No answer. She moved on and checked the first place children usually hide—under the bed.
She was lying on the floor facedown, a tattered brown teddy bear clutched to her. She turned and Lana could see fear and terror in the little girl’s face. She was about six.
“Sean, I found her,” Lana called to Sean.
Lana reached out her hand. “Come on, sweetheart. Come to Lana. I’ll take you to your mommy.” She used her softest voice.
“I’m scared,” Angie said firmly, clutching the teddy bear tighter.
“I know, honey, but I’m a firefighter. Come with me and I’ll take you to her. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. See.”
Lana pulled off the helmet and handed it to her under the bed. Angie looked it over thoroughly, noting the SDFD emblem on the front. Relief now replaced the terror that had once been there. Angie crawled toward Lana, and she pulled her out from under the bed, replacing the helmet and tightening the chinstrap.
“Where’s Fluffy?” she inquired with panic in her voice.
“Lana! Hurry up!” Sean yelled.
Lana picked up the bear where Angie had dropped it.
Situating the little girl solidly on her hip, Lana covered her with a blanket she’d taken from the bed and wrapped her.
“Now, Angie, I want you to put your face in my coat and hold on to my neck really tight. I have to move fast so you don’t get burned.” She smiled reassuringly and tousled her curls.
“It smells funny,” she protested, wrinkling her pert little nose.
“I know, honey, but it’s important.” She held the girl tightly.
Angie looked up at her with a solemn face and she smiled winningly. “Okay, Lana.”
Lana tucked the blanket around the bear and stepped back into the smoky living room.
“Sean,” she called out.
“Here,” he said. “Come on!”
Flames leaped at them hungrily as she and Sean emerged into the hallway. Making their way back into the apartment, Lana grabbed the radio fastened to the side of her turnout coat, depressing the button. “Chief, O’Neill and I are on the third floor with two victims. The hallway is inaccessible. We need a ladder.”
“Bedroom,” Sean said as the door began to smolder and peel.
Lana turned to head in that direction. With a rushing sound, the upper floor caved in. Lana went into a crouch to protect the little girl. The minute debris stopped raining down, Lana called out, “Sean, are you all right?”
She held her breath until she heard his faint reply. “I’m okay. Looks like I’ll have to chop my way through.”
“I’ll help.”
“No. Get into the bedroom and get the kid out. Then come back.”
“I’ll be back for you.” She spoke into her radio again, “Chief Johnson, O’Neill and a female victim are trapped behind debris from a caved-in ceiling. He’s going to chop through. I’m going to the bedroom to get the child out and then help O’Neill.”
“That’s a go,” Chief Johnson said.
Lana carried Angie into the bedroom. She set the child down. “Stay down. Breathe evenly and don’t panic. You’re going to be safe.” She immediately went to the window and leaned out.
“Dempsey,” the chief’s voice came over her radio. “We see you but can’t access that window. Can you get to the next apartment?”
Lana gritted her teeth. “Yes. Get the ladder up and I’ll get through.”
Lana knelt down and checked Angie. Her eyes were open wide, but she was having difficulty breathing. “Hang in there, honey. Breathe.”