A fire that started in the wee hours of the morning a little over a week ago may have destroyed three local businesses but it didn’t destroy Vicky David’s dreams.
“I am so grateful for God’s protection and the local fire department’s help,” Vicky said. “We may have lost our building, but we didn’t lose any lives and we sure haven’t lost our hopes or dreams. Sometimes God tells us ‘Sit yourself down somewhere, let Me take care of this.’ So it’s just time for us to rest in Him and let Him take the wheel.”
According to Fire Chief Greg Carmack, the fire started in the Rent-A –Flick video store and from the time of dispatch to on scene was eight minutes. However, the fire spread quickly across the old building structure and engulfed the other two businesses, Elite Fitness and Vic’s Mobile Detail, and a truck belonging to the video store tenant.
“My dad started his business over ten years ago with just a soap bucket and some towels. He was originally from Houston, TX but he moved here and started detailing cars on Texanna Road. Then later he opened his business here in Checotah off Gentry and was detailing vehicles up until the time of his death in January, 2023.
“As long as I have been alive, 43 years, my daddy has been detailing cars. That had been his whole life. But it wasn’t until he died and we moved here from Houston ourselves that we learned about all the things my daddy had done here in the community and with the schools. People said how much they loved him because he would help out in any way he could. He would give people getting out of jail a job because he knew how hard it was to be in their shoes. I tell everybody my dad had a past as well and he knew how hard it was to get out and get back on your feet again. That’s why he never judged. He just told them ‘I had a past too, but let me help you.’ That’s why I believe so many people have called offering their help and asking what they can do? I’ve told them I have no clue. I’ve never been through anything like this before. The shop is a total loss. We lost everything inside to do any detailing but we haven’t lost our hope or our dreams.
“We actually just bought property a little over a month ago in Oklahoma because we had been slowly transitioning from Houston. So I was thankful God had just moved us out of there and even my puppies were out of there. I have so much to still be thankful for because we can get that material stuff back. God is going to provide. But if the timing wasn’t in God’s hands, I wouldn’t have been able to get my kids out of there or my fur kids out of there, including my dad’s dachshund, Cash. So I just thank God for that.
After watching the building smolder for two days after the fire, Vicky and her family are still counting their blessings every day and their dreams did not go up in smoke. In fact, when asked by other news personnel if they were going to now pack up and go back to Houston, Vicky was quick to state that they are staying right here in Oklahoma.
“I said, girl, not a chance! This is not going to get me down. We are going to see what we can do and we are either going to rebuild or God is going to provide another place. This isn’t running us back to Houston. We are going to keep going and keep dreaming of what’s next. My daddy would have said, ‘Next chapter, baby girl. Now dry those tears; grab that Windex bottle and keep going.’ So we are going to hang in there and keep trusting God.”
