I'm sittin' here watching TV, posting here and I start hearing screaming outside. I hit my mute button listen a bit, then go back to normal. The screaming doesn't stop. I think it is just another ghetto fight.
Then I hear the magic words "CALL 911!"
I run outside w/ my cell phone to find the next building over in a full-on blaze.
The girl who was screaming was saying that Ms. Eileen (the resident grandmother here) was trapped inside. I looked down the hall and the fire was already moved across the breezeway into her front door.
At this point I can see the building starting to give way in the breezeway and I am like F**K!.
I run around to the far side of the building and take my shoe off. Myself and another guy break out the bedroom window as best as we can and start screaming to Ms Eileen. She was trying to shut her bedroom door to keep the smoke and flames out.
At this point I can see the glow from her family room and feel the heat from the window.
Now keep in mind, fire is my absolute worst fear. The thought of burning alive scares the shit out of me.
I'm looking through the window calling to Eileen along with several other residents and she is just so confused. I shoved all the stuff off her dresser and climbed into the apartment.
It took me a good 30 seconds to a minute to convince her that we needed to get out (this seemed like an eternity). During this time, the entire room filled with fumes and smoke... THAT FAST.
At this point I had to get a bit impatient. I grabbed her around the waist and practically pushed her torso out the window into waiting arms as I lifted her legs through then climbed out myself.
Nobody was hurt other than a bit of lung burn and minor glass cuts.
I don't tell you this story to get a pat on the back or an atta-boy. I am telling you this story because I had never thought about this happening until it was almost too late.
All I ask you to do is seriously think about the situation and realize that it CAN happen (especially if you live in condos/apartments) and be prepared.
The fire and rescue teams were quick on the response, but without the actions of a few, there might not have been the ending that there was.
The woman who lives in the torched apartment was there with her son. She was high as a kite and it is suspected that it was a base pipe explosion that started it. She ran off and left the other residents to rescue her son.
From what I know, Red Cross has put up everyone from the building in a hotel, the woman who started the fire is in police custody for questioning, and I saw a police woman walking with the son.
Nobody sustained any major injuries, and even the pets that were housed in the building were evacuated by the fire/rescue crew. The only casualty of the evening was my right shoe which is now residing somewhere on the floor of Eileen's bedroom :lol:
Anyways, think about it and the next time you meet a fire/rescue person, thank them for doing what is often times a thankless job.
-Kevin
Then I hear the magic words "CALL 911!"
I run outside w/ my cell phone to find the next building over in a full-on blaze.
The girl who was screaming was saying that Ms. Eileen (the resident grandmother here) was trapped inside. I looked down the hall and the fire was already moved across the breezeway into her front door.
At this point I can see the building starting to give way in the breezeway and I am like F**K!.
I run around to the far side of the building and take my shoe off. Myself and another guy break out the bedroom window as best as we can and start screaming to Ms Eileen. She was trying to shut her bedroom door to keep the smoke and flames out.
At this point I can see the glow from her family room and feel the heat from the window.
Now keep in mind, fire is my absolute worst fear. The thought of burning alive scares the shit out of me.
I'm looking through the window calling to Eileen along with several other residents and she is just so confused. I shoved all the stuff off her dresser and climbed into the apartment.
It took me a good 30 seconds to a minute to convince her that we needed to get out (this seemed like an eternity). During this time, the entire room filled with fumes and smoke... THAT FAST.
At this point I had to get a bit impatient. I grabbed her around the waist and practically pushed her torso out the window into waiting arms as I lifted her legs through then climbed out myself.
Nobody was hurt other than a bit of lung burn and minor glass cuts.
I don't tell you this story to get a pat on the back or an atta-boy. I am telling you this story because I had never thought about this happening until it was almost too late.
All I ask you to do is seriously think about the situation and realize that it CAN happen (especially if you live in condos/apartments) and be prepared.
The fire and rescue teams were quick on the response, but without the actions of a few, there might not have been the ending that there was.
The woman who lives in the torched apartment was there with her son. She was high as a kite and it is suspected that it was a base pipe explosion that started it. She ran off and left the other residents to rescue her son.
From what I know, Red Cross has put up everyone from the building in a hotel, the woman who started the fire is in police custody for questioning, and I saw a police woman walking with the son.
Nobody sustained any major injuries, and even the pets that were housed in the building were evacuated by the fire/rescue crew. The only casualty of the evening was my right shoe which is now residing somewhere on the floor of Eileen's bedroom :lol:
Anyways, think about it and the next time you meet a fire/rescue person, thank them for doing what is often times a thankless job.
-Kevin
ops: Thanks man. That means a lot!
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