My friends and I were sitting in the upstairs den discussing business and were becoming so intense with our project and how to handle it, while     throwing ideas back and forth, so involved that we were not aware of the the fire that had started in the old chimney of the hugh house.   It was several minutes before we realized there was even a fire.

     Until the offensive smell invaded our nostrils.  Within seconds we frantically ran to each room to see where the smoke was coming from.   Nothing from upstairs, until the smell hit me strongly in the face. Then I could see the smoke rising from the staircase.   As I quickly desended the stairway to check out the lower floor, I noticed that the fire had started from the old fireplace and was already engulfing the drapes and the walls and was quickly moving to the doorway.

     Quickly pulling my shirt off to use as a mask to cover my face and nose and mouth so I could breathe.   Realizing the front entrance was now completely blocked by fire.   I called out to my friends as I tried to warn them to cover their faces as well.   I cautiously worked my way to the back door,  I beaconed for them to follow me.   It would be our best way of escape.  Just as I thought it was safe a flaming beam fell and narrowly missed me.     Screaming to my friends as they fled in my direction not too far behind me.  "No get back, its not safe this way.   We have to find another way out.   It was too late to make our way back up the staircase, it was all in flame as well.   We knew we had to get out real fast, but how?

     We were scared for our lives.  The smoke was getting thicker by the minute and the flames were engulfing everything.     The windows were impossible to see because of the smoke.  We were screaming, afraid for our lives.  This is not the way to die.  The sweat was pouring off of us, as our clothes clung to our sticky bodies.   It was as if we were being singed by the heat of the fire itself, it was so intense.   We all tried to scramble to safety, but there was no where to hide, as we tumbled over each other in the mad rush for survival.  I yelled for everyone to hit the floor.  "We need to be below the smoke, its easier to breathe.  Try and keep your mouth and nose covered as best you can it is our only chance."  I find myself yelling as each of us try to stay close together.  "If you believe in God, now is the time to pray,"  hearing their voices whisper in prayer for help, as I also included my own prayer.   The clock was ticking away,  it felt like hours as we hoped that help would come to us.  We knew with certainty that we had to try and remain calm and help each other for it would be a close race.

     Crawling with our bodies close to the floor, trying desperately not to fill up our lungs with the life sucking black smoke, while hoping against all odds that the beams from above wouldn't hit one of us.

      The room quickly filled up with heavier dense black smoke, making it even harder to breathe.  What else will happen to us we all wondered?  Will we get out of here alive or die in this massive inferno?  Suddenly there was light from a distance and with it was hope.  "Is that a voice? It is."  The voice of an angel.  

     "Is there anyone in here?"  As the flashlight was searching all around the rooms.  "We are over here, please help us?"  We yelled.   Quickly a courageous hero covered in nothing but a soaked blanket thrown over his body was battling his way in to lead us to safety.   He had  a fire extingisher in his hand.   Fighting the flames as he led us to safety.  Finally what seemed to be hours, we escaped into fresh air, gasping for breath and crying excitedly.  Thanking God aloud for sending this special angel to us. 

    This courageous Hero.  The reason we are still alive.