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The wo so loud that I could barelyBut I hadthe way A couple of us grabbed an axe and chopped down the door It was so hot that it splintered easily As it did so, a flood of black sear and ran inside, doing les

I tried to keeproom Most of the fire see starting to give way We had tofor a backup, I hurried up the stairs expecting each step to give under e of the staircase But I made it to the top in one piece

“Ricky! Wait!” Toby Guiger yelled from below

“We don’t have time!” I yelled back It is safety 101 that we don’t head off by ourselves during a rescue This is how people get trapped and left behind We work together as a unit, as a teairl was anywhere inside, we had to find her fast and we had to do it now This fire was out of control, consu to cinders

I knew the house would not be standing er

I glanced right and left and sahat appeared to be the bedrooms on the left side “Amber! Are you there?” I screamed

I heard nothing as I kicked one of the doors I anticipated that a wave of fire would co out of the door ata stressful time like this, you often had to rely on luck

The fi

rst door was a bathroom I tried another An office Nobody there Finally, I came to a bedroom I didn’t see anyone at first I was ready to move on, but then I heard a softdown on the floor She was propped slightly against the bed, as if she’d tried to get out but by the tiulfed her too much

She et her out of there immediately

I knelt down and sluht to bring her out

Nearing the doorway, I suddenly heard loud cracks and flakes of plaster falling in front ofAny second noas going to collapse on us

I hurried out of the roo!” I yelled to Toby as just at the top of the stairs coirl on ht on Toby’s heels