Belgreen couple wakes man inside burning home
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Terry and Sharline Dempsey routinely make the drive down Franklin 187 as they head to Russellville from their Belgreen home.
Their Sunday morning drive to get breakfast after church was much different this week, however.
Shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday the couple passed a house near Belgreen High School. As they drove by, both saw smoke and wondered if it was coming from the home.
They turned their vehicle around and saw that the house was indeed on fire.
"We called 911 as soon as we saw the house was on fire," Sharline said.
Terry got out of the car and walked to the front porch.
"We didn't think anybody was there," he said.
What the couple didn't know was that 28 year-old David Borden was inside still asleep.
"I heard the banging on the door and smelled some smoke," Borden said.
"I went out my bedroom door and saw the fire."
Borden climbed out of the house and made his way around to the front where he saw the Dempseys.
"The lady hollered at me and pulled me out to the road," he said.
"I was pretty shocked because I saw the fire before I saw her."
When he made his way to the front he saw that his parents car was gone.
"I knew that at least one of them was gone but I didn't know if one had gotten sick and missed church or what," Borden said.
The Dempseys said they did what anyone would have done in that situation, but were quick to give credit to others.
"I think God deserves the credit for putting us there," Sharline said. "We didn't save his life – God did."
"God is the true hero," her husband added.
Sharline Dempsey said the fire spread rapidly through the house in just a matter of minutes after Borden came out.
"The Belgreen Volunteer Fire Department got there right after that," Terry said.
"They deserve a lot of credit for all they do. All volunteer firefighters do."
Borden said he doesn't know if he would have been awakened by the fire before it was too late or not, but is grateful the Dempseys were there when they were.
"I don't know what would have happened," he said.
