Finish:

It means so much to have the littlest things when you have had everything taken from you.  Would someone post if there is a fund set up for the family or if there were children, their ages and/or needs and where items could be sent.  I know the people of Mobile County have a history of stepping in and HELPING out a family in NEED but in today’s world people are becoming less and less willing to help and right not this family may say they don’t need anything right now, or that they have insurance and it will all be ok in a few, but it means so much to have someone give you a gift certificate for a meal for your family at a time like this, or a backpack full of school supplies that are from the supply list for that grade and school that you child attends.  It means a lot when you have had your world turned upside down.

Anyway, if anyone has any info on how we can help this family, please post it.  God Bless the family that lost their home, and all those who tried to help

(Cont,) when the floor gave way below me and down I went. Luckily 2 of my fellow firemen were right there and pulled me out of the smoldering ash and insulation.  Never did I let go of the baby book.  Once firmly back on my feet, a few scratches (from not being in proper attire) I proudly walked out of what was left of this home and straight to the mother who was sitting on a cross tie crying her eyes out.  I gave her the baby book, burnt and tatered and told her I was sorry but that at least she could read all the important stuff that it had just burnt around the edges when she grabbed me and just began crying hysterically.  It was not the few guns that we were able to save or even her sons favorite stuffed animal that though smoke damaged still brought a smile to his little face, it was that one irreplaceable baby book that gave her hope for the future, something to build from.  I say all this to say, I SINCERELY hope that there was something this family was able to save to hold onto

So Traggic.  As a volunteer firefighter myself there is nothing as heartbreaking as not being able to save someone’s home or life.  So often, it is just nice to be able to save SOME ITEMS for the family but when it is a complete loss it makes it hard for the famiy on so many levels.  I remember a double wide trailer fire several years back that was a complete loss but that we were able to save some of the homeowner’s guns in and believe it or not we were able to save some of the kids stuffed animals.  The mother was so pitiful, sitting there on a Friday afternoon with nothing left of her home and questioning herself about what could she had left on and so forth.  We were working over the fire for hot spots when I looked down and saw a stack of books and papers on the floor, which was black and charred and for the most part wet.  I bent over and picked up on book in the pile, it was her son’s baby book.  The edges of the pages were smoldering and I began to beat them out with my hand