Four months after Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana awakened to the sound
of their home’s smoke detector, the driver of the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS
visited the Oak Ridge (NC) Fire Department to thank the firefighters that
helped saved his home.
“If it weren’t for these guys, I wouldn’t have a house,” said Harvick who
brought his 18-month-old son Keelan to tour the fire station on Thursday with
Chief Steve Simmons. “We didn’t think anything was actually on fire, because we
couldn’t see any flames and figured the smoke was coming from the fireplace.”
Members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department were dispatched to the Harvick
family’s home in the early morning hours of November 27, 2013. With the help of
thermal imaging cameras, the unit was able to locate the fire, which was located
between the basement ceiling and main level of the house.
“Chief Simmons and his guys knew exactly what to do and were able to
contain a small mess that could have been a very big mess,” said Harvick.
“We’re very fortunate.”
“I cannot think of better example of how smoke detectors save lives than
Kevin and DeLana’s story,” said Simmons. “They have a very nice home and lots
of nice things, but the best investment they made in that house was the smoke
alarm.”
In addition to this week’s firehouse visit, Harvick and the No. 4 Budweiser
Chevrolet team will host five members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department at Sunday’s
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Chief Simmons and
four additional firefighters will serve as honorary crew members in
appreciation of their efforts last November.
The No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet will also carry a special decal this weekend
to recognize the members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department who responded to the
emergency call. The decal features the Oak Ridge Fire Department’s badge and
the words “Smoke detectors save lives.” It will be located on the C-post of the
car.
Harvick and his family are currently living with his mother-in-law, Joyce
Linville, in nearby Kernersville, N.C., while repairs continue on their primary
residence.
Very cool to see them honor those first responders. Also cool to see a skateboard deck mounted above the fireplace!
ReplyDeleteVery nice to see these men honored. As a volunteer firefighter, I know first hand that we sometimes get little appreciation. Not sure if this is a volunteer company or a professional company, but we both do the same tasks and it is neat to see them honored. Not usually a Harvick fan, but run 'em hard this weekend, Kevin!!!
ReplyDelete