Do you remember the first time you saw a fire truck? For me, it was in one of my favorite TV series: “Emergency.” It was so exciting when the emergency vehicles from Squad 51 drove out with their sirens blaring. The dramatic music played during this scene was awesome as well. This was set in Los Angeles. Out on Papaw’s farm in East Tennessee, I hardly ever saw an emergency vehicle, but when I did, it wasn’t the experience I thought it would be.
It happened during the Christmas season. I don’t remember how old I was when my mom took me to see Santa Claus at one of the shopping malls in Halls. I expected him to arrive on his sleigh while on the back of a flatbed truck like my papaw’s. Instead, Santa rode in on a fire truck. I had never been that close to a real one before then. I was surprised at how large it was. They didn’t look that size on TV. On top of that, they blipped the siren a couple of times. I had no idea it was so piercing of a noise. Everyone cheered and waved as Santa stood and began to throw out candy. Everyone except me. I was overwhelmed, scared, and close to tears. Many years later, I was felt the same way around a fire truck, but for a different reason.
It happened late one Friday evening as Tim was taking me back home from a date. We had just had just crossed over Maynardville highway and onto Norris Freeway when we got behind a fire truck. At first, I didn’t think too much about it. As we followed it, I expected it to turn down a side road, but it didn’t. It continued traveling in the same direction as us. I became more concerned. “It’s not turning off anywhere.” Bless his heart, Tim tried to make me feel better: “ I’m sure it’ll turn off soon.” Nope. It stayed on the freeway.
I was acutely aware of the fact that the fire truck was getting closer to my home by the second. My palms became sweaty as we followed it down Highland Ridge. At that point, we were within a couple of miles of my home. After it drove off the ridge, it turned left and into my neighborhood. “It turned onto Miller Road!” This was way too close for comfort. Was it heading to one of my neighbors’ house or mine? Soon it reached the stop sign at Pedigo Road, which was the road I loved on. It put on a right turn signal and turned onto it. “It’s turning down Pedigo!” There was no consoling me this time. I literally felt sick to my stomach. My heart was pounding. I imagined seeing my family’s homestead in flames. As we neared the bridge and Papaw’s farm, I couldn’t breathe.
Before the fire truck reached the bridge over Bull Run Creek, it pulled off the road. I looked toward my mom’s and my grandparents’ houses and, to my relief, there were no flames. One of the fire fighters we saw, we knew from school. We stopped and asked what was wrong. He told us there was a small fire up on the ridge. It felt as if a thousand pounds had been lifted off of my chest. I said quick a prayer of thanks
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house no made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV)
Let’s face it, most of us are attached to our earthly homes or even our family’s home. My grandparents’ house was my home as well as my parent’s house. But these homes can easily be destroyed. If you are a Believer, then be assured that you have an eternal home with the Lord waiting for you.
Wouldn’t it be cool if Johnny Gage and Roy DeSoto from “Emergency” had been on the real fire truck instead of Santa Claus? Instead of wanting to cry, I would’ve been yelling: “Keep the candy. I want an autograph!”

Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.