WEST HAVEN — As flames leapt around him and smoke billowed in the air, Joseph Ronan tugged at a fire hose, attempting to drag it out of the burning building and follow two firefighters in front of him. It wouldn’t budge.

Realizing the hose was stuck on something around the corner, Ronan could feel himself getting nervous and dizzy. He knew the hose would go flying if he let go.

The moment was scary for all the obvious reasons, but there was more behind the fear Ronan felt before he exited the building: He’s deaf and can’t speak.

For more on this story, visit:  Deaf man makes dream of becoming firefighter a reality in West Haven- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut.