Theme Thursday = Fire

Fire. It's odd that I have such feeling for fire. I love the way the flames flicker in the fireplace on a cold evening and enjoy the smell of the wood burning and the warmth of its glow. I enjoy a campfire, roasting marshmallows & hot dogs; of sitting around the fire keeping warm and telling stories until the last bit of warmth dies away.

On the other hand fire terrifies me. When I was about 10 years old I was with my parents on a warm summer Thursday evening. My family owned a grocery store and we decided to go to the store to get some milk & dessert. As we turned the corner I began screaming. The business next door to our store was on fire. This was around 1956 and our little town had no fire department.

Calls went out to neighboring towns and tanker fire trucks came to help put out the fire. The fire was eventually gotten under control, but not before it burned six businesses almost to the ground. The next day my family was back in business in a store across the street from the original one. The suppliers were there the next day helping to set up a new store. We recovered and thrived.

In later years when my parents talked about me being the first to see the fire and scream they remember what my daddy said, "Honey, have you got your foot caught in the door again?" Evidently, if Mother sat beside my father & I sat beside the door I had a propensity to get my foot wedged between the seat & the car door. Isn't it strange the things that are remembered even in a crisis?

The small store on the corner where the fire began had been purposely set by the owner. I don't think he was prosecuted, but he never left his home again. He became a recluse, probably ostracized by the community. Thankfully his wife & daughter seemed to have overcome the situation and went on with their lives.

As a result of this incident a volunteer fire department was formed in our town. This group of men went on to help in many difficult situations. My brother was one of the founding members and was volunteer fire chief for a time.

So, as you can see fire can be comfortable and contribute to warm, happy memories. It can also be terrifying. Through the years there have been other incidents where fires have gotten out of hand in or near where I live(d). When I hear sirens or smell smoke the fear I felt as a child returns. Under normal conditions I think of happy fireplace or campfire memories rather than memories of the destructive capabilities of fire.

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