By Jennifer Redmore

Shortly after my daughter and I sat down for lunch on Nov. 3, I smelled smoke. No one else noticed, but I was sure I could smell something burning or melting. I quickly ran down the stairs to our laundry room. I was unable to see any smoke or fire, but decided to check the refrigerator and washer and dryer just in case. It was then I noticed a faint wisp of smoke coming from the top of our dryer (it was stacked on the washing machine). I thought something inside was the cause, but when I opened the dryer door, all was normal. Then I noticed a small flame under the dryer on top of the washing machine. I yelled for my husband who came down and I showed him what I saw. While he got our fire extinguisher, I called 911.

The 911 operator was very calm and took my address and name. He instructed me to get everyone out of the house. By this time, the basement was filling up with smoke, despite my husband's efforts with two separate fire extinguishers. I yelled for my sons, ages 5 and 4, to get out of the house. They did and, without shoes or coats, headed to our "meeting spot." I then told my shoeless, coatless 23-month-old daughter to follow the big boys. She did and they waited for her in the driveway. I then ran in my room and scooped up our 7-week-old son and dragged our golden retriever out of the house with us. My husband was coughing from the smoke as he came upstairs, and we all went to our meeting spot.

Within minutes, we could all hear the sirens. We had never been so happy to hear sirens. The firefighters arrived and went right to work. Many of them were ready to go right in, while others were preparing the equipment in the event the fire was severe. At least four Binghamton police officers responded to shut down traffic so that the fire crews could do their work. The response was prompt, professional and impressive. The men from Company 1 and 2 were willing to do what needed to be done in order to keep our house from burning. Within a few long minutes, the first firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. Then a great many more checked every inch of our home, looking for fire hiding in the walls. Fortunately, there was only minor damage. But, most importantly, all of us were safe.

My family and I will always be grateful for all of those that responded that afternoon: our neighbors who offered us blankets, our friends who took our kids into their homes, and family members who helped us clean up. Even a retired chief who drove by with his wife stopped to make sure my family and I were alright. Our good friend EMS Office Captain J. C. Colling stopped by to check on things, and he stayed for hours reassuring and helping us. We are enormously thankful for the 911 dispatcher, the fire investigators and assistant chief, the paramedics and of course all of the fire fighters who worked so hard that afternoon.

But I think most of all we are grateful for any firefighter who has ever spent time in a class room talking with 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds about fire prevention and safety. It was during Fire Prevention Month that my sons insisted we practice our escape route and meet at our assembly point. We never would have done this without the teachers and the firefighters who visited the class rooms at St. Thomas Aquinas School. Words cannot describe how much my family and I appreciate what was done for us that day. My family and I have always said a prayer whenever we heard a siren -- now we pray even harder.

Thank you for all that you do each and every day.