If there is one thing each of us needs in order to survive what life has in store, it is a sense of humor.
Good health, support of family and friends – all necessary. But, humor allows us to deal with the rest.
Last Friday, we decided to grill some meat, but when my husband hit the igniter it sent a spark to the tank, and it caught on fire. Thankfully, he was not hurt, grabbed the hose, put the fire out, and kept it on the tank while he turned the gas off.
The fire was out, but the gas continued to leak even after we tried to turn it tighter.
I called the local fire department, and told the lady who answered that we had just experienced a gas fire, it was out, but I needed advice on how to handle the gas still leaking from the tank. She said she had no idea but would send me to one of the Captains to tell me how to handle it.
She sent me to voice mail.
I laughed until it hurt and then realized help wasn’t coming. 🙂
After googling, we hauled it out to an open area, released the valve a little more and let the gas escape. We kept a hose handy in case of an issue, but after a few minutes the tank was empty. I felt guilty about releasing that gas into the air, but the idea of an explosion or a house or barn fire was not an option I wanted to consider either.
About two hours later, a Fire Captain called,
expressed his apology for the voice mail issue, and wanted to send one of his guys out to make sure it was okay. I go outside to wait, and what comes down the road but a large, red, fire engine, lights blinking. Thank heavens there were no sirens. Three firemen came to inspect the now empty tank and ask us to go over the story again. When my husband explained how he kept the running water on the tank valve while he turned it, they told him they’d hire him except for the age restriction.
The gentleman in charge said I should have called 911 and not the Fire Department. There wasn’t a fire so I thought calling the department was right, but next time it’s 911. I was already feeling guilty looking at them responding to an empty propane tank and thinking about how they run towards an emergency, and most of us run away.
Moral of the story – if you need help from the fire department you really don’t want someone to send you to voice mail. As it turned out, it sure did make for a few good chuckles as we had a glass of wine that night and shopped for a new grill.
Happy Monday, and here’s hoping you have several chuckles this week but no need for the Fire department. 🚒
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
If a fire truck stopped in front of my house in my neighborhood, it wouldn’t be long before half the neighborhood was standing around in front of my house to see what happened. And we would never live it down after the real story got out! Glad it all turned out well and you were ok.
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There’s a big difference. It sounds like you live in a community where you know the neighbors, and I live on a road where folks don’t even wave. I can only imagine all the stories that were considered as they looked out and saw that big truck. 🙂
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Yes, we know almost all our neighbors and everybody waves. And there are a couple of neighbors who usually know everything that is going on 😎
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I can imagine that big red fire engine rolling up in front of your house and the good chuckle you had afterward.Thank heaven that tank did not explode and cause injury. You guys were lucky, and quick thinking to keep the water on the tank while you shut it off. Happy Monday!
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Quick thinking by your hubs averted what could have been a serious problem – give him an atta-boy and buy him a beer. We’ve learned not to try and figure out how much of an emergency is necessary before calling 911 – police and EMTs have both told us” “it’s what we’re here for.”
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Phew, I’m glad that story has a happy ending. You had me worried for a minute.
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Smiling!!!! (Darn, it’s too early for wine!)
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Yeah, sounds like 911 will be your ‘go to’ number from now on! No injuries, nothing burned down, all good news. A brand new grill!!
A suggestion…..with Dan’s inability to handle anything sharp without cutting himself, and Dennis’s ‘flare’ for flames, and your magnetism for bees, PLEASE don’t ever get together for a barbecue!! Seriously! Lol, 😂😂
🔹 Ginger 🔹
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If we were ever lucky enough to get together for a barbecue, we’d invite you to bring the first aid kit. We’d also need a defibrillator on hand because of the laughter. 🙂
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You are so right about the sense of humor, but I’d have found it impossible to laugh while hyperventilating. What a close call! As to that fire truck, I can’t even imagine, but then you’ve often talked of needing the fire department, so it was good to know that they stand ready. A happy Monday to you too!
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Ya gotta laugh, Judy. Laughter has saved me on many a day.
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Out in the boondocks, we have volunteer fire departments. So instead of calling the fire department, you call your brother-in-law… or not.
On a more serious level, there should be a state or national fire resource center (much like poison hotlines) that the department could transfer you to.
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I’m so glad you’re all okay, that nothing worse developed! I’d have been terrified — and would’ve run off! I am petrified of gas explosions. I worked for a fire chief whose motto on every page of the training manual was, “When in doubt, punch ’em out.” (In other words, send more than needed — let the firefighters assess the severity of the emergency). Indeed, that is their job, not ours.
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Wow! You know how to create excitement over the weekend! Very glad no one was hurt and that in the end you could relax as you laughed! Yes, laughter definitely is a necessity for this crazy life!
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As embarrassing as it would be to have a fire truck sitting in front of our house, I wouldn’t want to mess around with leaking gas. It sounds like you handled everything pretty well, including the ability to laugh a bit afterwards.
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Now that was my morning giggle!
But it’s good advice all the way around!
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Wow! What a story! I’m glad everything turned out okay. Guess it’s good to know that your FD will “over-respond” rather than “under.” I have two grandsons here, aged 3, who would have LOVED to be in your front yard when that rig pulled up!
Dennis could do You Tube videos on at-home fire prevention since he’s “aged out” of active duty status!
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I do look forward to your comments, friend, because I know I’m going to smile. Yes, your handsome grandsons, who I can’t believe are 3 already, would have loved it. And, for sure, Dennis has aged out of active duty, but they thought it was pretty cool that he had figured out how to cool it off in order to turn it off. I have never considered doing a You Tube, but I look up all kinds of things on You Tube.
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Oh by the way I once called the fire dept. because I smelled an electrical smell in my home. 4 fire trucks with firemen and axes came running in!!!
It ended up being a benign matter but…I thought for sure they were going to tear the walls down.
However… they did come quickly and with sirens! 😊
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I did have to chuckle picturing 4 trucks, men, and axes descending upon you. But, when we need them, it sure is comforting to know they will come in a hurry. 🙂
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Amen!
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Glad y’all are all right! Good tip, thank you
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Oh, gosh, what an adventure. So glad no one got hurt. Reminds me of the recording at the doctor’s office, “If this is an emergency, please hang up and call 911.” Guess that is what we need to do these days. I think when we grew up, an emergency was life-threatening, not so much anymore.
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Yes, that was my thinking – fire was out so a call would suffice. I think 911 is their central contact now, and I need to get with the times. 🙂
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Glad you’re okay, but I have a “burning question. How’d you cook the meat that night?
Ha Ha. Thanks for a great story.
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Well, the fact is that the meat sat on the picnic table a little longer than I would have liked, so it got pitched. I’m thrifty, but when it comes to raw meat sitting out, I’m more into safety. We now have a new grill and a new bottle of propane so I need to buy some fresh meat and get grilling. 🙂
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Better safe than sorry.
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Talk about calm in a storm. Your husand’s instincts are amazing…and your blog instructive! Thanks for both tips. Glad all is well.
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As everyone else said, I’m glad nothing really bad happened. Yes, a sense of humor really helps, but the good kind, not the nasty, cutting kind so often masquerading as “comedy” today. A good laugh is marvelous!
janet
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These are the benefits ( after the VM fiasco ) of being in a smaller community! 🙂 When my neighbor, who was also my sister’s MIL, didn’t respond to anyone and my BIL asked me to meet him there….he was upstairs with her ( fallen out of bed / had a stroke ) and I was calling 911. We ended up with a firetruck, police car and an ambulance within 5 minutes / it was crazy! But good.
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Lucky the two of you are resilient! Imagine getting voice mail! I can just imagine that happening in some circumstances here. We had fires sweeping the city in 2003, and boy did that teach us all to live by our wits and common sense, and of course, a glass of wine when danger had passed, was a real tonic!
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Funny odd how something so benign can turn into a raging drama! This story has everything! Props to your husband for the quick solutions and whoa, or woe to the voicemail! Haha! So glad you didn’t lose anything too valuable and that you all came away from it unharmed 🙂
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Ha, that’s a good story Judy. So glad hubby wasn’t injured. Sometimes it’s difficult to know what’s an emergency and what isn’t. Same with taking kids to the doctors.
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Such drama! And good for you, finding the fun and humor in it! I’d’ve called the fire department, too–I have had a terrible time getting used to calling 911–when I do, I always start with this big apology–“this isn’t really an emergency, but my husband has broken his leg” sort of thing.
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Because the fire was out I felt like 911 wasn’t necessary, but I guess I was wrong. 🙂
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My brother is a retired Fire Chief and I’ve heard stories over the years. I can just imagine the look on the Fire Chief’s face when he eventually got to your voice mail! I would have thought like you … there’s no emergency, I just need some advice, no need to call 911.
I love these – a great story with some drama, suspense, a dash of humour and a happy ending 🙂
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Glad it all worked out with no major mishap. I doubt the firefighters were annoyed – they go long stretches without much to do.
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Quick thinking on both your parts and I’m happy that everything turned out well. Good old google, you can find just about anything you need…just in case you can’t reach the fire department. 🙂
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I’ve learned from you dialing mistake here. Just glad that you were able to handle the fire on your own. Although the red fire engine sent hours late for nothing was a nice touch. This story sounds more like a Seinfeld episode than it should.
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If they were still on, I could send them an idea for a show. 🙂 I learned too – 911 next time.
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Yes, a sense of humor helps us keep our balance during hard times, small and big. Got a chuckle out of your post, but I’m so glad that you two were able to keep everything under control. Phew! There could have been a mighty explosion. Bet you enjoyed that glass of wine.
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LOL Judy – all’s well that ends well! I remember as a kid we had smoke coming out of our dryer. My mom called the fire department and they too sent a large hook and ladder with flashing lights and siren. All the neighbors were in the street watching the “drama” unfold. I’ve never been so embarrassed before or since!!!
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I could only imagine all the stories the neighbors had rolling around as they saw that big truck.
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I would have been in panic mode and not thinking clearly enough to make ANY phone call. The only grill emergency I had was turning on our electric grill not knowing my son stored his firecrackers, bottle rockets, etc. for the 4th of July in it. There was a big boom when I opened the lid. I was just fine but it took a while to grow my eyebrows back…. 😊
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Oh my goodness, that beats my story. It’s a good thing you didn’t have a heart attack. 🙂
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