By Rebecca Gilbert

It wasn’t a meteor crash, early in the morning of Friday, December 1, that glow on the horizon 18 miles north of Huron.

Not a fire from a meteor crash, but it was our house, our home. A home in which we had lived for 18 years.

The home we brought our baby home from the hospital to 17 years ago. A home full of so many memories, just…gone.

Around 3 a.m., a concerned driver called 911 to report a fire, and the Hitchcock Volunteer Fire Department leapt into action. They didn’t know what they were getting into; they were told it was a grass fire and the wind was calm.

From what they could see, the smoke seemed pretty low and wide spread. It wasn’t until they got closer that they realized it was our home. At that point, the call went out for all hands on deck and the Huron Volunteer Fire Department dispatched a crew as well.  

Thank goodness we were not home.

Every fire fighter did their absolute best, but the house had already burned to the ground.

I am so far beyond thankful for these volunteer firefighters who were literally jolted out of bed to battle a blaze they knew nothing about.

We know them. They are all over in our communities. You may see them driving around. Some may have a FD on their license plate. Others wear a volunteer fire department shirt or jacket.

Maybe they volunteer because their dad did, or perhaps they just want to give back in some capacity and aren’t concerned with recognition.

All these folks have jobs outside of this volunteer “gig.” I sat there and watched them battle this blaze and then around 6:30 a.m. I saw vehicles start pulling in and picking firefighters up. It was their families coming to get them to go home and get ready for their “real jobs.”

Now if that doesn’t scream a servant heart I don’t know what does. I thank every single one of them for showing up for us. I am forever grateful to them.

It’s only been a few days but there a couple of things I most commonly heard when talking about the fire.

First. I’m so sorry. No. 2: How can we help?

We are such a caring and loving community. I am so thankful we live here. I’ve really been thinking about how can we help.

The next time your local fire department is having a fundraiser for new gear or a new fire truck or really anything…..donate.

Buy that raffle ticket. Go to the chili feed. Attend the street dance. Be part of the community.

To the men, women and families of the Hitchcock and Huron Volunteer Fire Departments, thank you for being there for us.