This past week we spent a few days at the cabin. While there we had many great and fun experiences, along with them we had some pretty scary ones. One such scary one was when Mason and I were in the garage changing the battery in the snowmachine. I was busy inside taking care of some issues at work, and instructing Mason one step at a time on how to change the battery. He would run and do a step then report back for the next instructions. I soon realized he didn’t really need the detailed instructions, he was doing much better with just letting him know the goal. He soon had the oil reservoir off and the air cleaner removed. I then ran out real quick to help him replace the battery and button the machine back up.
All went well we tested the new battery it worked great. So I thought I would top off the gasoline while I was already out there. We struggled with the can because we couldn’t find a good funnel. We think at least 4 of the 5 gallons made it into the tank, the rest went on the floor and all over the tools we were using. I am not sure if it was the fumes of gasoline in the air or childhood memories that helped me think of the next brilliant idea. I asked Mason to run in the house and grab some matches, and told him we could burn off the gas on the wrenches. I knew that there was gas all around the floor of the snowmachine so I walked clear up to the driveway of the garage at least 20′ away from the spill sight. I lit the first match and the wrenches burned pretty clean but there was still some on the other side of them so I flipped them over and lit another match. It was just like the movies, the flames burst into the air, across the ceiling of the garage and down to the gasoline soaked snowmachine. I couldn’t believe my eyes, partially because they were singed and burned from the flames I suppose. I ran over to the ball of fire and began to try and smother it with any form of cover I could find, nothing helped. I ran in the house remembering there used to be a fire extinguisher that fell one time and hit grandpa on the head, he must have moved it in frustration because the nail was still there but no extinguisher was in sight. I ran back out and began to through snow, dirt, or anything I could see that would help douse the flames.
Within seconds the entire garage was filled with a thick black, suffocating smoke. I would run in and out of the garage to get some fresh air between feeble attempts to extinguish the flames. By this time the kids had seen the panic on my face and ran into the cabin to inform Jodi that, "Dad is on fire and so is the garage." I felt a burning sensation on my right foot and looked down to find my entire leg was engulfed in flames. Without hesitation I ran out into the snow to relieve the burning and put out the newly found blaze. It was at this time that I thought in my heart, "well it is just a cabin." I was out of breath my leg was in pain the flames were so out of control now that the surrounding materials were catching flame. It was a matter of time before the plastic gas tank would melt and spill the entire tank of gas on the floor. It was hopeless. If I can’t get the small amount of gas extinguished how can I battle 5 gallons of it. As typical in my life, I was in over my head. Just then Jodi came running to my side, it was as if the fire department had arrived, I felt a new sense of motivation. Like a machine she began helping through snow on the blaze. With the help of her and Mason we were able to get the situation in control, we pushed and pulled the burning machine out of the garage and almost buried it in snow from our shovels. We then rolled the machine over so we could get more snow on the track that would not stop burning.
I wish I could have had the entire event of camera because I am certain Jodi, Mason, and I put on a great show as we ran in and out of the garage with shovels throwing snow on the blaze. We were all coughing from the smoke as we were trying to keep the frantic pace up. I would like to think that we put out this blaze but I know that a power greater than our entire families’ efforts was there helping us. The tank should have melted or at least the fuel lines coming out of it. Everything else on the machine melted why stop there? Tender Mercies! It seems that everyday I get more and more in debt to the Savior, He is always there, whether I deserve the mercy or not. When I called to break the bad news to Dad, he was very understanding and loving. He informed me that maybe Grandpa Parker and Michele were there as well, helping in our efforts.
We were pretty bummed about the whole event, but rallied as a family and performed a major overhaul on the the two machines up there, the other twin to this machine had a burned up engine. Dad said we could make it into a project sometime to swap them out. Lex and Mason were more than excited to help and we were able to make the switch and spend some fun times riding. snowboarding, and sledding behind the newly overhauled machine. I will always cherish the time we spent as a team overhauling the machines out there in the cold garage. Someday I may look back and laugh, but today I I full of gratitude for the "hidden help" we received.