Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 28

Scene: Burning House

The call came in as the 118 crew was wrapping up a training exercise. A residential fire, severe, with multiple people reported trapped inside. The urgency of the call sent a jolt through the team. They dropped what they were doing, suiting up and heading to the fire trucks. The drive was tense but silent, each firefighter mentally preparing for what awaited them.

As they approached the scene, the sight was daunting. Flames licked the sky, consuming the small house in a raging inferno. Thick, acrid smoke billowed out in dark clouds, obscuring the view and making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. The heat was so intense it could be felt even before they exited the trucks.

Bobby took command, his voice cutting through the chaos with clear, calm directives.

Bobby: "Chimney, Hen, start on the perimeter. We need those flames contained. Buck, you're with me. We're going in."

Buck nodded, adrenaline surging through his veins. He grabbed his gear and followed Bobby towards the house, his heart pounding. The sound of crackling flames and the occasional pop of breaking glass filled the air, creating an almost surreal backdrop to the urgency of their mission.

Inside, the heat was unbearable. The fire roared, consuming everything in its path. Furniture and personal belongings were reduced to smoldering heaps. Bobby and Buck moved quickly, scanning for any signs of life amidst the chaos.

Bobby: "Check every room. There could still be people trapped inside."

Buck pushed forward, his eyes watering from the smoke, his breathing heavy through his mask. He heard faint cries coming from a back room and made his way towards the sound. Pushing open a partially collapsed door, he found a young girl, no more than six or seven years old, huddled in a corner, clutching a stuffed animal. Her face was streaked with tears, eyes wide with fear.

Buck: "It’s okay, sweetie. I’m here to help you. We're going to get out of here."

The girl was paralyzed with fear, her small body trembling. Buck quickly assessed the situation. The flames were closing in, and he knew time was running out. Her small size made it hard to protect her with the standard gear, and without hesitation, he took off his protective jacket and helmet, placing them on the girl to shield her from the flames.

Buck: "Hold on tight, and don’t let go."

The girl wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on as if her life depended on it. Buck could feel the heat searing his exposed skin, but he pushed the pain aside. He needed to get her out. With the girl safely secured, Buck carried her towards the exit, navigating through the smoke and debris.

The house groaned under the strain of the fire, the structure weakening with each passing second. As they approached the doorway, Buck could hear the crackling intensify. He glanced up just in time to see a section of the burning roof give way. He instinctively shielded the girl with his body as debris rained down, the impact knocking him to the ground. The last thing he felt was a sharp pain as part of the roof struck his head, and then everything went black.

Scene: Outside the Burning House, Minutes Later

The team was in a frenzy, extinguishing the flames and pulling survivors to safety. Bobby was back outside coordinating the effort when he realized Buck hadn't come out yet.

Bobby: "Has anyone seen Buck?"

Chimney and Hen looked around, panic creeping into their expressions.

Hen: "Last time we heard from him, he was still inside to help a little girl. That was about 15 minutes ago!"

Bobby: "Damn it, Buck. Eddie’s going to kill me if something happens to you. Chimney, come with me!"