A Toledo firefighter who had been inside the Magnolia Street building where two of his fellow firefighters would die from the intense heat and smoke broke down on the witness stand today as he recounted the rescue efforts.
Lt. Aaron Hague told the jury hearing the trial of Ray Abou-Arab that the turnout gear of both Pvts. James Dickman, 31, and Stephen Machcinski, 42, was heavily charred when they were pulled out of the blaze – Mr. Dickman first and then Mr. Machcinski.
He helped get Mr. Dickman into a life squad then attended to Mr. Machcinski when he was carried from the fire.
“I checked for a pulse and was unsure if we had one or not, but we initiated CPR,” Lieutenant Hague said.