This might be a true story . . . . who knows?

[870express 116]

So, as you may know, the Mississippi River in south Louisiana is lined with refineries and chemical plants.  A fire broke out at one chemical plant, and the local fire department raced to the scene and immediately called for backup - they needed a lot of backup because of the proximity to a large refinery.  Fifteen other crews showed up with their shiny new engines and ladder trucks.  They looked at the inferno and determined it was already out of control.  Best thing they could do was try to keep the fire from spreading to the neighboring plants.  The plant manager begged the fire crews to try to put the fire out because his plant warehouse contained forty million dollars worth of chemicals.  No one was willing to tackle a fire that was already out of control, nor were they willing to risk their lives and shiny new engines on a lost cause.  The plant manager proclaimed that he would award one million dollars to any fire department who could save his warehouse full of valuable chemicals.  There were no takers.

 

As the crews organized to keep the fire from spreading, they heard an approaching siren and horn blaring and saw an old, dirty, beat-up engine bearing down on them at full speed.  A group of old men on board were yelling "Get out of the way!  Get out of the way!"  Firemen lept off the road as the old truck barrelled through the main gate to the plant and crashed into the first plant building near the fire.  To the astonishment of the onlookers, the old men clammored down off the truck, connected hoses, and deftly set about controlling the blaze.  The other crews joined in the effort, and within 15 minutes, the fire was under control.  Everyone was amazed at the bravery and professionalism the elderly firemen had shown.

 

When the fire was out, the plant manager approached the elderly firemen, thanked them profusely, and explained his offer of one million dollars to the crew that saved his expensive chemical warehouse.  A crowd gathered around them as the plant manager asked the old fire chief what he planned to do with all that money.  "Well, thank you very much. I don't know about ALL of the money, but I'll tell you one thing for sure.  The FIRST thing I'm gonna do is get the brakes fixed on that fire truck."

[Pullstart 59,728]

Great story!  It’s funny how one side calls it bravery and one side calls it bad luck!

[953 nut 51,713]

That story (in different renditions, Hay barn-House of ill repute, you name it) has been around forever!  Thanks for sharing.  

[ebinmaine 63,141]

Good stuff!!

[JAinVA 4,619]

Richard is correct.My favorite version was told by Jerry Clower. The title was Burning Building. You tube has a lot of his routines and they are all funny.