Thank goodness for Firemen.

I am so grateful for our gallant men and women who choose a career or are able to volunteer as firemen and women.

It is a dangerous job.   A building fire is not like a camp fire or a fire in a fireplace  .... there are snow blowers exploding, paint and other things burning which are letting off noxious gasses, heavy black smoke so thick you can cut it with a knife, embers popping and flying from the structure out into the surrounding yards .... A building fire is a giant monster, ferocious and out of control.

The firemen who tamed our fire, fought a dangerous battle.  There was a gas leak that required the gas company to come out that night and drill into the street to shut off the gas main.   There was a handful of old tires next to the house (I know now that was probably not a good idea, but they were great for obstacle courses!), propane tanks under the back porch, gas powered lawn and snow equipment, paint, pool chemicals, ... so many things to burn.

The tall tree on one side of our home caught fire and the firemen were very concerned that it was going to spread the fire to my neighbors - due to that and the gas leak my neighbors on both sides were evacuated as a precaution and it was many hours later before they were allowed to return to their homes.

One fireman was injured as the fire traveled down a guy wire to the telephone pole and caused the wire to snap.  Fortunately he jumped mostly out of the way and only had a minor injury to his ankle.

The firemen were vigilant and vigorously fought the fire until it was extinguished.  They arrived at 9:40 PM and most were still there until 2:00 AM ... they left their families and warm beds to come and protect our town and its citizens.  They risked their personal safety to ensure the safety of us all.
On top of their service, the next day one of them came by with a check for us from their benevolent association to help us with our immediate expenses as we had escaped the fire with basically the clothes on our backs.

I am very grateful for their service.