A Third Hypothetical Story

I would like to tell you a third hypothetical story to go with the first and the second.
This time there are 17 men on duty. The FIVE that Leighton slashed from our shifts since becoming dictator.

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 forever 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. Engine four (a hypothetical engine that I am saying is stationed at headquarters, but takes care of the Heights) heads for the rear of your home.
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.
Engine four is mounting an attack from the rear of your home and it drastically slows the fire because the two fronts gives the flames nowhere to expand.
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 Engine 3 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.
Engine four is at 3/4s of a tank.
The attack team now has 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 Engine 4. 3 minutes later and they have Hooked Engine four to a hydrant. Now 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 children have the BEST chance of survival. All because our manpower was not IRRESPONSIBLY slashed, giving the city a third and a fourth fire engine.
For those who would say, "The city can't afford it" I have only one question, What is the value of your child's life? AND SINCE WE ARE PAYING MAXED OUT TAXES, SHOULDN'T WE HAVE TOP NOTCH SERVICES?

Don't let Leighton play games with your lives.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote