Thanks From Fire Survivor

During the First Interstate Bank fire, my co-worker, Steve Oksas, and I were trapped on the 37th floor for five hours (Part I, May 6). Although we faced some uncertain moments, Steve and I were rescued. There are many people who helped us through the fire and our recovery, and I’d like to acknowledge their assistance and support.

First and foremost, I want to thank the crew of firefighters who found us. Due to the circumstances, I do not know their names, but I do know that they worked through the night to find us, provide badly needed oxygen, wash our faces, keep us warm, and bring us to safety.

Because of limited elevator use, they had to carry me down 37 steep flights of stairs through smoke and water on a difficult-to-hold stretcher made from the office draperies. Indeed, the firefighters saved our lives, and I will always be grateful to them.

I am pleased that I was brought to Good Samaritan Hospital for emergency medical care. During my four days there, the staff attended to my medical and personal needs in a thorough, compassionate, and reassuring manner. I feel fortunate to have received such excellent care, and believe it would be a terrible loss for Los Angeles if the Good Samaritan emergency room is reduced to standby status. With the downtown area growing so rapidly, I think that we need this facility now more than ever.

I hope that the city and county will be able to work with the hospitals so that others will have an opportunity to obtain the same quality care in the downtown area as I received.

I am grateful to First Interstate management for quickly attending to my needs and my family’s needs. Despite the many business matters to be dealt with, senior management officials have made themselves available to me. My fellow employees have also been very comforting.

I work with a great group of people. They have shown their concern and are providing assistance to me and to Steve in so many different ways.

It seems that in times of crisis, people pull together to make things work.

I have only lived and worked in Los Angeles since September, but during my time here and during this recent crisis, I’ve learned a lot of nice things about the people of Los Angeles. I have so many people to thank.

MELINDA C. SKAAR

Los Angeles