(Submitted/ Shawn McCullough)

By Nigel Maxwell

Close calls

Prince Albert tow truck driver credits fire extinguisher for saving home

Jan 18, 2022 | 8:00 AM

Shawn McCullough feels strongly had he not hand a fire extinguisher on hand, he may not have a kitchen, or even a house to be standing in.

Late Saturday night after cooking himself a late night snack, McCullough went to bed, but failed to take the pot off the hot stove. Minutes later his three dogs alerted him something was wrong and upon exiting his room to see what was the matter, was met with a wall of smoke stretching from his kitchen.

“My dogs were just trying to get out because it was bright orange in my kitchen,” he recalled.

After letting the dogs out, and waking up his sleeping girlfriend, McCullough went to work to control the fire.

“I tried to cover it up with some tea towels and that didn’t help, then I remembered I had a fire extinguisher in my tow truck,” he said.

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(Submitted photo/ Shawn McCullough)

Within five minutes McCullough was successful in getting the grease fire out, and even carried the burning pot outside. In the process though he burned both his hands.

“As I was running, flames started coming out ot he pot and I couldn’t drop it so I held onto it,” he said.

Fortunately McCullough’s girlfriend was not hurt and neither were his pets which includes three dogs, three cats, two rabbits and a pot bellied pig.

That being said the damage is extensive and includes both his stove and dish washer, not to mention all the blackened walls. But McCullough recognizes had it not been for the fire extinguisher, the situation could have been much worse.

“If it wasnt for that, the most I could have done was duck everybody out of the house and just watch it burn,” he said.

As McCullough has no insurance, he’s paying for the damage out of pocket. To assist, the owners of Gateway North towing, have initiated a fundraising effort and as of Monday had raised over $2,000.

In a Facebook post, owner Danny Goodwin encouraged people to etransfer blueberry132@hotmail.com, but added any help is appreciated.

“Donated time to do drywall or paint or anything you can offer we will take,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell