Here is Don Babcock's account of that event:

Before they left, I did the usual "preflight" walk around the van to make sure the trailer was properly attached and that the tires were ok, etc. Everything passed inspection.

The trip is about a six-hour drive. About 4 hours into the trip I received a call from my distraught wife informing me that the trailer was on fire and was a total loss. My first concern was for my wife and seven children, who though shook up, were safe. Next I was concerned about the vehicles. As she related the following story, I became awed and humbled by the cool headed reaction of my son, 14 year old cadet TSgt Adam Babcock who (I believe) may well have saved the lives of my family and possibly several bystanders through his actions.

Having just turned on to highway 150 just out of Lincolnton, my wife heard a strange noise and turned down the radio and asked the children to be quiet so she could tell if something wrong. She looked behind the car and saw sparks coming from the trailer wheel. When she pulled over, they found the trailer wheel on fire. Adam remembered that there was a fire extinguisher just inside the door of the camper. That he even noticed it (I didn't) is remarkable. The camper was not ours. It had been borrowed from friends for the trip and this was only the second time we had borrowed it.

Unfortunately, the fire extinguisher was unusable. He and his mother then tried to put out the fire with blankets and by dousing it with the remaining drinking water and even the lemonade from the travel cooler, all to no avail.

Meanwhile, Phyllis was trying to flag down motorists, many of whom passed by. She also tried unsuccessfully to raise 911 on the cellular phone. Ultimately, the fire department was summoned via another motorist.

Realizing that they could not put out the fire, Phyllis evacuated the children to the safety of another car (by this time several people had stopped to help) and traffic was stopping. Again, with unusual presence of mind, my son determined to get the van disconnected from the burning trailer.

Having thus saved my van and the considerable family possessions inside, he never stopped thinking. With several other adults now on the scene, Adam was the first to recognize that there was a nearly full propane cylinder on the front of the camper. It would surely explode and presented a clear danger to not only my family but also a considerable number of cars and passengers that were backed up on the highway.

While another man disconnected the regulator, my son released the wing nuts from the retaining clamps and the cylinder was removed to safety. My wife urged folks to stay away from the camper that was now engulfed in flames. This was a providence of God as there was a small explosion that sent flames about 15 feet out the side of the camper. We surmise that this was probably a small propane bottle, which is part of a propane camping lantern that was stored inside the camper. If the main bottle had gone up, I have no doubt that several people would have been injured and possibly killed.

The fire department arrived and began to douse the camper with water but by this time the camper was almost completely consumed down to the frame. Upon learning of my son's actions the fire captain commended him for quick thinking in the matter of removing the large propane bottle.

After arranging to have the carcass towed away, my wife was able to continue home with all seven children having only suffered a few scratches from the roadside briars during the evacuation.

I am proud of Adam and I attribute his cool thinking under pressure to much of the preparedness training that he has received in Civil Air Patrol (CAP). While I've had a lot of safety training under various auspices, most of his has been received either at home or via CAP. In particular, I am proud of the way he exhibited leadership, even when other adults were standing around not sure what to do. I have no doubt that had he not removed my van and thought to remove the propane bottle, the accident would have been much worse with far greater property damage and injury. He truly "stood in the gap" when I could not be there. I am awed because I'm not sure that I would have reacted as well. I certainly could not have improved upon his performance.

What can we learn from this? I know that from now on, I will make sure that I have a LARGE capacity fire extinguisher on board and that it will be maintained in top condition. I don't have one in the van but I will.

Second, when I borrow equipment, I must check to see if the owner has maintained the safety equipment.

Finally, I've learned that CAP is one of the best investments that I could have ever made in my son's future. The opportunities that it has afforded me to work with him in the mutual development of emergency preparedness skills is without question one of the key factors in the safe outcome of this incident.

Here is Tammy's story:

Wow! It is amazing, and a blessing that after the accident on the way back from Atlanta each member of the Babcock family is okay! We are all thankful for that.

After speaking with Phyllis I wanted to take the time to say that she did a great job under very trying circumstances. She and Don are both to be commended on a job well in progress of raising seven children.

It amazes me that in the middle of a tragedy Katelyn (the oldest daughter) managed to take care of 5 other children in a kind by-passer's car. Can you imagine the uncomfortable feeling being in a stranger's car while your mother and brother are trying to put out a fire and save the family car?

Not knowing what to do on her own Katelyn sought the help of "Our heavenly Father." She led the others in prayer and then continued to lead them in praise and prayer songs until the crisis situation had passed. Adam was a wonderful levelheaded person in a crisis and so was Katelyn in the leading of 5 others.

In regard to Mom and Dad, they are pretty special people raising these children. Don and Phyllis found out in a crisis situation that their training, love, discipline, and prayers came to fruition.

Are there other heroes in this situation? You had better believe it! The Speeds had loaned their camper to this family and are only thankful that everyone is all right! They are trusting in God's providence whether it will be replaced.

Tragedy and crisis are hard! They are uncomfortable. Praise the Lord for His protection. As we learn what He is teaching us we can apply His wisdom in trying times!

Way to go Babcocks! Way to go Speeds! God bless!