WTF! I thought. A few minutes later, deafening sirens and blaring horns from fire trucks beat my head in with a two-by-four. "Why does the world get noisy when my head hurts?" I fretted.
Although, my problem was nothing compared to what my poor neighbors must have endured. Their home was on fire! There was a huge crowd out watching, like it was some kind of reality t.v. show. I always wondered why we humans have such morbid curiosity in others' misfortunes.
What started the fire? That was the first question that popped into my head. Was the cause electrical, natural gas, or smoking in bed? Most fires I have witnessed were caused by smoking. The victim smokes a cigarette, then doses off, the cigarette falls and, slowing but surely, begins to smolder and grow hotter and more wicked!--until it develops into a raging inferno!--a burning personal hell I hope I will never have to experience.
I asked around, but no-one knew the answer. I will post it as soon as I find out. I don't know the folks who lived in the home that was burning. Hopefully they are safe and have a place to stay.
What a rotten thing to happen during the holidays!
The whole episode got me thinking about fire safety. Here are some tips I gleaned from the web:
1. Store flammable liquids and materials outside.
2. Keep electrical appliances and wiring in good repair.
3. Turn off lights you don't really need, and don't overload circuits. Make sure you have fuses and circuit breakers installed. If something you plug in causes a short, don't keep plugging it in and shorting out the circuit. Have your circuit upgraded to handle the extra load.
4. Discuss with your family an exit strategy. My strategy is to just run and scream until I find a door or a window, then exit!
5. Make sure all doors and windows are closed if possible. Fires love fresh air.
6. Use a fire extinguisher, or smother small fires with a wet blanket.
7. If possible, turn off the gas and electricity. I do this when I take a vacation.
8. If the fire gets out of control, get out! Go to a neighbor's house to report the fire by dialing 911. Speaking of which, the neighborhood I grew up in was so tough, our area code was 911.
9. I prefer to panic, holler and run down the street waving my arms vociferously, but you and your family may prefer to have a designated meeting place you can all go to during an emergency.
10. Finally, don't smoke when you are feeling drowsy or might become drowsy.
Well, there you have it: tips from the web. You can learn more by doing your own damn research. But if you are a lazy good-for-nothing, the information I posted here should be sufficient.
All kidding aside, I really feel bad for my neighbors, and I sincerely hope they can find some good cheer and grace during this holiday season. Happy holidays to you and thanks for reading.
WP
Update: Thank God no injuries were reported. It is speculated by fire officials that the cause of the fire was electrical. One of the victims, as it turns out, is my neighbor Gene Murphey--who may be the next regional transit manager of Sacramento County. Gene has applied for the job. Good luck, Gene.
On a sad note, Gene's cat may have died in the fire. His two dogs are safe. They and Gene are staying at his parents's house until the insurance company gets off its butt and pays for the damages.
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