Fire Thoughts

Friday I responded to a house fire. House fires are always difficult because it is people's lives going up in smoke. This was a very difficult fire.

My job at a fire is several fold. I take photos of the scene and the crew, I work with the owners and residents and try to keep everyone calm. I fill out paper work and I run media interference if they are on the scene. At this scene I spent the first 20 minutes or so taking photos and being updated on what was going on.  The fire was extensive and we knew at this point that there were quite a few dead pets in the residence.

The chief sent me over to interview the neighbors and see if we could get a name and contact number of the owner. That is always an interesting process because people are always fascinated to see this old lady working on the fire scene. But I was able to get the needed information from the neighbors and hiked back to the scene to confer with the Fire Chief. Since we could not get a hold of the owner and there were cars in the driveway, the Chief had decided to do another house search for potential victims. H had no sooner decided that when a car came flying into the neighbors yard and a very panicked man jumped out and headed to the burning house. Chief looked at me and said, "Head him off" so I quickly cut him off and drew him aside. It was the owner and the first thing he asked, "Are my pets okay?" It was my job was to tell him that none of them had made it. And for the next 15 minutes I knelt in the mud and the rain and did my best to comfort him.

Then it was time for paperwork with the house owner. By the time we had finished that up, he was ready to head to his parents house and begin the hard process of "where do I go to from here?" I headed back to the house which was in the "mop up" stages. So the chief and I made our way slowly through the house. Mop up means that they are putting out hot spots and things are still smoldering. The house was very difficult to get through and we had to climb over smoking debris. As we slowly made our way through the house, my heart was breaking for the man who I realized had just lost everything he owned. And the dead pets .... there is just not much I can say about that. I wanted to sit down and cry. But I did my job, and wrapped up my part of the work.

As I drove away, I was very saddened at everything I had seen and experienced, yet I had a great peace as well. So much of my job as a pastor is somewhat intangible, but there are those times .... like this time, that you know God has used you. Not in big flashy or heroic ways
. But in quietly serving and helping to the best of my ability.

I guess my prayer is that I will continue to serve in whatever role God puts me in, to be willing to step out of the status quo and embrace all the moments I am given.

I wonder what is next ....

Just Connie