ambulance 61. House Fire, 742 Halstead

They all got into action, grabbing turnout gear before leaving. Sylvie ended up in the middle of the convoy, Truck in front and Engine behind. It wasn't far from the house, but they could see the smoke darkening as they arrived. It was going to be dangerous. They pulled up, and she and Emily got the backboard out, ready for action.

"Borelli, Kidd, Otis, ground floor search. Mouch, Herrmann, with me on the top floor. We've got two minutes, go." Matt called, and Sylvie watched him lead his crew into the house. Deidrickson had Engine providing vent support to keep them safe. Sylvie and Emily held the family back, but one of the kids slipped through everyone's arms.

The house was empty, and it seemed like a normal call until a spark lit the adjoining garage on fire. Sylvie and Emily held the family back, but one of the kids slipped through everyone's arms, screaming for a dog that was in the garage.

"I'm going in, Casey," Borelli called, and he chased after the kid, grabbing him and pushing him out. The fire in the garage wasn't big, so Matt and Stella followed with extinguishers to put it out. Sylvie relaxed, knowing they'd be fine, and checked a graze on the boy's arm from where he'd gotten loose. She didn't see the explosion, but heard the boom and looked up to see a plume of black smoke.

"MATT! STELLA! JIMMY!" She screamed, calling out. Boden was onto the parents in a flash.

"What was in the garage?"

"I'd gotten a couple of tanks of butane for the grill." Sylvie watched Boden's face pale, and felt her heart sink. The time seemed to pass too slowly, but as if it wasn't real there were two figures coming out of the shell of the garage, a third held up between them.

"Brett, Foster, help!" Stella yelled, her voice weak from the fumes. The paramedics ran over with the gurney, and pulled Jimmy onto it. His face was burnt, and Sylvie was shocked at the extent.

"Right, we're taking him to Med now. Foster, you drive. Casey, Kidd, in the ambo with me. I want you checked out there." The two firefighters looked like they'd disagree, but Boden gently pushed them into the ambo, making sure they got in beside her. Sylvie handed them oxygen masks, a pointed eyebrow making them put them on and breathe in. She didn't know what they'd inhaled, but extra oxygen wouldn't hurt.

The drive to Med didn't take long, and she busied herself with treating Jimmy's burns. They seemed mostly partial thickness, and his turnout coat hadn't been fully buttoned so they hit part of his chest along with his head and neck. Foster had told med they were coming in with firefighters, and it was like a VIP had arrived. Will Halstead met them at the ambo door, grabbing the gurney as Sylvie followed along.

"Jimmy Borelli, 24, CFD from Truck 81. Butane tanks exploded in his face at a fire. Nobody knew the tanks were there. He was wearing turnout gear, but partial thickness burns to his face, neck and chest, approximately sixteen percent of his body. O2 sats 92 on nasal cannula, we didn't have any extra masks and didn't want to risk intubation before we got him here. BP 110 over 80, pulse 94, resps 22. Gave 2 milligrams of morphine IV in the field, plus two litres of saline wide open." She finished her recitation and Will nodded.