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The tones go out In the middle of the night. The firefighter responds There's a fire to fight. The apparatus rolls As the crew gets ready The Officer's on the radio. The driver holds it steady. As the truck draws near Black smoke rolls into sight, The firefighters are ready To battle the orange light. The flames are growing. They find the occupants are out. The hose lines are charged. This is what it's all about. Two firefighters go in To battle the flame. Something doesn't feel right, They both feel the same. The creaking is now loud, They turn to retreat. The roof crashes in The sound is deafening in the street. Other firefighters are trying To clear through the rubble. They know two of their own Are in grave trouble. At last one calls out, "One firefighter found!" The digging begins To get him unbound. He asks for his partner As they pull him free. They tell him they're looking, And then they finally see. His partner has been found, His injuries are grave. As hard as they try, His life they could not save. Thousands of grieving firefighters Gathered to hear The chaplain say, "Firefighter Down," And from each falls a tear.