Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
Marcus McGee, a 30-year-old firefighter with the Richmond Fire Department in Virginia, is no stranger to high-stakes situations. A 2004 graduate of North Chicago High School, he has been serving with the department for about three years. On December 17, he was part of a team that responded to a life-threatening emergency — an apartment fire where an 11-month-old girl was trapped inside.
The incident began when the call came in, and within just 33 seconds, McGee and three other firefighters arrived at the scene. However, thick black smoke made visibility nearly impossible, forcing their engine to stop 100 feet away from the building. Despite the hazardous conditions, the team quickly moved forward.
Firefighter Korey Pettiford secured the engine and connected to the hydrant while McGee, acting as lieutenant that day, led two others into the burning building. In just one minute and 49 seconds, they managed to rescue the baby from the house — a feat that would later be described as nothing short of miraculous.
The building had four apartments, and neighbors reported that a baby was still inside, though none could identify which unit or see through the smoke. As the firefighters entered the third apartment on the second floor, they discovered the source of the fire in a bedroom to the right, and heard a baby crying from another room nearby.
As they advanced through the smoke-filled hallway, a flashover occurred — a sudden and intense combustion that can be deadly in seconds. The team heard the baby’s cries but feared the worst. While two firefighters worked to contain the flames, veteran firefighter Carlos Samuels located the child.
With the hallway fully engulfed, Samuels wrapped the baby in his coat and rushed her out of the building down the stairs. All of this took place in under two minutes, according to Fire Chief Patrick Schoeffel.
Though the baby appeared soot-covered and burned, she was not seriously injured. She was treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital the next day. “This kid probably had a minute or less to live,†Schoeffel said. “She was just 10 feet away from the flashover and didn’t get burned.â€
The heat from the flashover was so intense that it melted the gear of the three firefighters and burned their ears. “Everything was ruined except for their boots,†the chief added. “Their gear suffered such a heat blast that it can’t be used anymore.â€
This incredible rescue highlights not only the bravery of the firefighters but also the unpredictable danger of emergencies. Marcus McGee and his team proved once again why they are among the most respected in their field.
Thanks, Dan
Centering Welding Pin,Zirconia Location Dowel Pin,Wear-Resistant Positioning Pins,Welding Positioning Pin
WuXi TecCeram Fine Ceramic Co., Ltd , https://www.hitechceram.com