Thankful for first responders who give everything…

Pastor Gregg Soles with Christ Chapel Dublin spoke truth to some firefighters who had only the day before tackled what their chief called “one of the most intense fires we’ve had in recent memory.”

Soles was giving remarks during the dedication of the Northside Fire Station, almost 48 hours after Dublin firefighters had responded to Cardinal Drive and a well-involved house fire that had spread to a vehicle in the front yard. 

Before they could attack the flames, they had to make their way inside a house none of them had ever been inside of to find the homeowner. 

Facing zero visibility, the firefighters, with all of their gear on, found him and got him out in approximately 10 minutes. Unfortunately, he passed away at the hospital from smoke inhalation. Losing someone is not only hard on the family, but the crew who performed the rescue as well, said Dublin Fire Chief Matthew Cutler.

“There were a lot of things working against us,” the chief said a day after the fire. “It was a challenge. We gave (the man) the best possible chance that we could.” 

Soles, who is not only good friends with Cutler but also his church pastor, knew how they felt. During his remarks at the dedication, Soles told them how a fire station reminded him of a cross on Golgotha’s hill. A cross that was strategically located to bridge the gap and rescue us. 

With his words of comfort, Soles praised the firefighters for the job they did, putting their lives in harm’s way trying to save a man they did not know. This is the kind of bravery we see not from all of our local first responders. They run into the flames, towards the shooting bullets and quickly to any other emergency call that comes their way.

They do not stop to see who is involved. They make their way to the danger while many of us either freeze or go the other way. Our local first responders – firefighters, law enforcement, EMS – stop what they are doing and respond.

They do so not knowing the outcome. They do so because it is what they have been trained to do. They do so because it is their God-given ability to help others in their time of need.

We have seen this play out many times in our town and county. We know they may not save every life, but we can attest that they will do everything they can to give those involved a fighting chance to live. 

In the end, that is all we as a community can ask for.