Thursday, January 27, 2011

Remember when I said . . .

If you dropped by Tuesday and read that there are others far worse off than I, I was actually thinking about the people devastated by the floods in Australia, the homeless living on the streets in the cold, or the people snowbound along the I-95 corridor, but NOT anyone in my neighborhood. However, Tuesday afternoon, I heard the fire engines go by my house and turn off their sirens rather close by. I didn't think anything about it at the time, but decided to investigate after a few minutes. When I stepped off my porch, I saw billows of smoke coming from down the street, and knew it was either my neighbor Sally's house, or my neighbor Donna's house. By the time I retrieved my camera and card, which was still plugged into the hard drive, some of the smoke had dissipated.

When I stepped across the street, still in my house slippers, I immediately saw it was my friend Donna's house. I would have posted these photos sooner, but I was told her DIL Helen reads my blog and I didn't want her to get the news on my blog before someone had a chance to notify her.


I snapped photos as I walked to the scene. Others had gathered on the west side of the street, too.


As I got closer, I didn't even notice the firefighters on the roof.


My concern was for my friend.


The fire marshal arrived about the same time I took this photo.


As the smoke began to dissipate, I finally noticed the firefighters on the roof.


There was more smoke as they cut through the roof of the garage.


More firefighters


joined the ones already on the roof.


Real drama was playing out in front of my eyes and my camera.


As I snapped shot after shot (over 200 in all), I noticed my friend Sally standing in her doorway.


Although you can't see it here, she is talking to the fire marshal. She couldn't remember the phone number of Donna's daughter. It was at this point, I joined her and gave the fire marshal Donna's daughter's name, while Sally looked up her phone number.


I couldn't believe all the people who came to gawk,


and all the firefighters who came to this fire.


Although it's hard to see in this photo, onlookers are now starting to arrive from up the street,


even though the smoke was gone, and the firefighters had entered the house to make sure the fire was truly out. The glass in the garage windows had shattered under the intense heat and the cold water that was directed toward the roof area.

After making sure Sally was OK, I took one last shot of the fire crew, then


headed home. Since Donna was not home, there was nothing I could do, except possibly get in the way.


There was even a truck filled with equipment parked across the street from my house.


One final shot from my driveway, perhaps my favorite of all.

It just goes to show, no matter how many problems you think you have, there is always someone who has it worse. When I couldn't get to my basement, it was a HUGE inconvenience (and I admit, a bit of a panic on my part). But I still had the rest of my house, Bleubeard and I were safe, and we could sleep in our own beds at night. Thanks for dropping by and I will add updates as I learn them.

24 thoughtful remarks:

Caterina Giglio said...

sheesh E!! is there something in the water in your neighborhood? good grief you have such an exciting life!!! sending lots of hugs!!!

Zue said...

Ohh no!!
How frightening for you all!
You did say no one was hurt which is a blessing. There is always someone worse off than we think we are.
I wonder how it started...it certainly took quite a hold and seemed to gallop along at a rate of knots.
Where will Donna stay? ...hope it won't be long before the house is ready for her to return to..

The whole thing is very shocking..I do feel for your friend and for you having the worry of her safety.

Take care!!
Sue xx

olive said...

how true..... and so near to home as well. I do hope your neighbour is ok (I know she wasnt there, but it must have been a terrible shock) and that being a good neighbour that you are, you will look out for her. Please pass on my best wishes to Donna that we are thinking of her in blog land. Hugs xxxx

Clare with paint in her hair said...

Wow what a couple of weeks you have had! Hope your neighbours belonging aren't too damage, that's the one thing I fear, loosing everything in a fire!

Sue said...

Hi Ya hun
i have great respect for fire & water both are so dangerous, glad they got the fire out, bet there was lots of smoke damage, hope your friend didnt lose to much, hugs, sue,x

peggy gatto said...

Puts things in perspective!
Hope your friend's house is o k!

Anonymous said...

Oh no. That is terrible news. I know another family who just lost everything in a fire. A bad time. I am relieved that your friend got out. Fire makes me emotional because of it's raw destruction. Not much compares. Hideous situation for your friend, and I am sure it was sickening for you to see her lose her home and her stuff. Awful.
Xx,
Amy

Terri Kahrs said...

How terrible for your friend!!! So happy to know that she's safe. Will keep her in my prayers. Hugs, Terri xoxo

donnalouiserodgers said...

Who needs TV when we have your blog?

Dx

donnalouiserodgers said...

Are your middle names Drama Queen?

and your synonym 'I come looking for trouble and I sure will find it, Oh and as I have my Camera I will capture it for posterity too'?

Poor Donna...

I agree the last shot is amazing.

voodoo vixen said...

Oh dear Elizabeth, your poor neighbour Donna, I am glad she wasn't hurt in the fire but I am sure she will be devastated by the damage and loss of her things. My heart goes out to her, smoke damage is hellish, I hope she will be ok.

Tammy Freiborg said...

How horrible. Smoke and soot damage. Glad Donna wasn't home/injured. Cheers to firefighters!

peggy aplSEEDS said...

i hope the firefighters came fast enough and there wasn't too much damage. really, i am thankful for every ordinary day when nothing extraordinary happens. you never know what can happen in a day.

Angie said...

OMG ...hope most of her things are insured or salvagable ...and not too many memories destroyed.

Have to say those are brilliant shots of it all and so illustrated the horrid event.

Loved your comments on my blog ... it means so much to me too. xx

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

What a shock! Thankfully your friend wasn't home but still horrendous to come home to. The last pic definitely the best as they firefighters had done their job.
Anne xx

Dianne said...

The ever faithful blogger E at the ready with the camera! So dreadful for your friend Donna but good thing she was not injured...perhaps it will bring your neighborhood even closer together to help her...sometimes it's hard to remember to count our blessings, but things like this remind us. take care...

Kim Collister Studio said...

You are right..sometimes it takes some smoke for us to see clearly what is important.

Have a wonderful weekend..of gratitude :)
I believe I will too! :)

~*~Patty S said...

Oh My I can't imagine how upsetting this all has been for you and I sure hope that your friend will be OK...
Wishing you an uneventful rest of the month and year!
oxo

Marlynn said...

Elizabeth - that is so scary. Sending you all prayers. Stay well and be careful. Hugs.

She Who Doodles said...

scarry when it's so close to home and someone you know.

sandra de said...

Wishing you a very boring rest of 2011 and giving thanks for firemen and an even bigger thanks that your friend was safe.
Sandra

Unknown said...

I can't believe this happened to your friend- i'm thankful that she wasn't home! I hope things are starting to get back to normal in your own home.....

Halle said...

I hope there wasn't too much damage at Donna's. Thank goodness no one was injured.
Isn't perspective an amazing thing...you can be sitting there feeling sorry for yourself and the mess around you and then you see that... It's happened to me before as well and then you are thankful for where you are.

HeARTworks said...

Ace reporter Elizabeth reporting! Hope nothing of value was damaged! When we had a fire scare, I grabbed my scrapbooks first! Patsy from
HeARTworks