Mysterious Ways

Yesterday I was on the water in Colevill by 520, fished a little downstream from there and then had a gut feeling that I should run upstream to fish some areas near everts before the crowd arrives, so being dark, and the only boat on the river I cruised through the redwing no wake zones to a spot near everts.
Shame on me.

Saw from a distance there was a boat near where I wanted to go, and I didn’t want to crowd them so I hit a nearby spot quick that I’ve never fished near Wisconsin channel. I noticed a campfire going at a cabin right close to where I wanted to go and thought, wow, they had a late night!! So I fished this new spot for just a few short minutes and then ran .5 miles to the spot near the other boat and campfire. Half way there the campfire suddenly goes from beer drinking height to 20′ tall…I see the other boat on shore already and they are running to the cabin, that I now realize is on fire.
I beach boat as fast as possible grab two pails and start dumping water on the fire. The first two gentlemen who were fishing nearby got the sleeping family out just in time thank God! I was there moments later to help contain the fire.

I’ve never had to be in that situation before and after, I was overwhelmed with gratitude toward people who do that for a living. Thank you!

We stopped the fire from wrecking much, which was the easy part, but watching the family who was in trouble moments before was not as easy to watch, what a tough day yesterday must have been.

By 645 there wasn’t much else to do to help so I left and fished nearby, then eventually made my way back down river to pick up a friend who had called to fish.

Kind of hit me while idling back through red wing no wake… That if I hadn’t blown through that no wake yesterday morning, I would’ve been about as late as the sheriff’s boat was to the scene, which was very quick btw.

Oh how things work in mysterious ways. How odd indeed. I was grateful I had made the decisions I did early that morning.

Huge Pat on the back to the two gentlemen there first! You saved some lives yesterday!!!
WAY TO GO!

My body ached all day from the early morning frantic exercise, yet my mind was telling me I could’ve done more and done it faster. I think about the good people of this world who sacrifice for others safety. Catching a fish yesterday after that event just wasn’t a big priority.

To the family, best wishes and recovery.

Man can I relate. Last night with my two oldest kids in the truck we came on a brand new crew cab truck up on it’s top in a corn field. Lights still on and only one car off to another side of the field. Told the 20 year old to stay in the truck and ran out through a wet ditch out into the field with my oldest kid. Air bags had all gone off so it was hard to see in the vehicle being it was dusk and raining. Came around the back side of the truck on the drivers side to see legs twitching, sticking out the drivers side. It looked at first like he was under the vehicle. That image is stuck in my head. Ran up and as calmly as I could asked if they were ok and what they needed. It was the passenger digging around looking for his phone. Uff Dah! Called his phone and he got out after finding it and looked none the worse. He shook my hand and thanked us for stopping multiple times. Just glad he and the driver were ok. Got home and that image was still there of his legs wiggling. It’s still there. Texted a friend who’s a retired cop and thanked him for what he did for a living. God bless the boys in blue and firemen! I couldn’t do it. He said you’d be amazed how many people don’t stop to offer assistance cause they don’t want to get involved or be held liable for trying to help, so hats off to you for diving in and helping in what could of had a much different outcome!

basseyes wrote:

be held liable for trying to help

I find the last statement true and sad. All you want to do is help. But the other person wants a quick buck.
Good for you guys.

Goes to show that you NEVER know how your day is going to turn out and to cherish every last second. A bad situation was stonewalled from getting worse by the help of some selfless few. Hats off to all involved and for a speedy recovery.

Tuma wrote:

I find the last statement true and sad. All you want to do is help. But the other person wants a quick buck.

Minnesota does have a Good Samaritan law that makes it more difficult for someone to sue a person who was attempting to render aid after an accident. It’s not perfect, obviously, but the bar would be set pretty high.

FB, good work in the improvised fire-fighting job!

Grouse

These are great stories and it’s nice to see there are people willing to help. I’ve been in a couple of situations and been able to help others that needed it. It’s surprising how many people won’t stop or don’t seem to care about our fellow man.

I told myself along time ago that if I ever see someone in need I will stop…even if it seems trivial. I ask myself “would I want someone to help them if they were my family member?” If the answer is yes, then I offer assistance. It can be very simple things but it feels very gratifying. I hope it comes back to me or someone in my family when we need it.

Great job FB.

Nice job. The combination of pure adrenaline, the physicality, and mental stress of fires usually put me down for the rest of my shift when we have one. Kudos to you for jumping out and running to it instead of away from it.

Way to go FBRM, basseyes and all “first responders”-whether that’s your job or you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Grouse is right (as always) about the good sam law. Liability would be the least of my worries.

tg

Lol I agree that grouse is usually right… But good for you FBRM! I know a lot of times it feels like, “I’m just doing what I should do,” but that’s what makes u a good guy. Keep it up and rock on!

Edit: And a big THANK YOU to all who serve and protect us, both legally and physically.

Good job fbmr. There are lots of people in this world that would of done nothing. You sir are not one of them. That is a good thing.

Matt Moen wrote:

I told myself along time ago that if I ever see someone in need I will stop…even if it seems trivial. I ask myself “would I want someone to help them if they were my family member?” If the answer is yes, then I offer assistance. It can be very simple things but it feels very gratifying. I hope it comes back to me or someone in my family when we need it.

x2
That is good to know Grouse.
I also have to agree, a very big THANK YOU to all who serve and protect us.

Way to go bud and kudos to all that serve us and put theirs lives on the line.