One day last week I left work to run home for a quick lunch. I hadn’t been home long when the power went out, so I turned back around and left. The portion of Highway 98 West I’d come through minutes before had a fire on each side of the highway.
Apparently, a power line had fallen and started a fire, which jumped 98 and was quickly spreading in an open field. There are also some really nice homes which were in the path of the fire.
A couple of cars pulled over, and I saw two men take off running across the field, then a third. A woman was on her phone notifying authorities. The men took their shirts off and started beating the fire with them, while also stomping it out with their feet. They were just wearing tennis shoes, from what I could tell.
Another man joined them, he just jumped right in with them, working together to keep the fire contained. Other people stopped, too. They held the fire back until the Summit Volunteer Fire Department could get there and douse it completely.
The whole thing probably took place in 20 minutes, but it was amazing to see. These guys, knowing how dangerous a fire is during these dry times, jumped into action. I don’t know who they were, and I imagine when it was over they just got in their cars and went home. But they deserve a huge thanks, so thank you all, you most likely saved property and homes that day, including mine.
There was recently a fire in Mt. Hermon, La., that wiped out nearly 200 acres, and until we have significant rainfall fire remains a real danger.
So to the people who threw themselves at a fire with no equipment and no hesitation, I hope no one was hurt, and you’ve restored my faith in the goodness of people. You guys are heroes.
— Natalie McMahon, Summit
