Chapter 16 #2
Flash lifted the child from the mother’s arms, tucked him or her close to her chest, and sprang over the burning rubble still being attacked by the firehoses.
She passed the coughing, crying toddler to Woods and raced back for the woman.
“Run fast, straight through!” she told her, grabbing her arm.
Waylon braced the hose between his knees and reached across the smoldering debris to grab the woman’s other arm.
Settling her a few feet down the hall, Flash retrieved her turnout coat and hit her radio. “Smoke inhalation victims, woman and child, coming down from ninth.”
“Roger that,” came Captain Jake’s voice.
“What about the girl in the window?” Flash hadn’t forgotten her and worried she might have jumped.
“We got her.”
The tightness in Flash’s chest eased, and she allowed a smile. “Woods, take our mother and tot down.”
“Sure thing.” Balancing the toddler on one hip, he wrapped an arm around the woman’s waist. “I’ll take the kid. You hold the railing. It’s all right now.”
Flash joined Flores on his line, trusting Waylon could handle the whipping pressure on his own.
They continued down the hall, dousing walls and ceiling, pushing the fire back, encountering no other victims. When nine was out, they moved up to ten, where the fire surrendered without much of a fight.
The aerial had done the rest. Jackson’s squad had helped a dozen stranded or fearful civilians from the hotel.
The guy in the towel had been in the shower and didn’t hear the alarm, the fire, or the rescue squad.
The woman with the child had been asleep.
No casualties other than minor burns and smoke inhalation—which could itself be serious.
Nita and Al Luis took the mother and child to the hospital.
Flash was soaking wet and smoky when she and her team brought their rolled hoses down and outside to the blessedly cooler air, surprised to see Assistant Chief Velasquez standing with Captain O’Riley.
She turned her head, her expression lighting with admiration when she saw Flash. Jake waved her over.
“Allison Johnston told everyone what you did,” Velasquez said.
“Cash.” The captain scowled at her, his arms crossed. “I specifically ordered you to follow protocol to the letter.”
“I know, sir,” she said, nerves squeezing her chest. “But you know I can jump a fire line. I had a clear view of the other side and—”
“And you weren’t risking anyone’s life but your own,” he finished in a stern voice.
Flash was hot, tired, and frustrated. She propped one hand on her hip and gestured with the other. “There wasn’t time to completely suppress the debris pile. The woman and her baby were right there, flames closing in, smoke everywhere. What was I supposed to do? What would you have done?”
O’Riley’s jaw quirked. He cast his gaze to the ground, rubbing the back of his neck. “Exactly what you did, even if I’d catch hell for it.”
The tension in Flash’s shoulders relaxed, and she exhaled, nodding without further discussion.
“It’s tough to make the right call with only split seconds to decide,” said Velasquez.
“Your judgment might have been that of a nineteen-year-old, not of an officer ten years older, but you sure don’t lack courage.
I know Ms. Johnston and her little one are glad you acted on your instincts rather than regulations.
I’ll excuse it, Cash, but you need to follow your captain’s instructions.
If things go wrong, he’ll be the one to blame. ”
Flash met her gaze honestly. “Begging your pardon, ma’am, but if I had to watch them burn to death when the ceiling fell in on them, I’d find no comfort in blaming Captain Jake.
I was the lieutenant on scene. It was my call, and I stand by it.
It wasn’t my intent to deviate from safety protocols or disobey my superior.
I just did what I had to, and it wasn’t reckless when I knew without a doubt I could do it. ”
O’Riley patted her shoulder, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It worked out this time, Cash. But I’m serious. No more cowboy stunts.”
“Yes, sir,” she said. Yet on the inside, she knew she’d always put herself in harm’s way if it was the only option to save a life.
The assistant chief smiled at her before turning to walk away. “Write it all up in your after-action report, Lieutenant Cash. I’m heading home.”
Flash adjusted the hose over her shoulder and hauled it back to Engine Eight to stow it with the others. Her crewmembers were already sitting in the cab, laughing and swapping stories. She climbed into the passenger seat and switched the status button to available.
“That was one gutsy move,” said Bobbie Flores, an incredulous look on his sooty face as he raked a hand through his wet hair.
Flash shrugged, her adrenaline still high after fighting the blaze. “Don’t you do anything like that, or I’ll catch hell. Got it?” Maybe there had been time to put out the small fire she’d jumped, or maybe the few minutes it took would’ve made the difference between a rescue and a recovery.
Little kids and old people are more susceptible to smoke inhalation hazards than regular adults.
The heat was easily enough to cook them in minutes.
And with the ceiling falling in? No. She couldn’t have waited.
It was the right call, even if it wasn’t by the book.
Flash knew fires. No set of guidelines could overrule her instincts.
What worried her was the few seconds she froze in indecision.
Before the bugles, she’d have simply rushed ahead, no questions asked.
Now the weight of responsibility forced her to pause.
It was the right call.
“Take us home, Adams.”