I had a house fire
So...I know Ive mentioned I have a lot of phobias, but the most of theres is fire. Im so scared of fire. (I'm sure Ive mentioned that before when talking about how can firfightress go into them) Well, today I accidentally started one.
My day started off normall for a Saturday. I got up and fixed breakfast. I was making that peanut butter and banana wrap on here. i make this from time to time but someone suggested toasting it, so I thought I would try that. I made it, put it int eh broiler to toast and hopped on vegweb to see what was happening. A few minuets later, I went out, grabbed my burrito and started clicking pictures of it to post later. Then I got back on vegweb. After about a half hour, I got up to dress to go to the Library (they are only open 2 hrs on Saturday) When I opened my dad's bedroom door I saw thick, black smoke in the house. I forgot to turn off the broiler! So I ran out there and switched it off. I didn't see the fire. but the smoke was choking me so I ran back into my dads room and shut the door. I called my dad on the phone and we figured the smoke would clear out soon, he was about to board a train to portland, so i was just gonna open the windows and doors to let it all out. But the smoke started coming in the eh bedroom so strongly that i was choking and choking...so i tried to go back out to the kitchen. But the smoke and fumes was so strong. I could not even SEE through the smoke, it was BLACK. I squatted down and went back to the bedroom. Once there I went into the bathroom connected to the bedroom. I climbed out the window. I had to leave the dogs. I was wearling little slippers and a bathrobe (not my cutepink one th my dads old, holey, dirty one. We still have a lot of snow here so I trumped around the house to the kitchen door. It was locked! So I trumped around to the barn door (which was thankfully NOT locked) and the barn is connected to the Kitchen. thankfully that door wasn't locked either. When I opened that door....I saw it...the fire.
It had started a fire. So I ran to the locked door through so much smoke I didn't know where anything was but the fire and opened it. Then ran back outside. I had my cell phone in my pocket and I called 911. I told the disbatcher what was happening and just started sobbing....I said "MY DOGS ARE IN THERE!!!" and I was just terrified. I couldn't stand thinking of them in there...I know you are not supposed to do this, but I always knew I would if the time arose for it. I ran back into the fire to get my dogs. They were still closed up in my dads bedroom- which is all the way through the house. I opened his door and called to them. They seemed scared. But I was not able to breath so i called them and ran back to the Kitchen to go out side. D'Artagonon and Timber followed me. Guinevere did not. SO i called her a few more times from the kitchen and she ran to me! We went outside. I didn't have any leashes, so all the dogs were just running free...better that though, than the alternative. I called my dad back and he was boarding the train so he left there to head home.
Now, I live pretty far in the country and I was so scared about the fire dept not getting there quickly. My cat was still inside, but she was locked in my dads bathroom, and there was no smoke in there. It also crossed my mind that I didn't want to be homeless in the snow... to my surprise two volunteer fire fighters pulled up. They ran in and put out the fire with an extinguisher. but the smoke was still so bad, and the fumes. The other fire fighters arrived and started venting it.
The fire started because we'd left a bottle of motor oil on the stove top and the broiler must have made it heat up and start fire. hence many of the nasty odors. There were so many fire fighters both volunteer and other wise. Thankfully the dogs all ran up to me and I used the belt from the bathrobe to make a leash. I think they figured whateve re was going on here was more exciting then whatever trouble they could get into. Also the paster from my dads church arrived. Someone who lives on a hill above us saw what was happening and called him. So he came and he watched the dogs while I got treated for inhalation, which was a reliefe. Soon my dad arrived and before long the house and I had been cleared.
We will need to repaint, buy ad new stove, replace some cabinets and hopefully clean/repair the refrigerator. But nobody was hurt and thats what matters the most. Things could have been so so so so much worse. The cat was even fine int the bathroom. (I told the fire fighters about her right away and they checked on her and said she was safe in there.) the timing was perfect. I discovered the fire just before it got really bad, the volunteer FF were in the neighborhood, my dad had not boarded the train yet...I like to think God was watching out for me.
Oh my gosh Zealia! That is quite a tramatizing morning! I'm so sorry you and the critters had to go through that--I'm so happy you and eveyone else is all right--sounds like you just have a bit of cleaning up to do so thank God for that!!! Please let us know if you need anything :)
wow. you lead an exciting life...
good thing everyone's ok.
oh jeez.. i'm glad you're okay!! i probably would have done the same thing for my cats, ran back in after them.
So glad to know you and your pets are safe. You were so fortunate the fire didn't flash. I'm sure God was watching over you.
Oh my gosh! I'm glad you and all your furry family members are all safe and O.K.! That must have been terrifying for all of you! (((hugs)))
That's so scary! I'm really glad that you and your pets are safe :)>>>
Zealia, thank God you, the dogs, your cat and the house (for the most part) are alright!! I can't even imagine what it must have been like this morning - you were so brave to go back in for your babies.
I'm just so glad you're all okay - know that I'm sending hugs and lots of love your way :)>>>
the volunteer FF were in the neighborhood
I totally read the FF as "FireFightress." ;D
That's so scary, Z! I'm so glad you are safe.
(((VHZ)))
that's so scary! i am glad you're ok!
oh my goodness! i think its amazing the amount of courage people can muster up for their pets, even if they have a phobia of fire in your case. i cant even imagine!!! i'm so glad everyones ok!
Good grief Zealia!!! I'm so glad to hear that everyone is ok and you still have your house. Fire is my biggest fear, as well.
I am so glad you and your family are all ok. (Dogs & cats count as family in my eyes! Actually any companion animal really.) It is a frightening situation.
I am trying not to "Mom" you and lecture you about kitchen safety. Honest! Just follow a simple rule of thumb, nothing but pots EVER EVER EVER gets put on the stove. Ever.
*hugs*
Yeah I'm so happy everyone was safe too. I was thinking how if the timing had not been the way it was, i would not have known a little longer and that could have been really bad. We live in an old wooden house and it COULD have flashed. I think I'll take your advice Cali and just get in the habit of not putting anything on the stove, rather than trusting that ill remember to clear everything and also to turn off the burner every single time....I dunno. also, our smoke detectors were dismantaled to avoid "false readings" (and probally to use the batteries for a remote control. ::) ) We now have new detectors installed and working. The Fire dept actually put that in before they left. It wasn't until then that it occurred to me that its actually pretty DISRESPECTFUL to not have a smoke detector installed in the home because if something happened, the fire fighters would be risking their lives to save me, which I know they are willing to do but how can I ask that out of laziness over the alarm?
Anyhow. I was shaken up pretty bad yesterday all day. I even had a few nightmares last night...about smoke! Well I guess we live and earn. I'm so glad my babies were okay...I never would have forgiven myself.
Zealia, I'm so glad you are all of your furry family are ok!
I hope you realize how brave you are for having the courage to go in to get your friends. See, you wondered how I could do what I do,yet you are just as courageous! I hope you can always remember how self- empoweredl and good you really are if you ever you start to doubt yourself Zealia! 8)
As far as the fire- now you know I gotta go there ;) - the MOST important thing to do is to install working smoke detectors in every room (I'm not talking like closets here) of your house. At the least, in every hallway and on every level of your home. Make sure you replace the batteries every 6 months or they will do you no good having them there! If you have a working smoke detector it will go off and warn you of the situation much sooner before there is as much toxic smoke than it would take for someone to notice on their own, generally. So please EVERYONE, get smoke detectors! Most fatal fires are because there wer no working detectors! And most fires that happen where people are hoem and get out safely are because they had working dectectors. Also, most people we find dead in their home from a fire are NEAR a door or window! They are trying to get out but get overcome by the smoke and become too confused from lack of oxygen and die before they can make it out. Smoke kills most everyone before the fire gets to them. One intake of the smoke and your lungs close up- I know firsthand. You do not have a choice in the matter; your body's parasympathetic reactions take over. The toxins in the smoke stimulate your throat muscles to sieze up and close and you die from asphixiation- lack of oxygen. Anyway, I know it's gruesome to talk about, but I want people to know how important it is to have working detectors in your homes! If you do EVER have to go through smoke- get low; crawl! The smoke will raise to the top of the room and then bank down as it keeps coming, so your cleanest and clearest air will always be towards the bottom.
Also, another tip: if you find a fire in a room, close the door to the room as you are leving - if you can! Whenever you open doors or windows, that allows more air (which has oxygen that feeds the fire) to come into the room with the fire and spreads it even quicker. That's the reason we recommend for people and kids to keep their bedroom doors closed at night: in case there is a fire in another part of the house, it will also keep the smoke from entering the bedroom for quite a bit onger than if the door were left open, which gives the people more time to escape out their window or call for help.
It's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher (or two) in your house, especially near the kitchen. You can get small ones at Target or "Wal-mart-like" stores ( I do not encourage supporting Wal-Mart with their extremely bad treatment of people, towns, employees, and exploiting of third-world labor), or hardware stores. You can also throw baking soda on grease fires or stove fires to smother it (keeps the air from reaching the heat and combsution when you throw enough on it). It's good to unplug the electric cord from the electric outlet if you can IF it is not a fire caused from the circuit becoming energized like during a lightening strike near or on the house or power line. If you're not sure just get out and call 911 from your neighbors.
We tell people not to go back in after their pets. We think your life is more valuable than your pet's and I believe animals are all so unbelievably unconditional that they would agree. Having said that, I can understand people who do go back- I'm sure I would too. Although... there are some ways that might be smarter than others. If there is a window in the room where your pets are, try going around to that window and from the outside, breaking it (cover your hand and face with a towel- or better yet, use a long, heavy tool... and that's only AFTER you've tried it to see if it's even locked or not-- it MIGHT just open) and calling your animals over to the window to get them out, instead of you going back inside the house and risking getting caught inside. But again, the correct answer as a firefighter to tell you is to get yourself out and let us get your animals.
And, like Cali said, do NOT ever keep anything on your stove, burners, toasters, etc that can catch fire!
I'm so gald you're ok Zealia and that no one was hurt!
**Edit: Oops, sorry I didn't see you were posting while I wrote my post!
*Also, for anyone who doesn't have smoke detectors and cannot afford to buy some- almost ALL fire departments give them out FREE (can give you 2-3 possibly, too) but you have to ask! (Otherwise we don't know who needs them until there is a fire and we want them in people's houses BEFORE a fire.) :) So call or stop by your local station to find out! (And they all usually give tours of the station too, if you ask!)
Hey FF! Thanks for the good tips. It was so true about the air being clearer down low. I remembered that from when I was really little and we had fire safety day at school. ::) Thats sad to think about people dying when they were so close to an exit of some kind. Eh! creeps me out to think of all the possibilities.
Well, I also wanted to thank you for what you do! I guess it would be vicarious gratefulness, but thank you so much all the same!