The girl tries to run back inside, but one of the other firefighters restrains her. She doesn’t seem to care. I watch with wide eyes as she kicks and struggles. She’s still trying to get away from him and back into that building.
What the hell is going on?
All I can do is wrestle with the snake. It takes all of my strength, but I pry him off of my legs. Carefully I pick him up and walk around the other side of the firetruck. I open the door to the cab and set the boa on the seat. He curls up. I close the door and run back to the woman.
“Ma’am, you need to stop fighting. Catch your breath and tell us what’s wrong?” I ask calmly.
She takes a quick breath and gasps, “More animals still inside.” Her eyes are wide with fear and worry.
“What do you mean? How many more?” I ask while sharing a look with my team.
“Mommy dog, and five babies,” she explains, out of breath.
I look at my team and grab my mask. “Stay here. Stay calm. We’ll go get them.”
The other firefighters follow me inside. We must move quickly because the fire is spreading fast. The smoker is thicker now, making it more difficult to see. We move around the burning and smoldering furniture.
“I don’t think we are going to find anything,” one of the firefighters says.
“We have to keep checking. It’s our job.”
I start moving furniture and debris aside, so I can look underneath things. I hope that lady is right and that there is something in here. I’d hate to think we came back for nothing.
The fire has spread everywhere. We go in separate directions to cover more ground. In the kitchen, I open cabinets, checking inside each one. I push over the table and chairs. I’m trying to be quick but at the same time thorough. I take my job very seriously. I haven’t lost a soul yet on my watch, and I don’t intend to now. Even if they are animals, they are still lives that need to be saved.
After I check the kitchen, I move down the small hallway to the bathroom. I check the shower and everything in there. Nothing. A plume of smoke blows past me.
Back in the hallway, I bump into one of my crew members. “Bedroom is empty,” he informs me.
“Let’s cover the living room together. I think the vet office is being checked right now,” I reply.
“Okay, but we have to hurry. We don’t have much time.”
I nod and walk back down the hall through the kitchen. He follows me. We go to the living room. “Check everything,” I instruct. We push over the couches and armchairs. Everything is nearly engulfed now.
The other firefighters move past us. “Vet office is empty,” one calls out.
“Go ahead and go outside. We’ll handle this. Be ready to start with the water,” I instruct.
They nod and exit the building. There are only two of us left inside. We continue to search through every part of the living room, including cabinets, under a desk, and chairs. There is a small closet off to the side. I open it and pull out the remains of blankets and pillows. I throw them on the ground, careful to avoid the flames.
“If I was a mommy dog, where would I hide?” I wonder aloud.
Looking around the room once more, I search for a piece of furniture that would be large enough to work as a shelter. Part of the ceiling collapses onto the ground startling us. Flames are everywhere. The other firefighter and I look at each other.
“We need to get the hell out of here,” he says.
“Not until I make sure these animals are found,” I insist, digging through everything with renewed strength.
I move stuff around in a frenzy. If the building is falling apart, those animals don’t have any time left.
Chapter Three - Kyst
My teammate and I are still looking through the debris for the dogs. Flames and smoke swirl around us. I know this is crazy, but I need to do my job and help. Besides, I can’t get over how attached and concerned about these animals that woman is. It’s very moving to see someone care like that. I wish more people were like that in the world. It's rare to see a person with such a good heart these days.
My partner comes up to talk to me. I hold my hand out to silence him as a whimpering sound hits my ears. “Do you hear that?” I ask. We both listen.
“Yes. But where is it coming from?” he asks, looking around.
I ignore him and follow the whining sound. It’s coming from the far back of the house, in the farthest corner of the vet office. We both move back there, dodging flames, and look around. I start moving stuff aside. I hear the sound more clearly now.