All Fired Up Read Online Free PDF Page B

building, black plumes of smoke billowing from the roof, and settling like a shroud over the surrounding area. Teams of police formed a human barrier, holding onlookers and staff from the factory back at a safe distance. Flashing blue and red lights lit up the area, the stench of the fire permeating even into the truck cab. As soon as the truck came to a stop, she lifted the door handle and jumped down onto the ground. Sheldon came around and stood in front of her, inspecting her protective gear, checking she was wearing gloves. He scrutinized her breathing gear, and checked the tap of the heavy oxygen bottle strapped to her chest. Satisfied, he nodded his head.
    “Follow me.” He turned and strode over to a dark and smoky door in the building where other firefighters, all wearing breathing apparatus, were congregated, discussing the emergency with the police and other emergency services personnel. Sheldon spoke quickly to them, gaining an update on the situation, then turned to Cindy, Warner, and Jerry.
    “The roof is unstable. We’ll use the tower ladder first. Get it set up now and get some hoses on the roof.”
    Warner and Jerry were the first to move, heading for the fire truck. She obediently shadowed Sheldon, keeping up with his long strides as he led the way over near the truck. Jerry climbed in the cab and, with reversing beeper sounding, maneuvered the truck to the side of the building. When he stopped, other firefighters joined them, swarming to the truck, each knowing exactly what to do. Feeling like a total rookie, she stood to one side and watched as the men used the hydraulic controls to raise the extendable turntable ladder.
    “I’ll go up.” She turned, recognizing the voice of the man standing next to her. Warner’s face was totally hidden by his helmet and mask.
    Sheldon responded. “Right. Reece and I will position the tower ladder.”
    Warner climbed onto the small platform and attached a safety rope. He checked the hose nozzle, then raised his hand, one thumb sticking up. Sheldon responded by moving the controls, carefully, until the extension ladder rose up high above the factory. Flames now licked out of the windows, the glass exploding and showering down on them like rain.
    “Keep an eye on Warner. Watch for signals.”
    She stared up, peering through the dark smoke clouds. Warner was hardly visible, his yellow protective gear barely showing through the gloom.
    “There, he gave a thumbs up!” Cindy heard her own voice, distorted through the breathing apparatus. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest.
    “Turn it on!” Sheldon called out to the officer standing by the large faucets on the side of the truck. A second or two later, and a silver shower burst from the top of the ladder. The noise from the fire was getting louder. Ear-splitting cracking noises and explosions filled the air. The ground crew watched skyward as the stream of water, jetting from the hose, rained down on the flames now coming from the roof.
    “We won’t be going into the factory until we get that fire a little more under control. That roof will collapse for sure.” Sheldon didn’t take his eyes off Warner, high up on the extension ladder. “And those chemicals can go off like a bomb.”
    A siren behind them signaled the arrival of another fire truck, pulling in close to where she stood. Its doors opened and the crew jumped out, straightaway hauling on hose lines and donning portable breathing packs.
    “What’s your assessment, Sheldon?”
    She jerked her head around when she heard Dave’s voice. It was impossible to tell one person from the other; they all looked the same donned in safety gear. Sheldon and Dave spoke rapidly to one another, while they surveyed the disastrous fire, and took in the danger of the collapsing building.
    A second tower ladder from the newly arrived fire truck was extended high above the burning factory. Two hoses now played forcefully onto the roof. After what seemed quite a while,