ELORA – When passerby Debbie Reynolds spotted a small explosion at Richard and Nicole Sawyer-Hill’s heritage home on Church Street in Elora, she quickly alerted the homeowner, who was then able to call the fire department.
Volunteer firefighters appeared on the scene within minutes of the March 14 incident, stated Nicole Sawyer-Hill.
“They were here incredibly quickly – our volunteer fire-fighters are not staffed, they’re not in the office, if you call they rush from their homes or wherever they happen to be to the station, and it’s not until all of them get there that they can leave,” she said.
“So we have to make sure we get out of their way so that they can get there super quickly.”
Nicole said there was “not much damage, considering what could have been,” and she attributes the positive outcome to firefighters, who “were able to get here so quickly it really minimized the damage.”
Richard was present at the time of the explosion and upon being notified of the fire, he worked alongside the occupants present to oust the small fire until firefighters arrived.
“I got a call from work from our security system to say there was a fire in our house and from there I called my husband and he said, ‘Yep, there is and I gotta go!’ “ Nicole recalled.
“So then having pets I rushed home.”
The community came together, checking in on the homeowners almost instantaneously, stated Nicole.
“We had neighbours coming over saying ‘are you okay? Can I take the animals? Is there anything I can do?’ Not wanting to get in the way at all but just wanting to offer help.”
The kindness the community showed extended to the principal of the local school, insurance representatives, firefighters, the wifi provider and neighbours, stated Sawyer-Hill.
“The principal of that school walked [my son] down because he was concerned because he saw the fire trucks. Even stuff like that is incredible,” she said.
“We were so lucky, we are overwhelmingly fortunate that we have such a great community.”
Nicole hopes to use her close-call to remind residents about fire safety and the important role played by volunteer firefighters.
Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue volunteers drop what they are doing – whether that is working at their regular job, spending time with their family or completing everyday tasks – to respond to the fire station.
Volunteer firefighters use green flashing lights on their vehicles to signal they are responding to an emergency.
“Flashing green lights are our volunteer firefighters, and there’s only one way they can get here quickly, and that’s if we get out of their way,” said Nicole.
“If it’s your house on fire, or if it’s your loved one in medical distress you want them here quickly.”
Fire Chief Brad Patton commended local volunteer firefighters their hard work.
“We remind people to give courtesy to our volunteer firefighters,” he said.
