Of course there is no such thing as the routine call or save. Yet, the choking victim, full arrest or auto extrication are familiar to most.
In this week’s ‘Trending Topics,’ we highlight instances where firefighters, and in one case a civilian, made a great, out-of-the-ordinary save. These include rescuing victims in a flood, extricating a child’s finger after getting it stuck in a metal pipe and using a garden hose to douse a house fire while off-duty.
All five stories have one thing in common — firefighters making an impact on civilians’ lives with anything but the garden-variety save. Check them out and add your thoughts below.
 | Firefighters free child’s finger stuck in metal pipe Fire crews were able to remove their equipment in time, but the building was completely destroyed. |
 | Firefighters honor 16-year-old for save at house fire Ricardo Martinez risked his life to rescue a 65-year-old man through a second-story window. |
 | Ariz. firefighters make rescues in flash floods Firefighters rescued at least six motorists in separate incidents; sporadic storms are expected to continue for the next few days. |
 | Off-duty firefighter helps save neighbor’s home on fire He used a garden hose to put out the fire believed to have been sparked by lightning. |
 | Firefighters rescue teen trapped in 300-foot cave The teen was pale and shaken but could walk and talk; he was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. |