FIREFIGHTER’S WORDS -189- ONE SAVED, THREE LOST

A few years ago, I was part of the Elbridge VFD in centeral New York. I had just gotten home from work - it was about 9 or 10pm. We had a home scanner on and I was about to eat when I heard a call go out for a trailer fire, fully involved. possible people trapped. It was in the trailer park I lived in at the time, the next row across the street from my home.

Being a firefighter, I ran right over. There was me and two others. One of the daughters that lived there said her sisters were still inside. I went around back of the trailer and someone screamed and said there’s still kids in there. The Elbridge engine was still 10 minutes away, at the other end of town.

I didn’t wait for them. I broke the back windows, screamed as loud as I could and by the grace of God, the 9 yr old yelled back at me. I grabbed her, pulled her from the room and handed her off. After that, a state trooper showed up, busted the side door and tried to go in. He only made it in a foot or so and came back out.

I grabbed his flashlight and went in myself. I checked one door and burnt my hand. I went about another 6 feet or so and was overcome by the smoke and backed out.

This is the hard part for me, and has taken a very large chunk out of me. I found out later that I was only a few inches away from the triplets. Later they pulled out the burned bodies of those young triplets.

Thats my life changing story as a firefighter. At least the 9 year old got a second chance at life.