|
Sad Situation
(I'm feeling disappointed)
So last night on my way home I encountered a car catching fire by the side of the road. There was only one other vehicle there with hazard lights on, so I rolled my window down and asked if they'd already called for help. They said they had, but no sirens could be heard and there were no other vehicles in sight. I pulled well off the road to a gravel area nearby to keep the road completely clear. I didn't have any fire extinguisher (yes, pretty shameful for me) and no shovel or other implement I could use to throw dirt on the fire. I ran up to the people parked nearby and asked if they had any shovels or extinguishers, and they did not either. I asked if it was their car, and it was not - they had just happened upon it much as I had. The car had just barely started showing flames by this point, and I asked if they'd tried to open the hood. They said they did not. (If a car's engine is trying to catch fire, opening the hood when it is still minor let's the heat escape and dissipate, reducing the chance of spread and availing you of the chance to even hand toss dirt onto the fire - which will arrest most engine fires fairly easily.) It became obvious no more could be done to deal with the fire by us, so I got a flashlight to help direct traffic clear of the car.
The fire department arrived, and quickly started to deal with the matter. before the whole care was involved, they managed to put the car out. When the first equipment had arrived, one firefighter put out some cones and lit a flare, handed me more to light and set out to help direct traffic clear of the scene. When the third response vehicle came, they dropped someone off to direct traffic with a light and signage. This is where I was surprised...
The man asked if the car was mine. I said no. He looked a bit puzzled. He said "So you're uh..." and I responded "Just a good Samaritan." He seemed absolutely confounded at the idea that someone who didn't have any personal stake or gain in the situation could stop and help. What does this say about the average citizen today?
What makes it a little worse is whilst directing the traffic around the scene, I often had to prompt people to get moving as they came alongside the burning car. They didn't care that they were placing themselves and others at greatest risk by exposing themselves most closely to a burning car and obstructing the passage of other vehicles - especially the possibility of more emergency vehicles. One car actually turned around to make another pass - to which I shouted "DON'T SPECTATE! GO HOME!".
Sad situation indeed.
|
