Jan 14, 2011 - Victim Thanks Houston Firefighters for Rescue
A man rescued from his burning home by Houston firefighters got the chance to show his gratitude Friday.
The fire happened at a home on Wilmington near Cullen in southeast Houston.
Fire officials said he was saved not only by the courageous firefighters but by a new drug that’s being carried on most squad cars.
“Thank you sir. God bless you all,” said an enthusiastic Parris Flowers.
Burns are still evident on his hands as Flowers shook the hands of the men who saved his life.
“They risked their life to save my life, someone they don’t even know. That surely touches my heart,” said Flowers.
The story began Nov. 1 with a fire that ripped through the home.
“It was nothing but smoke billowing when we tried to get through the front door. It was just black. We couldn’t see anything,” said Juanita Spencer, a resident.
Neighbors realized Flowers was still inside.
“I just started crying and praying and saying, ‘I don’t think he’s gonna make it,’” said Spencer.
Firefighters fought through smoke and fire to save Flowers from the burning building and once out, it was not immediately good news.
Flowers had a pulse but was not breathing. The medic on the scene administered a Cyano-kit, a series of drugs used to fight the cyanide poisoning found in fire smoke.
“I think without that drug, five more minutes he would be dead. There’s no question,” said Capt. Mo Davis, with the Houston Fire Department.
After three months in a coma, Flowers is thankful to the brave firefighters.
“They saved my life. I couldn’t have made it without (them). If it weren’t for them, I would be long, six-feet under,” said Flowers.
“It’s what we joined the fire department for. You know, all the other stuff you hear, it’s why we join the fire department,” said Davis.
The Cyano-kit that was used is carried by most fire medics. It’s been in effect in Houston for about a year and credited with saving at least a dozen lives.
http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/victim-thanks-houston-firefighters-rescue
April 12, 2009 — HFD mourns firefighters killed in line of duty
Two Houston firefighters died early Easter morning trying to save an elderly couple from their blazing home.
Capt. James Harlow, 50, and rookie firefighter Damion Hobbs, 30, didn’t know the homeowners had already escaped. The couple, both in their 80s, were safely down the street by the time firefighters arrived.
The fallen firefighters never made it out of the sprawling one-story, 4,170-square-foot home on Oak Vista.
They missed roll call after the rest of their colleagues from Fire Station 26 in southeast Houston were ordered out of the blazing home.
“Unfortunately, there are inherent dangers in our profession,” said Jeff Caynon, president of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association. “From the time the call goes out, there are dangers.”
Witnesses said it took another hour to suppress the fire enough for firefighters to retrieve bodies.
Although their colleagues tried desperately to resuscitate them on the lawn, the two men were pronounced dead at the scene. ...................
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6370042.html