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The Moment Between Hero and Failure
By Mr. BlackSheep | December 14, 2009
OK, I’m tired of apologizing for not writing more often, so I’m just not going to apologize anymore. That said, I’m finally writing. Or, I finally have a reason to write.
Today was Monday. Still is, I guess, for another 4 hours or so. But today I learned something about how the world works, and maybe something about myself.
So the story goes something like this: Today I drove from Franklin, TN to Evansville, IN for some work stuff. Unremarkable, other than the fact that I noticed a BBQ place on the way up there that I figured I’d stop at on the way back. I got my work done about 11:30 and started heading back towards Nashville. I stopped in at the “Old South Bar-B-Q” in Oak Grove, KY about 1:30. I ordered a large pulled pork sandwich, inquired about how they prepare their sandwiches, and went to the restroom to wash my hands. Uneventful, to say the least.
When I returned from the restroom, there was a lady at the lunch counter yelling that the grill was on fire in the kitchen. She wasn’t yelling loud, just with elevated voice. I peaked in through the kitchen doors and saw some flames on the grill… nothing extreme, but some good flames.
Now, for those of you who may not know, I’m in the fire protection business. I’m the Operations Manager for Vulcan Fire Systems in Nashville, TN. I’m no fire fighter, for sure, but I do know a thing or two about fires and putting them out. Back to the story…
So I noticed the kitchen fire. I saw the young cook grab a portable extinguisher. The restaurant owner shouted “No!”, as she knew a regular extinguisher would only splatter the burning grease. THe young, inexperienced kitchen help didn’t listen. He sprayed the fire with a regular old A-B-C extinguisher, which the fire didn’t like. It didn’t like that so much that it decided to spray itself onto the floor, and the young cook got some burning grease on his arm as well – nothing major though.
At this point I’m recognizing that I need to step in. I noticed a range-hood system installed and firmly told the cook to pull the pin on it. He shouted back that it doesn’t work. Right then I knew we were in a world of hurt. I ran behind the lunch counter, into the kitchen, and pulled the pin myself – nothing to lose, right? Well, it did work, and the fire was out. The place was rather smoky, but the fire was out.
Well, turns out the story isn’t quite over yet. Those hood systems are supposed to cut power and gas to the fryers, griddles, whatever else is in a kitchen. This one wasn’t wired up to do so, apparently. The fire re-flashed, and I had absolutely nothing to fight a grease fire with anymore. The kitchen was VERY smoke-filled by now. I saw the cute little waitress with the phone book in hand looking up the fire department’s number. I yelled “9-1-1 – Just dial 9-1-11″. I didn’t know I had to tell people that these days, but I guess some people haven’t heard about that nifty little feature. Well, by the time the call actually got made, the kitchen fire was rather large. I grabbed an apron I saw hanging, covered my mouth, crept low, and was in search of some baking soda for the fire, and also the electrical breaker panel. I found neither, at which time I got back out of the kitchen. I saw that this was going badly, and I wasn’t about to become more of the problem. I shooed everyone out of the building (do you believe there were still people sitting, eating their lunch, in the smoke and all?!), called 9-1-1 myself to make sure it was done, which it had been.
Within 5 minutes the whole place was piping out thick black/gray smoke. A couple minutes later the dining room was ablaze. The owner (a lady perhaps late 40′s) was screaming about the cash register and ran to get her garden hose to fight her way into the place. I called her back, ready to restrain her if I would have had to. She turned around, and watched her livelihood burn down in front of her.
The fire department showed up, perhaps 10 minutes after the call. They drove up, and I could tell they were in no particular hurry to put out the fire. They knew what I had known – a total loss. They weren’t about to risk life to fight a fire when there’s already nothing left to save. I understood that – the owner didn’t. Lots of emotions (and words) poured out of her – I can’t even begin to understand.
That nice young waitress came up to me and gave me my money back for the sandwich I never got. I told her it was a tip to her now. $4 seemed so inconsequential, considering those folks would be out of jobs for a while.
It saddened my heart to watch the place burn. It saddened me to see the tears of the owner, knowing everything she had was burning up in front of her. The place wasn’t much, as most good BBQ joints are little more than shacks, but it’s gone now.
I drove away wondering if it might have been different had I not hesitated. Wondering if I’d have stepped in earlier, would the fire be out? Wondering if I’d have stepped up the the plate, took charge, and ensured someone called 9-1-1 earlier, that perhaps it would have only been a kitchen fire, not a building fire. Wondering if God had me at that place and time for a reason and I dropped the ball.
It’s not the kind of wondering that’s gonna keep me up all night. It’s the kind that, rather than sulking about the past, made me realize that sometimes there’s only a minute’s difference between hero and failure. Or maybe that should be the difference between hero and inconsequential. Regardless of what I call it, I walked away more resolute than ever about one thing: there would be no wondering about “what if” had I immediately stepped up. No more waiting for others to do. No relying on those who should know. Or those who should do. No, the only right answer from this day forward is to immediately step up.
Waiting has it’s place. Most of life’s decisions are better decided on a good night’s sleep. And the same is true for prayer – it brings clarity to out decision making. But in emergency circumstances hesitation has consequences, of which I saw today. I hope and pray I never have to write again about the time I hesitated.
If it’s to your liking, would you consider a prayer for the BBQ crew in Oak Grove KY. I’m praying that the Lord would mightily make Himself known throughout these circumstances. I don’t know exactly what that means, but no doubt He’ll figure it out.
Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
December 15th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Hey Steve,
For one, don’t beat yourself up. In that situation it seem that you were the only one (patron),who had a level head to step in, and kind of take charge. Hesitating…no, the kind of person you are, you paused to “access” the situation and to do what you thought you needed to do to protect another person(s).
Two, you and I both know that things happen for a reason. What that may be is uncertain at this time in our lives. So keep that in mind also.
I was on the fire department when we recieved a call for a mobile home fire. It was myself and two other guys that went to put it out. When we were crawling into the front door I started thinking of so many things, from my training to my family. Adrenaline kept me going but in your case you had to think on your feet.
Good job…. (you know the rest)
Tom
December 16th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Mr. Blacksheep,
Yes, a family lost their dream and their livelihood, but no lives were lost. Big picture, you are a hero. Look at what got saved, not what got lost. And, not to be silly, but this is an awesome story for you to share about the importance of what you do for a living, enabling people to protect their lives and their investments. Praising God that you were in the right place at the right time.
Mrs. Ninevah
December 17th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Amazing story! Who knows how God will use this moment of learning in your life – or the life of someone else there down the road.