The way through the flames

Firefighters are specifically trained to deal with disorientation. In near-black conditions, they often use hoses or search ropes to find their way back to safety. Without tethers, they follow the “right-hand rule,” running the fingers of one hand along a wall until they reach a door or window through which they can escape. The two lost firefighters didn´t have ropes, and their right hands presumably led them only deeper into the warehouse´s labyrinth. When they realized they were lost, they did what they´d been taught to do: They stopped moving, radioed for help, and activated the personal alert safety system (PASS) devices attached to their air tank harnesses. These battery-powered boxes emit a piercing alarm for rescuers to listen for.