STEVE STEINER
Managing Editor
The last thing Adam Spooner ever expected was to be honored for having rescued a dog from a burning house fire on April 10. Having saved the dog’s life was reward enough for him. Others, however, felt different and surprised him this past Thursday, April 13.
It began with a trick to get him into the Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative (PRTC) office.
As soon as he arrived, he realized he had been tricked into coming. On hand to greet him were coworkers, members with Colleton County Fire-Rescue, and his family.
Spooner said he was surprised people even knew about it, including his wife and two sons. He’s not one to brag about things, but word travels fast in a small community
“I had no idea,” he said.
Spooner is a humble, hardworking family man and doesn’t believe his action was worthy of recognition.
“My coworkers would have done the same thing,” he said. Yet despite the recognition from CCF-R Chief Barry McRoy and others, Spooner said what took place wasn’t by chance.
“I do believe that God puts certain people in certain positions for reasons, and I believe He just had me there for that reason,” said Spooner.
ABOUT THE RESCUE
“The day began like every normal Monday,” he said. He was attending a residential service call and after completing the work, Spooner and the resident stood outside, talking.
As they spoke, Spooner said he kept hearing a beeping sound from the near distance but couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. A few minutes later the daughter of the resident ran out, saying she believed the neighbor’s house was on fire.
Spooner rushed to the house, which was owned by an older woman who wasn’t home at the time.
“I saw smoke coming out of the chimney,” he said. Smoke also was pouring out from several opened windows.
Inside a dog could be heard frantically barking.
Spooner leapt into action and kicked down the door. However, it took several attempts to get the dog out of the house.
“I went in three times because I kept choking on smoke,” he said. But his perseverance paid off and the dog was rescued.
Once Fire-Rescue arrived, Spooner went on to his next assignment, thinking nothing further about what he had just done.
