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February 8th
Feb. 8th, 2022 06:24 amA year ago today, I woke up to the sounds of shouting in the parking lot, and when I pushed open the curtains I saw the apartment building next to mine was on fire. The fire department was already there -- I had no idea whether the building I was in was also in danger, but I stuffed the cat in her crate and hustled us both out to the car.
No one could leave the parking lot, because the placement of the closest fire hydrant meant the hoses blocked the entrance. People had evacuated the burning building between 3 and 4 in the morning, many without shoes, or jackets, or car keys. No one died -- a minor miracle in the face of so much loss.
It was one of the most terrifying things I've ever experienced, and it didn't even happen directly to me. The building I lived in never officially evacuated -- our fire alarms never even went off. The other building was a total loss. The back half collapsed, and the fire trucks didn't stop pouring water on it until mid-afternoon (and were back the next day anyway).
I think of that experience often, and the months of uncertainty that followed. No great wisdom has emerged, but these are three things I didn't know before then that I do now:
*While it was happening, no one wanted food, but everyone was thirsty. Bottled water was the most welcome thing to offer.
*There came a point when the fire was under control, and the fire fighters went into peoples' units and got stuff for them by request -- keys, computers, whole boxes of stuff.
*Fire proof safes are worth it. Someone from the third floor on the back of the building had a fire proof safe, and it survived the fire, the water, and the collapse. It was found and returned to them, contents undamaged.
No one could leave the parking lot, because the placement of the closest fire hydrant meant the hoses blocked the entrance. People had evacuated the burning building between 3 and 4 in the morning, many without shoes, or jackets, or car keys. No one died -- a minor miracle in the face of so much loss.
It was one of the most terrifying things I've ever experienced, and it didn't even happen directly to me. The building I lived in never officially evacuated -- our fire alarms never even went off. The other building was a total loss. The back half collapsed, and the fire trucks didn't stop pouring water on it until mid-afternoon (and were back the next day anyway).
I think of that experience often, and the months of uncertainty that followed. No great wisdom has emerged, but these are three things I didn't know before then that I do now:
*While it was happening, no one wanted food, but everyone was thirsty. Bottled water was the most welcome thing to offer.
*There came a point when the fire was under control, and the fire fighters went into peoples' units and got stuff for them by request -- keys, computers, whole boxes of stuff.
*Fire proof safes are worth it. Someone from the third floor on the back of the building had a fire proof safe, and it survived the fire, the water, and the collapse. It was found and returned to them, contents undamaged.
