Love(5)

“What? Why?” Cami cried out.

“He interrupted our kissing time. That’s a no-no.”

Laughing hard, Cami playfully slapped my arm and bent to pet the dog. “I guess you’ll simply have to train him.”

“I’ve been ditched for a dog,” I grumbled. “I’m making a new rule right now. He’s not allowed to sleep in our bed. That’s my playground.”

Cami shook her head. “You’re incorrigible, but that’s fine with me. And thank you for the gift.”

“Anything for you.”

***

Attempting to snuggle closer to Cami, I cursed at the puppy curled up between us, sound asleep. How’d the damn dog get in here? I sighed, noticing Cami’s hand was sweetly curled around the offending creature, in the dim light from the window. I couldn’t separate them now, she looked so peaceful.

Our peace was shattered in that moment as a series of tones came through the hand held radio sitting on my bedside table. “Shit,” I muttered to myself, reaching for it as the dispatcher began speaking.

“General page, general page, all engines and crew from firehouse nine. We have reports of a five alarm warehouse structure fire . . . .”

“Cami, sweetheart, I’ve got to go.” Sitting up, I leaned over and kissed her forehead.

“Be careful,” she muttered in her sleep-laden voice. “Hurry home.”

“I’ll do my best.” Jumping up, I threw on the spare uniform that I kept beside the bed every night for precisely this reason. I didn’t turn on the light, not wanting to disturb Cami anymore. The dog gave a whimper as I stepped out of the room and I turned to glance at both of them lying there one last time before shutting the door behind me.

Hurrying out to my Camaro, I jumped in and headed to the station a few blocks away. The bay doors stood wide open, indicating the departure of the on-duty crew in the first two trucks already. Several other men were pulling up in their vehicles to man the third truck.

I ran to the wall where my turnouts were hanging with my boots just below them and quickly suited up. Jumping into the driver’s seat, I fired up the engine. Russ jumped in the passenger seat beside me, and as soon as the rest of the crew was on board, I picked up the radio.

“Dispatch, Engine nine dash three is en route to the five alarm, code 3.”

“Copy, Engine nine dash three. En route time is zero one forty hours.”

Leaning over, Russ clicked on the lights and siren and a loud wail filled the night air. The adrenaline rushed through me, just like it did in my old police days, as a sense of urgency filled us all. There was no doubt where we were headed, the orange flames and billowing black smoke was shooting high into the air above our destination.

“This one looks like a doozy,” Russ said dryly, fastening his helmet.

“It sure does,” I replied, surveying things as we got closer. “And we have other buildings close by. If the fire spreads to them, things will get even crazier.”

“Looks like they have a flare and an officer down the street signaling you.”

Slowing the massive truck considerably, I worked my way up to the officer and rolled the window down.

“Incident Command is set up over there at the end of the parking lot. Go there for your orders.” He pointed to where several emergency vehicles were staging.

Giving him a nod, I turned into the lot and lifted the radio. “Dispatch, Engine nine dash three is on scene. Reporting in to Incident Command.”

A voice crackled back through the receiver. “Copy, Engine nine dash three, arrival time, zero one forty-six. Incident Command requests you change to channel four for instructions.”

“Copy, dispatch. Switching to channel four.” I clicked the radio to the new station. “You got times noted in the chart?” I asked Russ.

“Got them.” He waved the clipboard.

“Incident Command to Engine nine dash three.” The captain’s voice came through the speaker.

“Engine nine dash three,” I replied.

“We need you to stage near the hydrant on the back side of the building. Right now we are trying to attack the fire from the outside only and prevent spreading to the nearby buildings. Repeat, outside attack only.”

“Copy Incident Command, stage on the backside of the building and attack with no entry. En route to new location.”

“I’m glad they aren’t sending us inside that mess,” Charlie, one of the seasoned firefighters, muttered from the back seat.

“Me, too. No point risking anyone. That particular building is beyond saving.”

Carefully maneuvering the truck behind some of the non-burning structures, we dropped hose at the hydrant and pulled forward until we were as far as we could safely go. By the time the truck was parked and the pump on and ready to go, Russ had the truck stabilized and the ladder ready to extend toward the building. Already, I could feel the heat through my turnouts. The fire was much heavier back here.