Chapter 25

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*At the children's museum*

Ripley stepped down from the engine in to what could only be described as chaos. The children's museum in front of him was very much ablaze. From the first glance it appeared to have spread already to 3 of the 5 floors. It was in no way contained and there was every danger of it becoming a toxic environment due to the nature of materials inside.

The captain of 88 was giving orders on what to do and Ripley was thinking ahead and realising they were going to need more companies and fast. If he radioed dispatch he was sure either Robert or Andy would hear it because they carry their radios around. If he called them directly it would delay the call to dispatch, he needed to make a decision, and quickly. Deciding on dispatch he quickly grabbed his radio.

*Radio*

Ripley: "Dispatch, this is Chief Ripley, I need to 2 additional companies and an AID car at my location...yesterday!"

Dispatch Agent: "Copy Chief, dispatching 23 and 42 to your location."

Ripley: "Thank you! This is likely to get to a 4 or 5 alarm so have a station on standby."

Dispatch Agent: "Copy Chief. 19 is closest after 42."

"Shit!" He said under his breath. He didn't want 19 to have to come, but he couldn't stop the agent without good reason, which would definitely jeopardise his family so he couldn't do that either. As he was only there in an observational capacity for now, he left 88 under the orders of their captain, informed him 23 and 42 were on their way and made his way over to those that had evacuated the building. He looked everywhere for Savannah, scanned every child that had come out of that building, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Chief Ripley!" A woman called. "Chief Ripley, I don't have her, I don't know where she went, I think she's still inside!" It was Savannah's school teacher, who already knew exactly who the Chief was and his relationship to Savannah.

"Shit!" He said under his breath again. "We'll find her! Are there any others not accounted for?!" He asked.

"Grace! I've got Ellie, she said she was with them both but they got separated on the way out! She said they were playing on the massive floor piano on the top floor when they saw fire! Ellie said Savannah told them to get out of the building! But I can't see her! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" She practically screamed.

"Get everyone else back on the bus and take them back to the school. Call Grace's parents and tell them to ask for me when they get here. Do not, and I really mean it, call Robert or Andy, I'm going to speak to them now because they're on the list to come and help and I need their minds focussed or people will get hurt! I know that's a lot of information, can you handle that?"

"Yes, just please save them!"

Ripley was beside himself now, thinking of a plan to get to the top floor, he needed to let Robert and Andy know what was happening and then he would be going in to find his god daughter.

"Captain! I need you to send search and rescue to the top floor, looking for 2 5 year old girls, one of those is my niece! Last seen by the floor piano! I'll be heading in shortly too!"

"Copy chief!"

Ripley braced himself and radioed to the battalion chief.

*Radio*

Ripley: "Sullivan, come in."

Sully: "Luke? Copy Chief what can't I do for you?"

Ripley: "Sully I need you to sit down."

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