New Cincinnati firefighter Mike Gregorio (top) gets a dousing Thursday after the first fire of his career was put out. (Glenn Hartong photos) | ZOOM |

        A three-alarm fire at an Evanston apartment building Thursday afternoon ended with no injuries, but provided some first-day, hands-on training for some of Cincinnati's newest firefighters.

        Joshua Schneider had been on duty as a Cincinnati firefighter seven hours when he followed his training lieutenant into the burning apartment building a little after 1 p.m.

        He thought he'd be the second man in, but 22-year veteran Lt. Ralph Trump stepped aside and handed the rookie the nozzle.

        “It was so fast, I really didn't have time to think,” he said later. “I was thinking, "Don't mess up. Put the fire out.'”

New firefighter Joshua Schneider, 26, packs hoses. | ZOOM |

        The fire also was the first for several other recruits who graduated a week ago after five months of training. Veterans dumped a cooler of water over the head of new firefighter Mike Gregorio.

        The blaze caused $40,000 in damage. Investigators were trying to determine how it started, said District Chief Jay Boeing.

        Residents thanked Julius Jelly, who was working across the street from the building and saw the fire. He banged on people's windows to alert them.

        Shelina Pruitt was sorting her laundry in the apartment just below the fire when Mr. Jelly banged on her front window. Her 4-year-old son, Charles Jones Jr., saw Mr. Jelly and ran to his mom.

        “He just wouldn't give up,” she said. “And I thank God he didn't.”
       
       

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