Columbia Gas of Ohio understands the importance of fire extinguishers. Once a year, the utility brings in an outside company for a full inspection and refill.
After this year’s inspection, Field/Service Technicians Dallas Meeker and Brad Roynon headed out to that day’s assignment with a freshly charged fire extinguisher. They didn’t realize just how soon they would need it.
As Meeker was in an excavation finishing the first job, with Roynon monitoring from above, they heard screams coming from a nearby house. A woman ran toward them, yelling that her garage was on fire. They could see black smoke pouring from the top of it, so they grabbed their fire extinguisher and leapt into action.
While Meeker called 911, Roynon asked the distraught woman if there was anyone else in the house. She told him that her 2-year-old daughter was still inside, so Roynon quickly went inside to get her. He was thankful that the child understood the situation and came right to him. “My worst fear was that she would run in the opposite direction toward the fire,” said Roynon.
Meanwhile, Meeker assessed the growing fire and decided that he could extinguish it without putting himself in danger. He gave credit to his training at Columbia Gas for his quick action. “We go through fire training where we work on live fires. You can tell someone how to use a fire extinguisher, but it’s completely different when you have to use it live,” said Meeker.
Within three minutes, everyone was safe and the incident was over. The fire department credited Meeker and Roynon with saving the house from significant damage. Mike Baxter, Columbia Gas Field Operations Leader, was proud of his workers: “By the numbers, they handled that emergency just how we want them to. They couldn’t have done it any better.”
