On June 3 at 2:35 AM, a 2-1 assignment for apartments under construction was dispatched. It was immediately upgraded to a first alarm and my ladder was assigned. We were over 6 miles away from this fire, but we could see the flames as we left the station. Within ten minutes, we were on the scene. Approximately 6 to 8 of the framed and partially stuccoed buildings were burning. We were ordered to the NW side of the fire and told to put up the aerial and stop the fire from spreading to the completed buildings. We spotted past two unburned buildings and extended the ladder about 60 to 70 feet. We secured what we thought was an adequate water supply, and I climbed to the tip. I hooked in and began directing the stream. About two minutes later, I was told to spray straight down, and after doing so, unclipped from the ladder at that instant, the thermal column of smoke and fire went from going straight up, to laying horizontally across the street and us. I heard my crew yelling for me to come down, which I had already started. At one point, wanting to see how much further, I looked down. All I saw was my boots and reflective tape burning. At about half way down, I was hit with water streams from below. I don't remember it helping, but at two thirds down, it was noticeably cooler. After what felt like an eternity, I made it down. My captain helped me to a nearby engine and returned to help save the ladder from burning. In the end, the ladder truck suffered substantial damage to the ladder and truck itself. Eleven of sixteen Four-story apartment buildings burned to the ground. I suffered second-degree burns to the left calf and third degree burns to the right foot and left hand. Thanks to the support of my brothers and sisters in the Tempe Fire Department, and especially my crew, I have now returned to work ten weeks later.

To PBI - I just wanted to include a note with this card to say thank you for researching and creating the products your company makes. I am a new firefighter, and had what is hopefully the experience of my career, after only six months on the job. I know ten years ago, I wouldn't have survived to tell my story at all, but thanks to companies like you, I am around to finish my rookie year and many more. I know how much worse my injuries could have been. I am very thankful for my top of the line equipment and good luck that everything went well. I will always be an advocate for not only wearing the gear but for maintaining and cleaning it as well. I don't think I realized how lucky I was until I had firefighters who had been on for 20 or 25 years tell me they couldn't believe I was even alive. Thanks to my crew; who helped save my life, and to the support of everyone in my department, I am now back at work. I can't say enough about how well my turnouts worked and what they did to protect me. I'd like to say I'm the only one sending my thanks, but that doesn't include my mom, who is probably more grateful than I am. This job wasn't quite what she imagined for her little girl! Thanks again! I'm happy to be able to send this!

Susan Fawcett, Tempe Fire Department