A Second Hypothetical Story

I would like to tell you a second hypothetical story.
This time there are 14 men on duty. The two that Dictator Leighton slashed from our shifts last March.

You are asleep in your South Wilkes-Barre home.

Around 1 AM you are awakened to the smoke detectors shrill tone. You wake up your spouse and open your bedroom door... and are greeted to a wall of thick black smoke and intense heat.

You can't get to your children. You must get out while you can. You and your spouse barely get out through the bedroom window.

You can't get back into the house, the fire is blocking you. You must do SOMETHING to save your children.

Your spouse has already limped to the home next door to call 911.
Seconds pass like days, minutes seem like months.

It seems like for ever until Engine Three is on scene. The captain and a hoseman get out and start pulling lines while the driver puts the engine into pump and then charges the lines. You tell the Captain that 2 children are in the home. Less than 2 minutes have gone by since the Engine got on scene.

The Captain and hoseman begin the attack. The driver is balancing time between the pump controls and helping feed the hose line to assist the attack team. Engine One is already at the hydrant and are hooking up a huge yellow hose to it.
One minute has gone by since the hoses have been charged, about 3 minutes since they arrived on scene and the engine is below 3/4s of a tank of water.



The attack team is having a hard time with the heavy fire load, but you have hope. Engine One drives to Engine Three and are attaching the other end of that huge yellow hose to Engine Three, Also The ladder truck, Truck 6, is there and 2 more men are now helping the attack crew.
Two minutes have gone by since the hoses have been charged, about 4 minutes since they arrived on scene and the engine is below 1/2 of a tank of water.

The Ambulance crew is taking your spouse to the ambulance, you refuse to go. The chief (When did he get there? You can't remember) is asking you questions, but your attention is on what was your home.

Three minutes have gone by since the hoses have been charged, about 5 minutes since they arrived on scene and the engine is now below 1/4 of a tank of water, but now the hydrant is open and the water level on Engine Three is going up.

The attack team is now gaining the upper hand on the fire and the crew from Engine one is actively searching for your children.



Engine 2 is now on scene, They had to come from all the way across town. They are now hooking up to a different hydrant and heading for the rear of what is left of your house. 3 minutes later and they are putting an attack team into your house.


Will it be soon enough? When unhindered, fire will double in size every minute. In this scenario, the childrens chances have been improved dramatically. All because 2 more men were on shift, giving the city a third fire engine. This is a perfect example of the old tale, "For want of a nail, The kingdom was lost".

Don't let Leighton play games with your lives.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote