A Community As One

It happened.

There was a fire; a blaze powerful enough to claim the lives of civilians and a firefighter.

When a tragedy of this magnitude presents itself, all anyone can do is come together.

 

 

My brother was one of many firefighters and first responders on the scene of a house fire in South Dakota.  He, along with many other brave men and women, fought until it was no longer safe.  Everyone was instructed to evacuate.  Unfortunately not everyone was able to escape.

I may not be living in that community any longer, but from afar the outpouring of support that I have seen is remarkable.  I have witnessed family, friends, and firefighters from around the country sending love and prayers to everyone.

It will take time to move past this tragedy, and although nobody will ever forget, I can only hope those closest to the situation find the peace to move forward.

And My Thoughts

When you are married to a firefighter and have a brother as one as well, a situation as described above is my worst nightmare.  You think that because you live in a smaller community you are exempt from a tragedy like this.  Yet each shift they leave home with no idea what their day will bring and as family we can only pray they return to us the same manner as when they left.

Because of what they witness and experience, there are many days where the above does not happen.  They come home exhausted; both physically and mentally.  As a wife, you start to “learn” certain behaviors (because they aren’t going to tell you anything) and make adjustments to your schedule because you know something bad happened while on shift.

We wives attempt to call or text and it may be hours before there is any response back.  Or, there’s my favorite, when I am speaking to my husband and in the background I hear alarms……click.  I know he is off to something more important than what I have to say but the feeling doesn’t get easier as time goes on.

 

Whether he realizes it or not, each day he leaves the house, I pray for a safe return.  I can only hope that God protects me from every having to witness the red car pulling up to my driveway, the low chime of the doorbell, and the words from the chief that my firefighter won’t be returning home.

I am a full-time working woman – and that is tough.  I am a mom to two kids three years old and under – and that is tough.  I am a firefighter’s wife – and that is the toughest job of them all.

Finally, did I personally know the individuals affected by yesterday’s tragedy?  No.  But, I saw this statement last night and I think it describes my feelings better than I can express in words.