I recall people standing outside of their homes as they watched them burn and they would plea to us to just grab that one box or that one photo. It used to break my heart, especially when I was assigned to a Ladder Company and we were the ones in charge of salvage and overhaul....Seeing family photos burned or damaged by water. Obviously, hurt or deceased people was the very worst but it also REALLY bothered me to grab the dead family pets. Just many of the intangibles that wear you down over the years.
