In Case of Fire

There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one,
or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ...

"In Case of Fire" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction short story that follows the character of Bart who is living in a society where computers and machines control everything. One day, Bart's building catches on fire, and the automated firefighting system fails to work properly, causing chaos and destruction. Bart realizes that the reliance on technology has made people complacent and unprepared for emergencies, leading to a dangerous situation. He takes matters into his own hands and saves the day, proving that sometimes human intuition and action are necessary even in a highly advanced technological society. The story highlights the dangers of over-reliance on technology and the importance of being prepared for emergencies.