The scene that late mid-December day was horrific. Thankfully, the manager in the shop where the explosion occurred kept a level head.
"We were dropping a fuel tank out of a vehicle and unfortunately some static electricity set the fuel off," said Ken Krucki. "There was a short period of time when were able to get the technicians and make sure that everybody was out the front of the building."
And in the middle of all that fire and chaos from across the street came a life line, an offer of help from a competitor: Hedrick's Chevrolet.
"It's not about Chevrolet, it's not about Ford. It's about helping a neighbor," said Beverly Bowling. "That's what we're all about, that's what the world needs to be more about."
Three of Hedrick's work bays are now being utilized by Future Ford. And all the mechanics are back on the job working adjusted schedules in the two remaining service bays at Future Ford.
Company insurance has reimbursed them for tools lost in the fire. Service Director Tracy Gill says from top to bottom everyone is working together to make it 'business as usual'.
"The guys needed work, to stay busy," said Tracy Gill. "You just put your head down and go to work. It takes your mind off all these other thinks that are going around you."
Nine months from now Gill expects the demolished shop to be replaced with a new state of the art service facility. "Our clients continue to come in and that's what we needed."
It will take time to rebuild here, but for now it is business as usual with a nod to rebuilding and to those who saved lives and livelihoods.
