Amid the bright flashing red lights and radio chatter from the large LA Fire Engine #179, a young girl approaches a gruff older man in bunker gear and a white helmet. The girl is clearly upset and highly agitated.

“Por favor señor ayude a mi abuela!” she screams and points at the burning house across the street that is being bombarded with water from several hoses and a monitor water cannon atop other Engines.

“Ortiz!” The gruff man calls over his shoulder. “I need a translator. The Latina engineer steps around his captain and has a brief conversation with the young girl.

“Cap, she says her grandma was asleep in the back bedroom and needs help to get out.”

Captain Marco DeLuca keys his radio mic and bellows, “Brooks! Vargas! We have a senior invalid in the back master!” The 2 Firefighter paramedics grab a folding stretcher and a canvas med mag and head toward the entrance.

“KWAN!” the Captain yells to the rigger pulling hoses from the rear of the engine to support other crews. “Grab and inch and a half and follow them in, keep ‘em wet til the get the old woman out!”

“LA, Engine 179. Send us PD and an ME just in case.” The Captain calls over the open frequency to his dispatcher. The situation is tense. So far, there have been no deaths and only minor cases of smoke inhalation as homes along this block burned.

Arson investigators will have their work cut out for them once the blazes are knocked down. But now, all hands are on containment or rescue.

Suddenly, all work stops, and the world is focused on the small residence the old woman had been in, as the front entrance to the house explodes in a shower of wood splinters, water, and fire. Firefighter Jordan Brooks burst out onto the street.

He is hunched forward Knees almost to his chest despite the load he is carrying. The 29 year old former Collegiate tight end sprints out of the house with an elderly woman draped across his air tank and stops short just inches from the side of the Rescue Squad.

He is followed closely by his partner Elena Vargas and Tommy Kwan. Moments later, the house collapses as the old wooden frame can no longer maintain its integrity from the fire. Cheers go up all around as Captains from all stations demand that everyone get back to work.

Later that night, back at Engine Company 179. The Sentinels work at cleaning and stowing gear. No one rests until everything is back in operational readiness. It’s been a long day and will be a long night. 1st In, Last Out, is their Motto, and the City has thanked them many times for their diligence.