“The Fire Chief and the Angry Resident”

Where Are You in This Story?

The fire chief was the only paid employee of the Anytown Fire Department. All the other fire fighters were well-trained and committed volunteers.

One evening a resident built a fire in his backyard pit. He overestimated the wood needed. As flames devoured his tower of logs, the heat called to mind the fiery furnace in Daniel chapter 3 (#Shadrach#Meshach#Abednego).

Sweat dripped off his nose. The resident feared flames from the roaring pit would escape. What if they ignited his parched brush pile nearby—or his roof? He didn’t have a garden hose, and it would take too long to go inside and hunt for a bucket.

He thought, “My taxes pay the fire chief. I’ll call downtown, then wait to be served.”