‘We acted. We knew someone needed help’

It is worth pausing and being thankful that the natural gas explosion and fireball on Wednesday that rocked Maryville was not much worse.

Construction worker John Behme suffered third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body, but his lungs were not damaged and he was able to get in the ambulance on his own. He likely has a long recovery and burns are tricky, but he is alive and there is reason for optimism.

Several cars and pieces of construction equipment were consumed, but no houses were damaged. There have been examples of gas main explosions leveling whole neighborhoods.

Despite early reports that someone died, that was not the case.

Then there are the heroes who refuse the label. We saw police from Glen Carbon and Maryville rushing toward a scene that looked like most imagine the apocalypse would appear. Maryville Police Sgt. Brandon Ponce and Officer Justin Krausz pulled Behme to safety as tires and gas tanks were exploding in the fireball from the gas main.

“We acted,” Ponce said. “We knew someone needed help, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Imagine our community and world if everyone applied that simple, noble idea.

This is a good day to be grateful and offer your service.

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "‘We acted. We knew someone needed help’."