Episode 6237

Extended Summary

Leah is beside herself as she, VJ, Maddy and Evie watch the house burn, waiting fearfully for Zac to reappear. Inside, Zac is desperately trying to find Oscar and Matt. The boys are trapped in a bedroom, which is getting hotter by the minute. They try opening the door but flames and smoke pour in so they quickly shut it again. When they try the window they find it locked and can’t break it. They start stuffing clothes into the gap at the bottom of the door to stop smoke coming in, then they hear Zac. Zac can hear them too but he is stopped from opening the door by a beam which has fallen across the door. Suddenly, just as everyone outside becomes more desperate, Billie appears and runs straight towards the house. VJ has to hold Leah back. Billie runs inside the house and finds Zac collapsed on the ground. She shakes him, he coughs and when she asks where the boys are he points to the door. Billie finds some blankets and together they manage to clear the door and Billie kicks it open. They grab more blankets from the beds and draped in them they urgently follow Zac. In the smoke and panic no-one notices as a ceiling collapses on Billie who’s at the back… Zac and the boys stumble to safety outside as the fire trucks arrive. VJ quickly realises that Billie isn’t with the guys.

Nate and Hannah are on duty at the hospital as the fire victims are brought in. They start to treat the guys then Nate sees Billie being brought in. She’s in the worst condition and they lock eyes as she’s wheeled past. Oscar and Matt are treated for smoke inhalation. When they’re left alone they discuss how much worse it could have been if Oscar hadn’t remembered what to do, and if Matt hadn’t stayed so calm. The ‘Firebrothers’ shake on it.

Roo finds Alf enjoying the peace and quiet in the lounge room. They laugh about how rarely they get that opportunity, just as the phone rings and Maddy gives Roo the news of the fire.

At the hospital Leah apologises to VJ for losing it and reassures him that she’s okay while Maddy tries to calm Evie who’s worried that perhaps they did something to cause the fire. Roo and Alf arrive to find them but when they ask about Zac no-one knows yet how he is. In a hospital room Nate is examining Zac, he tells him that his chest is fine and that the burns he has, while painful, aren’t too bad. They joke lightly and when Nate tells Zac that he was very heroic, Zac corrects him saying that Billie was the real hero. Nate is conflicted with this news. Elsewhere Hannah tends to Billie who is sullen, then starts to struggle to breathe. The boys are discharged and reunited with everyone else, but as they prepare to go home they hear alarms and look back to see Nate and nurses rushing to Billie’s room. Nate realises that Billie’s airways are swelling up and instructs immediate intubation.

Kat comes in to see Nate who tells her what Billie did running into the blaze and rescuing everyone, that she’s not in a good way and they’ve had to put her into an induced coma. Leah and Zac ready to leave and say that they’re going to see what’s left of the house. Kat is concerned and strongly suggests that they prepare themselves for how bad it is.

Alf, Roo and Maddy rally around finding blankets, clothes and room for everyone to sleep at their house.

Nate and Hannah quietly discuss Billie’s state, which Nate admits is not looking good. Hannah goes to try again to get hold of Ash, not having been able to contact him earlier, needing to let him know that his sister is fighting for her life…

Leah and Zac go to see the remains of their house and try to cope with how destroyed it is. Leah is doing well until she she’s the burnt tatters of a photo album with one of VJ’s baby photos sticking out, the sight of which pushes her over the edge and she cries and cries in Zac’s arms. Just as they are preparing to leave Kat arrives and breaks the awful news that the fire was deliberately lit…