On the first anniversary of the fire, which destroyed a historic downtown building, the owners of McNeely Shoe Service recognized the Poplar Bluff Fire Department for its efforts in battling the blaze.
The fire, which was reported at 10:17 a.m. Aug. 10, 2016, destroyed the building at 319 Vine St., housing two businesses -- Rosie's Gifts and McNeely Shoe Service -- and six apartments.
Poplar Bluff and Butler County firefighters battled the fire for more than 12 hours, using an estimated 2.5 million gallons of water to put the fire out. The cause of the fire was ruled undetermined, but believed to have resulted from an electrical issue and started in a second-story ceiling.
In presenting fire Chief Ralph Stucker with a plaque Thursday morning, Beverly Roach said, she and her husband, who have owned McNeely Shoe Service for more than 30 years, wanted to say "thank you and what better day to do it."
Roach reminded Stucker, as well as Battalion Chief Stacy Harmon and firefighters Jon Miller and Austin Armes, who were among those called back to respond, they were here "a year ago today at about this time; you all were in major, major heat" as they battled the fire in the block east of McNeely's current location.
With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees that day and high humidity, four city firefighters, including Miller, went to the hospital for dehydration and heat-related issues.
"We wanted to show our appreciation," Beverly Roach said. "I don't think the fire department gets recognized as much as they need to be."
As Beverly Roach read the plaque, she said, it was being presented to the department "in appreciation for the professional and caring public service in suppressing the fire and protecting the adjacent properties while assisting all those effected by the fire."
Along with the plaque, the Roaches presented Stucker and the firefighters with an antique fire extinguisher, which was hanging in the back of their business the day of the fire.
Bennie Roach said Stucker has been trying to get the fire extinguisher for years.
His wife agreed.
"We would talk about it whenever he comes in," she said. "He said that was just so awesome, so we're (giving) that to him."
After the presentation, handshakes and hugs were exchanged between the firefighters and Roaches.
"That's very nice, very nice," Harmon said.
Being recognized, according to Miller, is "great," but "it's our job" to do what they did.
"It's always nice to have someone" who is appreciative, Miller said.
From their location at the intersection of Vine and Broadway, Beverly Roach said, they would regularly see the fire trucks responding out of Station No. 1 on Broadway.
"When you see the fire trucks go by, you know they're going somewhere, but seeing first hand what you all do, it's makes a difference," she said. " ... It's a bit personal whenever it happens to you."
On the day of the fire, the Roaches initially reported an apparent electrical issue, and firefighters subsequently found Freon in the air inside the business.
"Then, the next thing you know the tone goes off again (reporting) smoke around the corner," Stucker said.
When the second call went out, Beverly Roach said, one of the firefighters looked at her and asked where the address was. The woman said she pointed upstairs.
"He said: 'Ma'am, it's time for you to go. We really do have a fire,'" Beverly Roach recalled. " ... That was kind of the realization that something was really wrong."
The building, according to earlier reports, had 10-foot high ceilings with a lower subceiling, and the fire was between them and the roof.
The fire damaged the upstairs apartments, as well as Rosie's Gift, while the shoe store suffered water and smoke damage.
Throughout the day, "no matter how busy they were ... any of them, if they saw Bennie or I, they were asking were we OK" and saying, 'it's going to be all right, everything will be fine,'" Beverly Roach said. "You just see them in a different perspective" after something like the fire.
Beverly Roach compared the firefighters to veterans going off to war.
"You're not there; you don't see it, but you appreciate their service," she said.
Stucker, who the Roaches have known for a long time, went back in to Bennie Roach's repair work area to retrieve items.
"(Stucker) came out with his little hammer, his hand tools," Beverly Roach explained. "He gathered them up.
"Of course, they were all rusty, smoky ... he brought them out to Bennie. When (Stucker) gave them to Bennie, he had tears rolling down. Bennie had tears rolling down."
Bennie Roach said he had asked for one hammer, and "he came out with all of them. He said: 'I didn't know which one you was talking about.'"
Stucker, who had seen Bennie Roach working with his tools, had "scooped them up in his hands. ... That means something," said Beverly Roach.
The Roaches had not been allowed back into the store.
"We couldn't go get anything," Bennie Roach explained. "They wouldn't even let us go over and lock the door. They said it was too dangerous."
So many came together that day to offer assistance, said Beverly Roach, who indicated they later learned from customers that such entities as the Missouri Department of Transportation had blocked Pine Street.
"We didn't realize; we were sitting underneath the gazebo most of the day watching all of this," she said. "We didn't realize what was taking place everywhere else. "