By Your Side - Tales from Bark Mountain

When smoke begins pouring from the Bark Mountain Lumber Mill, the firefighters of Station 11 race into action. But deep inside the smoky building, the emergency suddenly becomes personal when Firefighter Forrest crashes through a weakened floor and becomes trapped.

With his partner in danger, Jake must stay calm, call for help, and trust his training while the rescue team races to reach them.

In The Mill Fire, Jake learns an important lesson about firefighting: courage isn’t standing alone. It’s standing beside each other when it matters most.

This Tales from Bark Mountain episode was created and narrated by Steve Serbic

Music from Bensound.com

License code: JOMKAMTPZ2OJIAIF

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Check out goosethefiredog.com for pictures and more stories 

Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:14

Welcome to another tale from Bark Mountain. The morning had barely begun in the Bark Mountain Fire Department when the alarms echoed through the fire hole. Commercial structure fire, smoke showing at the Bark Mountain Lumber Mill, the dispatcher said. Within seconds, Engine 11, Ladder 4, Rescue Eleven, and Chief One rolled out of the station and were speeding down the road with lights flashing and sirens echoing through the mountains. Goose the Fire Dog sat beside Chief Steve as they headed towards the edge of Bark Mountain where the old lumber mill stood beside the river. They could see smoke off in the distance. As they arrived and turned into the mill yard, thick grey smoke poured into the sky from the roof fence. We think everyone is out, a supervisor shouted. But there's a fire somewhere in the building. We think it's on the second floor. Fire Chief Steve quickly looked at the large building, then looked at his crew. Tom, stretch an attack line through the main entrance. You got it. Dazzle, you establish a water supply. On it, Chief. Red, see if you can ventilate some of that smoke. Yes, Chief, he said. Then Fire Chief Steve turned to Forrest and Jake. I need you two to search the second floor. The workers think everyone is out, but we still need to search that floor, and we still need to find the fire. Forrest nodded confidently. Let's go, Jake, he said. The two firefighters climbed the steel staircase, wearing their full protective gear, and their breathing masks were on. When they got to the second floor there was heavy smoke, making it difficult to see. Jake swept his flashlight across the rows of lumber equipment. Visibility's getting worse, he said. Forrest stayed calm and replied. We'll stay together, low to the floor and below the smoke, Forrest said. The two moved carefully, checking each room and calling out Bark Mountain Fire Department. There was no answer. Forrest slowed up and looked at Jake. This floor feels before he could finish. Crack. The wooden floor suddenly gave way beneath him. Forrest, Jake yelled. As Forrest started to fall through the floor, he caught himself with both hands before completely falling through. The heavy timber snapped around his leg, trapping his whole leg in the floor. I'm okay, he said, but I'm stuck. I can't get my leg out. Jake got low and pulled gently on Forrest's leg. I can't get it out, Jake said. The rotten flooring had wrapped tightly around Forrest's leg, and they couldn't pull it out. Jake knew better than to pull harder. He reached for his radio. Command from Jake. Go ahead, Fire Chief Steve answered. We have a firefighter trapped on the second floor, east side of the building, near the conveyor belt. Firefighter Forrest has fallen through the floor. He's conscious, and he's uninjured, but his leg is pinned. Copy. Stay with him. The rescue team is on its way, Fire Chief Steve said. Jake looked calmly at Forrest. Help is on the way. We'll have you out of here in a few minutes, Jake said. Forrest smiled despite the situation. Good, because I wasn't planning on inspecting the basement today. Jake laughed and said, Maybe we can do that next shift. That humor helped both firefighters stay calm. Below then the rescue team of Tom and Dazzle were already moving. Tom, Jake said they're near a conveyor belt, Dazzle said. I inspected this building a month ago. I know exactly where that conveyor belt is, Tom replied. The rescue crew hurried through the lower level, carrying cribbing, pry bars, and saws. The smoke drifted around them and seemed to be getting worse, but they remained focused. When they reached a spot beneath Forrest, Tom and Dazzle looked up. There he is, Dazzle said. Forrest boot and lower leg hung through the damaged floor. Let's support the floor first, Tom said. Dazil started to position heavy wooden cribbing beneath the weakened beams, and once she got it in place, she said Support's in. Tom nodded. Good because we don't want any more floor collapsing when we work on getting his leg out. Above them, Jake kept talking to Forrest. How's your leg, Forrest? The rescue team below us just reported over the radio that the floor support is now in. I'm looking forward to getting my leg out of here, Forrest said. Jake constantly watched the smoke conditions. He knew his most important job wasn't pulling Forrest free. It was keeping his partner safe and not leaving his side until help got him out of this situation. Moments later, Tom called on the radio. Jake, we're almost ready for you to pull on Forrest's leg. Jake carefully shifted some loose debris while Tom worked from below. Using a pry bar, Tom slowly lifted the broken flooring away from Forrest that was stopping him from pulling his leg out. Dazzle steadied the floor supports. A little more, Tom said. The boards creaked, then there was silence. Then Tom radioed Forrest. Okay, Forrest, try pulling your leg out now. Forrest pulled, and all of a sudden his leg pulled free. I'm out, Forrest said under the radio. Jake helped him stand. Forrest tested the weight on his leg. I'm good, he said. Fire Chief Steve's voice came over the radio. Status report, Jake smiled. Firefighter Forrest is no longer trapped, and there are no injuries, Jake said. Excellent work, everyone, Fire Chief Steve said. The crew quickly completed their safety check of all their gear, finished their search, and carefully made their way downstairs. Outside, paramedic Polly had arrived and wanted to examine Forrest's leg. There was no scratches and no bruising. He was fine. The crew returned inside and finished extinguishing the fire. They had found it in the wall next to an overheated motor. When they came outside, the fire chief gathered everyone together. He looked at Forrest and patted him on the shoulder. You stayed calm, Forrest. I'm glad you're okay, Fire Chief Steve said. Then he looked at Tom and Dazil. You both moved very quickly and were exactly where you needed to be. Great work, Fire Chief Steve said. Finally he turned towards Jake. And Jake, you did something every firefighter hopes they'll do when the moment comes. Jake looked surprised and said, I just called for help. Fire Chief Steve smiled. You recognized that Forrest was in danger immediately. You stayed calm. You protected your partner. You gave clear information over the radio, and you never left Forrest's side. That's textbook firefighting, Jake. Forrest nodded in agreement. I couldn't have asked for a better partner, Forrest said. The mill had been saved and no firefighters were injured. That's a good day. The firefighters packed up their equipment, and then the trucks rolled quietly through Bark Mountain on their way back to the fire hall. No one talked much. They didn't need to. Everyone in those fire trucks knew this to be true. When a firefighter is trapped, you never leave his side. You wait for others to come help you rescue, and Tom and Dazil came to help rescue their friend. Each person did exactly what they were trained to do. Because being a firefighter doesn't mean you'll never need help. It means knowing that when you do, someone will be coming to help you. And no firefighter who reaches out for help will ever have to face that challenge alone.

SPEAKER_00 8:45

Thank you for listening. Please check out goostofiredog.com for more stories and pictures. Every Sunday the crew gathers around for another tale from Mark Mountain. Please join us. Good morning, good day, good night, little firefighters everywhere.