The Courage to Act

Hero…. Some have said that word is overused. But sometimes “hero” is the only word that fits. Scott Smith, husband of my friend and Chadwell Supply Senior Advisor, Erin Smith, is a hero. Scott says he’s only a guy who did what he thought was right. Here’s the story. You decide…

Friday, May 10, Scott was at home, working in his backyard, when he saw thick, black smoke pouring out of a neighbor’s home. There were vehicles in the driveway, and Scott knew that several people lived in that house. He ran toward the burning building and up the front steps, calling out, listening for a response.

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Scott heard voices inside… He took a deep breath and opened the door. Through the smoke, he saw two women struggling to get themselves and what belongings they could carry outside. With smoke filling the space, Scott helped carry their things and guided the women to safety. “That took two trips,” Scott recalls. “And they said there was still someone else in the house, but I had not seen him.”

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The house was now full of ink-black smoke. Fire rescue was on the way, but would they arrive in time to save that third person? Scott ran into the burning home a third time. He located the other resident, and they left the home together. Scott collapsed in the front yard, coughing hard, trying to catch his breath.

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Fire rescue arrived on scene, treated Scott and the three neighbors, and went to work battling the blaze, which had begun to spread into another neighbor’s yard. Investigators arrived and interviewed Scott, and that’s when everything started to come into focus.

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“I can’t explain why I did it… I didn’t really know those people. Why put myself at risk? It felt like the right thing to do… and, if we were in that situation, I hope someone would help us.” After a moment, Scott adds, “Maybe, when people hear about this, it will encourage them to look for a way they can help someone else. Maybe not run into a burning building, but something to make a difference for someone else.”?

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That morning, when Scott stepped outside to do some yardwork, he didn’t know he would be walking into a moment of decision. He took a big risk in selfless service to others. His actions are a reminder to all of us that, when we see an opportunity to make a difference, do it. We probably won’t have to run into a burning building, but we can all do something to encourage and elevate the people around us.

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Thank you, Scott, for that reminder. Thank you for choosing to act in selfless service to others. To me and to many others—you are a hero.

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#selfless #service #leadership

In the photo: Scott and Erin Smith. Erin, a Senior Advisor in Sales, has been with Chadwell Supply since 2012. Local media covered the fire and interviewed another neighbor.

That story is here: