Posted by Russ Roth [67.170.188.39] on Saturday, June 01, 2013 at 13:16:35 :
In Reply to: Fallen Firefighters posted by Ray Marzolf [98.200.64.87] on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 22:38:07 :
Back in the late 90's T-22 was fueling at a commercial fuel point a good distance from our quarters. As we were just leaving the fuel point a station 1 commercial box alarm came in. It was across the Willamete river and as they pulled out of the house a 2nd alarm was called as they were looking right at it. My officer (Craig) asks if he should tell dispatch our location to which I say I would. We had just transitioned from FF dispatchers to civilian and when he gave our location the dispatcher copies that but no more. Craig had gone to the fire frequency and hears us on the 2nd which we normally would not even be close to being on. He says hey they put us on it so I flip on the lights and do a u turn on Yeon ave. It ended up being 4 alarms with a young man trapped in an elevator which would not move. Squad 1 had an acting officer that day. All 4 guys were very experienced and were working hard to get this kid. We had our elevated stream going full blast along with Truck 1 and 3 also. Not helping at all and the Battalion Chief gives the All Call which is everyone out of the building. Squad 1 calls Incident Command saying they have this kid in the elevator and feel they are in a tenable position and want to stay. IC says he will leave it up to them but to get out if it gets too bad. This fire was ROLLING hard but due to some insight and perseverance on their part they saved the young man. I really thought we were going to lose the crew and the young fella. Very brave crew and Portland Fire's finest hour that I was involved in during my 27 years. It made Readers Digest Drama in real life and was extremely factual. I would give the guys names but I can't remember right now what they were even though I can picture all of them. =) Our photographer had pictures so the fire with E-13 and the front of our rig made the cover of the next Yearbook.
Terrible time for the TX FF's
RR