The evening of March 21, 2003 was normal for the crew of Colerain, Ohio Township’s Engine 26.

The guys were cleaning up after dinner. Then the dispatcher interrupted them with a call to a structure fire.

When they arrived on scene, the crew found a single-family residence with flames showing. Police said there might be someone trapped inside.

Lt. Steve Conn and a rookie partner made entry and began to search. Minutes later, Steve found himself in a world of trouble.

What happened next taught him a lot about dealing with mayday situations and their aftermath.

Steve Conn is a battalion chief and a public information officer for the Colerain Township, Ohio, Department of Fire and EMS where he has served for over 30 years. He is also a registered nurse with 30 years of experience in interventional cardiology.