Hey everyone, Coty here. Today, I’m sharing a story that’s a mix of panic, relief, and some valuable lessons learned. It all started with a phone call—or rather, a bunch of missed calls—from Mac, one of my team members. I was on another call, so I didn’t pick up at first. But when I saw his texts blowing up my phone with a “911—Call me back, the trailer is on fire!” I knew I had to act fast.
My heart was racing as I hung up and called him back. My first thought was to tell him to use the pressure washer and hoses to douse the fire, but of course, it wasn’t that simple. We didn’t even have a fire extinguisher on the trailer—huge oversight on my part. Mac was only about five minutes away from my house, so I jumped in the car and raced over, all the while imagining the worst.
When I arrived at the house, there was no truck, no trailer, and—thankfully—no fire. Mac had managed to get the flames under control and was already on his way back to the yard. Talk about relief! I was expecting a charred mess, but the damage was much less severe than I’d feared. What caused the fire? It turns out some molten metal had dropped onto a piece of equipment, igniting it. We were lucky this time, but it could have been much worse.
This close call was a serious wake-up call. We’ve always been careful with our equipment, but this incident made it clear that we needed to step up our safety game. We’re now adding fire extinguishers to every truck and trailer—no excuses.
But here’s the thing: knowing how to handle situations like this is just as important as having the right gear. That’s why I want to recommend the SESW Softwash 101 class to anyone in the pressure washing business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, this class covers everything you need to know, from chemical mixing to safety protocols. Trust me, it’s worth every minute.
After dealing with the fire, I headed to Ace Hardware to pick up those much-needed fire extinguishers. But, because this day couldn’t go smoothly, my phone died just as I was about to pay. And of course, I didn’t have my debit card or ID on me. So there I was, stuck at the store, trying to charge my phone with a barely functional charger, and waiting for what felt like forever.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I got everything sorted out and headed home. Looking back, it’s a relief that everything turned out okay, but it was a day full of lessons learned. If there’s one takeaway from all this, it’s that preparation and training are key. Don’t wait for a crisis to realize what you’re missing.
So, if you’re in the pressure washing game, do yourself a favor—get the right safety gear, and invest in quality training like the SESW Softwash 101 class. It’s the best way to make sure you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
That’s it for today’s adventure. Thanks for following along, and stay safe out there. See you in the next post!
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