A few hours into the spaghetti lunch benefit for firefighter John &uot;Ski&uot; Sieminski Saturday at the White Marsh Road Fire Station, a volunteer noticed that the propane tank used to heat some of the food had its dial on empty.

However, it was still emitting heat. Thinking that there were but a few gasps left, the man walked away for the few minutes, and came back.

Still empty. And still as strong as it had been before.

A busted dial? Perhaps. Or maybe Someone special had come to help a person who needed it.

A three-year veteran of Suffolk firefighting, Sieminski had to quit work four months ago after developing the blood disease lupus, which causes clotting in his leg. He’s out of leave time, and since money for health insurance can’t come out a paycheck he’s not receiving, Sieminski is in danger of losing insurance.

About a month ago, special inspector Pam King was eating lunch one day when Sieminski and his wife Sharon came in and told her what was going on with his health. They said that he has

to undergo more testing at the University of Virginia.

King asked what she could do. They said not to worry, but she did anyway, going upstairs and calling a friend of hers who was involved in the Citizen’s Academy Alumni. Soon, the Alumni had joined up with the Ya-Yas women’s group to put together the benefit. On Saturday, firefighters and their friends and families and even a few outsiders came together to help him out.

&uot;All I knew was that he was one of our brothers,&uot; said King, wiping away a tear. &uot;We want to get him off the hook for right now and help him reach for the stars. We felt like this was the least we could do to get him comfortable so he could sleep at night. We spend our lives protecting and serving, and now we need some help.&uot;

They got it; the benefit and other donations early in the week raised more than $3,700, and more donations were expected throughout the next few days.

Fellow firefighter Mason Copeland stepped away from the counter with three take-out meals.

&uot;This is dinner for me, my wife and stepson,&uot; said Copeland, currently stationed in Holland. &uot;None of the firefighters I work with know Ski, but they all gave me money to give him. He’s one of our guys and this is what we do-stick together.&uot;

&uot;I only met him once,&uot; said Kim Gore, whose brother Bubba works with Sieminski, &uot;but I knew he was the sweetest thing. We’ll do anything to help the firefighters; they’re a big family. I was very, very happy to see all that we did, and hope we can do more.&uot;

As Sieminski talked to a friend, a newcomer came in, and handed in a check for the person he’d never met before. Then he turned to Sieminski and introduced himself.

&uot;You’re going to be all right,&uot; the man said, shaking Sieminski’s hand.

&uot;This feels great,&uot; said Sieminski, who has to head back to Charlottesville for his next evaluation in May. &uot;I’m nothing special; all these people around me are the extraordinary ones.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com