Community Fire Company Chief John Sharpe has responded to possibly thousands of calls in his 40 years as a firefighter but the one this past Saturday hit him especially hard.
His auto repair business in Thompson was destroyed when a vehicle caught fire.
“We made a very fast attack to try and darken the fire down, but it was just too much of a fire load at that time,” said Community Fire Lt. Anthony Fitzherbert told WFSB.
Sharpe spent the weekend sifting through debris in the 100-year-old building unsure about the future.
“It’s going to take some time to absorb. The compassion and support has been phenomenal. I don’t know where to start. But I want everyone to know that I am very, very blessed for everything that’s been done,” the fire chief said..
Fitzherbert also has been moved by the support. “For John to lose everything that he worked so hard for. People just, it’s amazing. It’s heartbreaking, but amazing."
