As the wind howled, a decision to use the station's radio turned out to be a life saver for Gibson County Battalion Chief John Baker.
“I went to use the radio and luckily that was the strongest part of the building and that’s the reason I survived it,” Baker told WREG.
He was the only one in the Trenton station when a tornado hit last Saturday. Six people in Tennessee were killed and dozens were injured.
“The whole building shook, all kind of debris going past widow and loud noise Then we lost power. Stepped out to see what was going on and there was no front wall. It was all gone.”
Two of their four trucks were damaged and they are forced to operate out of another fire station as they rebuild, but he knows it could’ve been much worse.
“Good Lord had his hand on me protecting me, that’s for sure."