Sunday will be a kind of Thanksgiving Day for Kevin and Delana Harvick.
Sure, Kevin will be racing in the STP 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.
But the couple might not be there – let alone still alive – if it wasn’t for the efforts of firefighters from the Oak Ridge (N.C.) Fire department.
The first responders found and contained a smoldering fire within the Harvick’s house last November 27 before it became fully engulfed and did more damage – both property- and life-wise.
The Harvicks were awoken in the early hours of the morning by the sound of a smoke alarm. While they saw and smelled smoke, they didn’t detect any fire, but called the fire department to respond.
Smartest move they likely ever made in their lives.
The department responded quickly, and using thermal imaging equipment, found a simmering blaze between the basement ceiling and main floor of the house.
The Harvicks and son Keelan were able to get out of the house quickly and safely.
“If it weren’t for these guys, I wouldn’t have a house,” Harvick said in a team news release. “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.”
Harvick and his son toured the Oak Hill fire station on Thursday and gave personal thanks to Chief Steve Simmons.
“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,” Harvick said. “We’re very fortunate.”
Added Chief Simmons, “I cannot think of better example of how smoke detectors save lives than Kevin and DeLana’s story. They have a very nice home and lots of nice things, but the best investment they made in that house was the smoke alarm.”
To show further thanks, Harvick and his Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet team will host those firefighters who responded to the fire at Sunday’s STP 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. The firefighters will also serve as honorary crew members and watch much of the race from atop the war wagon in Harvick’s pit stall.
Harvick’s race car will also carry a special “Smoke detectors save lives” decal recognizing both the firefighters and department for their life-saving efforts.
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