Ribs For Dinner

Ribs for Dinner  

Case makes the best ribs.

We just sat down to eat
at our stationhouse,
67^th and Jeffrey-
when we got a still call, 2-11.
Three story tenement on Englewood,
probably a bed smoker.
So it’s gear ourselves up and ride the pumper engine down,
hose up to a hydrant, and lil Joey got three lines going out on full
with aspirated stream nozzles to drench and quench.
Fire broke on the 3^rd floor of the 16 unit frame,
14 units occupied; 13 out, accounted for and safe.
Chief wants a crew to go in for a looksee at 2^nd floor rear to
scope anyone trapped in that last apartment.
So Max, Jim Johnny and I suited up heavy duty, put on smoke masks
and went in.
Even without the fire heat it’s 92 outside
and with those suits felt like over 120
We found the unit and it’s empty so we tracked back out
until a portion of the roof by the stairway collapsed between
Jim and Johnny, separating Max and Jim from us and blocking their exitway
We’re out.  Big-time worry about the guys inside.
We did hear the last tenants have been located. They made it out O.K.
Now it’s just our own and it seems forever with no news.
We were still working the pumper hoses when we hear on the talkie,
Max and Jim got out the rear.
Wow; relief . . . until we also heard a
sniper, probably a neighborhood banger,
shot Jimmy .
Caught him in the spine.
The second paramedic squad reported  he’s outbound to Holy Cross.
That’s pretty much the fire story.
It took 4 more hours in that heat to get it put out
and social services was there helping find
shelter for the residents.
Back at the stationhouse we got word Jimmy is critical but O.K.
He will walk but not be back for a long time.
Case reheated the ribs for our wee hour’s dinner.
They didn’t taste as good as they usually do.  

                                             -Jerry Wendt 2016