I was witness to see a family lose almost everything today.
My father and I have been helping my nephew and his new bride renovate their new home. Today around four pm Sean’s wife Logan yelled from one of the bedrooms that the neighbor’s house was on fire. I headed as fast as I could to the door. As I opened the door I could see flames coming from the back of the house. I ran across the back of Sean’s house toward the fire. I could see flames inside the house through almost every upstairs window. My heart raced. As I rounded the corner I could see a lady and a young boy standing in the middle of the road. Their body expressions and mannerisms told me that someone might be in the house. Their pace was heart wrenching to witness. I could see they were devastated and helpless. My heart raced like it was going to blow up in my chest. But this fueled my desire to help these people. I immediately started looking for a way to possibly enter the house as I ran towards them. I no longer noticed them but instead my focus was on the house. I ran in their direction but all the while looking for possible movement in the house. As I ran all I could think about was a small child or an elderly parent trapped. I glanced towards them as I drew close. Both were crying hysterically. Their arms and legs moved in a way almost out of control. But it was their eyes. I’ll never forget the look they had. Although she glanced at me I’m not sure she saw me. It was though she looked through me. I ask her if anyone was in the house. She didn’t answer. She opened her mouth but no words came out and her eyes just grew. My heart sank. I took a step back toward the house and asked again only much louder this time. Again no answer. I turned part way toward the house and took another step in that direction. I glanced back to look in her face one last time to confirm my fear. It was then that her son gave me the words I was looking for. He walked toward me shaking his head , “no…, no sir, everyone is safe.” Are you sure, I asked. Same answer, “everyone is safe,” he said. Thank God I thought.
I then asked if the pets got out. He again responded only quickly this time. “ we have no pets sir.“ I think it was then that I took my first breath after walking out the door. I could feel something leave my body as I exhaled.
I looked at his mother crying and I stepped toward her. I first put my hand on her shoulder, but she was unfazed. I gave her a quick reassuring hug, but I‘m not sure she even knew someone was hugging her. I pulled back and told her everyone is safe and that’s what counts. She then turned toward me this time looking straight into my eyes. Her eyes were swollen red and looked empty. They pierced me like an arrow landing on the other side. It was the first moment that I allowed myself to feel any emotion. I could feel a lump form in my throat. But I fought to stay strong. I looked behind her and noticed a pickup truck half in the road and half in the snow bank. It was left running and her younger two children were warm and safe inside. She drove it there just minutes before when she arrived home from picking up her children from school and found their home ablaze.
It was then I remembered a propane tank on the side of the house. I looked back and fire had reached the wall the tank sat next to. Flames were now shooting out of every window, through the roof and into the air a few hundred feet. Thick black smoke filled the air and my face burned from the heat. I looked back and told her we needed to move her truck to a safe distance because the tank was going to blow very soon. It was like a light bulb went off. She looked at me with a changed face and turned towards the truck.
She hurriedly walked back and got in. After a couple tries it was apparent the truck was stuck. I walked behind the truck and told her if it starts to move not to let off the accelerator. I pushed with everything in me and the truck began to move. I shouted to keep on it and she did. The truck continued to inch forward and I continued to push. A young gentleman appeared to my side and joined in the effort. Once on the road she drove quickly down the street. As I watched her drive away I noticed all the neighbors watching. Spectators filled the street. It wasn’t until later that it dawned on me that out of all those people not one offered to help. Not one person stepped forward to ask this lady if her family was safe. Thankfully the young gentleman helped push her truck to safety but for the others I’m deeply disappointed. However, its not something that I want to dwell on because its something that can really bring me down.
Shortly after the fire companies arrival that tank did go. It shot flames several feet in the air as it released its pressure. It didn’t give the bang I expected but you could see its intense force as the ball of flames pushed to the sky. The line connecting the house to the electric pole snapped and crackled. Balls of fire chased across the line making a path towards the transformer. As the line burned and became disconnected it fell from the house. As the line hit the ground, at that very moment, I noticed her husband had finally arrived, walking from behind one of the fire engines. I knew it was him by the look on her face. He made his way toward her and reached out his arms. As they moved I stood and watched this husband and wife for that moment. I can’t begin to tell you how helpless I felt. I can’t fathom to know or understand what that family is going through. I do know they lost most of what they own but their embrace was raw and strong and real. It confirmed to me they still have each other.
My father and I have been helping my nephew and his new bride renovate their new home. Today around four pm Sean’s wife Logan yelled from one of the bedrooms that the neighbor’s house was on fire. I headed as fast as I could to the door. As I opened the door I could see flames coming from the back of the house. I ran across the back of Sean’s house toward the fire. I could see flames inside the house through almost every upstairs window. My heart raced. As I rounded the corner I could see a lady and a young boy standing in the middle of the road. Their body expressions and mannerisms told me that someone might be in the house. Their pace was heart wrenching to witness. I could see they were devastated and helpless. My heart raced like it was going to blow up in my chest. But this fueled my desire to help these people. I immediately started looking for a way to possibly enter the house as I ran towards them. I no longer noticed them but instead my focus was on the house. I ran in their direction but all the while looking for possible movement in the house. As I ran all I could think about was a small child or an elderly parent trapped. I glanced towards them as I drew close. Both were crying hysterically. Their arms and legs moved in a way almost out of control. But it was their eyes. I’ll never forget the look they had. Although she glanced at me I’m not sure she saw me. It was though she looked through me. I ask her if anyone was in the house. She didn’t answer. She opened her mouth but no words came out and her eyes just grew. My heart sank. I took a step back toward the house and asked again only much louder this time. Again no answer. I turned part way toward the house and took another step in that direction. I glanced back to look in her face one last time to confirm my fear. It was then that her son gave me the words I was looking for. He walked toward me shaking his head , “no…, no sir, everyone is safe.” Are you sure, I asked. Same answer, “everyone is safe,” he said. Thank God I thought.
I then asked if the pets got out. He again responded only quickly this time. “ we have no pets sir.“ I think it was then that I took my first breath after walking out the door. I could feel something leave my body as I exhaled.
I looked at his mother crying and I stepped toward her. I first put my hand on her shoulder, but she was unfazed. I gave her a quick reassuring hug, but I‘m not sure she even knew someone was hugging her. I pulled back and told her everyone is safe and that’s what counts. She then turned toward me this time looking straight into my eyes. Her eyes were swollen red and looked empty. They pierced me like an arrow landing on the other side. It was the first moment that I allowed myself to feel any emotion. I could feel a lump form in my throat. But I fought to stay strong. I looked behind her and noticed a pickup truck half in the road and half in the snow bank. It was left running and her younger two children were warm and safe inside. She drove it there just minutes before when she arrived home from picking up her children from school and found their home ablaze.
It was then I remembered a propane tank on the side of the house. I looked back and fire had reached the wall the tank sat next to. Flames were now shooting out of every window, through the roof and into the air a few hundred feet. Thick black smoke filled the air and my face burned from the heat. I looked back and told her we needed to move her truck to a safe distance because the tank was going to blow very soon. It was like a light bulb went off. She looked at me with a changed face and turned towards the truck.
She hurriedly walked back and got in. After a couple tries it was apparent the truck was stuck. I walked behind the truck and told her if it starts to move not to let off the accelerator. I pushed with everything in me and the truck began to move. I shouted to keep on it and she did. The truck continued to inch forward and I continued to push. A young gentleman appeared to my side and joined in the effort. Once on the road she drove quickly down the street. As I watched her drive away I noticed all the neighbors watching. Spectators filled the street. It wasn’t until later that it dawned on me that out of all those people not one offered to help. Not one person stepped forward to ask this lady if her family was safe. Thankfully the young gentleman helped push her truck to safety but for the others I’m deeply disappointed. However, its not something that I want to dwell on because its something that can really bring me down.
Shortly after the fire companies arrival that tank did go. It shot flames several feet in the air as it released its pressure. It didn’t give the bang I expected but you could see its intense force as the ball of flames pushed to the sky. The line connecting the house to the electric pole snapped and crackled. Balls of fire chased across the line making a path towards the transformer. As the line burned and became disconnected it fell from the house. As the line hit the ground, at that very moment, I noticed her husband had finally arrived, walking from behind one of the fire engines. I knew it was him by the look on her face. He made his way toward her and reached out his arms. As they moved I stood and watched this husband and wife for that moment. I can’t begin to tell you how helpless I felt. I can’t fathom to know or understand what that family is going through. I do know they lost most of what they own but their embrace was raw and strong and real. It confirmed to me they still have each other.
