Tuesday, August 11, 2020
In the dead of night, the scanner went off. My grandfather, John Berenato (JB), the fire chief, and I got up and rushed to the car to respond. We pulled up to a house on Central Ave, it was ablaze, fire shooting up over the roof. Men were running about, setting up hoses, putting on gear, donning air bottles to enter the house. No one knew if anyone was home, the residents were nowhere to be seen. My grandfather went to the front door, tried the knob but it was locked. He moved back a few paces and looking around, called for Jack. Jack moved up beside him. My grandfather looked at Jack and said, "Jack, knock that door down." Jack stepped back a few paces, and strode to the door. He didn't run, he simply put his shoulder down and moved at it. When he hit that door, it exploded inward, taking much of the frame with it. He stepped back and some younger firemen, bottled up, moved in to check the house. I didnt know Jack well personally, I met him many times with my grandfather and ate a lot of vegetables from his fields, but that moment has always stuck in my memory. He was a mountain of a man. Rest in peace, big man.
T. Smith
