God Will Protect Us
I was still a rookie Firefighter at Engine 22 when we got a run one night, to a house fire. On arrival we found a two story dwelling with fire showing at the upstairs windows. My Captain ordered me to stretch an inch and a half line and move in while the truck was ventilating the building. I took the hose bundle to the front of the building and knelt down to put on my face piece. I heard other fire companies arriving. I knew I would have back-up as I attacked the fire.
I was pulling the straps on my mask to insure a good seal when I heard footsteps behind me. Suddenly someone grabbed the nozzle which was laying on the ground next to my feet. With a rush I saw the line disappearing with a Firefighter heading into the fire. The golden rule of firefighting, in Detroit, is to never give up your line. I hadn’t given up my line. It was stolen. I was furious. I ran into the building and caught up with a Firefighter from Engine 34 named Leo. I had met Leo before when I was detailed to his company. He was a godly person who was fun to be around. He was also an excellent Firefighter.
We were in a hallway. It was hot and smoky. I didn’t have time to argue with Leo because we were fast into battling a blaze that was trying to consume us. We dropped to our knees as the fire charged out of the involved bedrooms and assaulted us. The skin on my neck started to blister. I yelled at Leo to back up a few steps to get nearer to the stairwell.
Suddenly, to my surprise, Leo stood up and surged forward shouting, “God will protect us.” I was in fear for my life but I could not leave Leo. He needed help. The thought occurred to me that I was following a madman into the jaws of hell. The fire got hotter and smokier as we hit it with huge volumes of water. Leo kept hollering, “God will protect us.” Leo seemed to be enjoying this battle between good and evil. I can tell you, I was not enjoying it one bit. I was hoping God would show up and get us out of this situation.
Leo was hollering so loud that God must have heard him. Two Squad 4 guys showed up with another line and together we were able to put the fire out. When we came out of the building I confronted Leo about what had just happened. He smiled at me as he stuffed a chaw of Copenhagen under his lower lip. He told me that God always got him through a bad fire. As I started to help pick up line I thought, it was good thing Squad 4 showed up to help God tonight.
Stay safe my brothers and sisters.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry