VIDEO: Over a week after the massive Charlotte five-alarm fire, first responders continue to be affected mentally by the situation.
When tragedy happens, while hundreds run to safety, it's not the case for people like Emily Bourque. She runs towards it.
“It’s hard it’s very very hard," Bourque said. "Being a paramedic I could have never imagined the things I see and I do on a day-to-day basis.” She's a paramedic with Union County and she's one of the over 100 first responders who were on the scene at the South Park Fire on May 18.
"We were just playing the waiting game and that’s the most difficult part," Bourque said.
Even weeks after, there will be moments that stick with her.
"We had initial contact with the crane operator," Bourque said. "I originally thought we were going to be doing a body retrieval at that point in time.”