AUTHOR:
Hello, my name is Jim Manniso.
In the mid fifties, I was a Philadelphia Firefighter stationed at Engine Co. 47. One night while on watch I saw flames flickering into the dimly lit firehouse. I looked out the station window and saw that a house across the street was on fire. I hit the fire bell and hollered "* HIKE OUT". Grabbing a ladder, I ran across the street. I threw the ladder over the back fence of the house and climbed into the yard.
Once in the yard, I raised the ladder and smashed it through the back window. Smoke came bellowing out of the window as I climbed into the second floor bedroom. In one of the smoked filled rooms I heard children screaming. Groping in the smoke as the fire began rising to the second floor, I finally found the children and led them down the ladder to safety. By the time the children were rescued, the engine and pumper were in front of the building and firemen began pouring water into the fire engulfed home.
That night, almost fifty years ago, our fire company, like so many before and after us, saved both lives and property.
When we got back to the firehouse, I wrote "THE FIGHTING OF FIRE."
ARTIST:
Judy Carr, an excellent portrait artist captures the essence of the poem with her great portrayal of a determined firefighter doing his job.
Enjoy this heroic adventure!
* The term "Hike Out" was used back in the old days and it means "get 'yer gear and move on out!"... and as far as I know, only used in the Philadelphia area. If anyone else used this phrase, I would be honored if you could let me know. |
