It was a quiet Sunday evening during this August long weekend. I was watering flowers at the front of the house when I heard a crackling sound normally associated with fire. Some of my neighbors were away, others were relaxing in their backyards or homes.

Dismissing the sound, I went in to refill my watering can. I returned outside and the sound had gotten louder, but I could not smell smoke. Now curious, I walked down the driveway to the street to take a look.

I saw smoke and flames in a yard a few houses down the street.

My neighbor who was sitting on her porch heard the sound too and we ran toward the fire. I saw a bright red electric scooter engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly spreading to the wooden fence, and flames were licking the next-door neighbor’s barbecue connected to a propane tank.

We both called 911, and I managed to get through first. I described the situation to the dispatcher as other neighbors noticing the thick black smoke rushed to the scene. There were two vehicles parked in the driveway. I realized that the family – parents and three boys – was inside the home, unaware of the danger.

As the flames and smoke increased, it was impossible to approach the door and warn the family. While on the phone with emergency services I recall requesting a neighbor to run to the other side of the home and bang on a door unthreatened by the fire.

Family escaped without injury

After a few minutes, the family emerged through the garage with flames inches away. Police cruisers were quickly on the scene and firefighters arrived in minutes to put out the flames.

Luckily no one was injured. The home and garage suffered some external damage, along with the neighbor’s garage siding melting away. The fence had burnt down. The red bike was a scorched, twisted metallic mess and its battery had exploded.

Some neighbors told me they had also called 911 and were told first responders were on their way. I saw a young neighbor offer bottled water and whisper words of comfort to the family that had escaped the fire.

A large crowd had gathered. Some people were concerned about the family’s welfare, while others had their phones out, possibly livestreaming the fire or posting videos and images on social media.

After ensuring the fire was out and there were no hot spots, the police cruisers and fire trucks left. The onlookers also drifted away. The distraught family stood in their scorched yard, still in shock.

I went by and checked if they needed anything. The parents said they were okay. The home was habitable, and their boys had returned inside. They said they thought it was an intruder when they heard someone banging at the door, yelling at them to get out of the house, and that is why they took a moment to leave.

Highway Angel to the rescue

This incident brought to mind a chat I had a couple of weeks ago with TCA Highway Angel Terry Walde, a veteran truck driver from Manitoba.

In May, seeing an injured cyclist on the Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan, he stopped his truck and rushed to his aid.

When I asked the veteran driver why he stopped to help while others were driving past, he said, “I was taught we should help each other.”

Another trucker and some four-wheeler drivers also stopped to help. When Walde saw vehicles speeding past the accident scene, he made sure someone stayed with the cyclist and ran to his truck to get flags. He directed traffic until first responders arrived.

During our conversation, he also mentioned that he also helps drivers struggling to tie or strap down a load at a yard.

Recording struggles

He’s also noticed drivers sitting in their trucks and filming others struggling to back into a spot at a truck stop or rest area. “Years ago, drivers would get out and help each other, now they want their 15 minutes of fame, will watch the guy hit someone’s truck, and laugh about it,” he said.

It is nice to know that there are good people like my neighbors, Walde, other truckers and road users willing to rush to someone’s aid during an emergency.

And for people who whip out their phones to record a crash or fire or just drive by without stopping to offer assistance – shame on you!