Well, this was terrifying!

[cally]

Last edited Mon Jul 5, 2021, 12:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Woke up to shouts of FIRE, FIRE!!!

Looked out and saw flames backing to house behind us. Woke houseguest, shouting fire, fire. Called 911. Ran upstairs and threw on clothes, grabbed a few things including computers, charges, wedding ring. Nothing else. Looked out of window and it was closer. Remembered dog food and ran into house to get it.

By this time, the dog was almost uncontrollable. Finally, was able to grab her and put a leash on and put in car. Remembered dog food and ran into house to get it.

Police started pounding on door, shouting, "Get out!" Opened garage and let them know we were leaving but still had to get husband who was using hose in backyard. (Yes, I was furious that he wasn't leaving.)

Looked out and firefighters were there and fire shifted other direction. Waited and then police told us we could go back in house. Firefighters still there doing mop up but danger is past. Whew.

Lessons learned:

Grab animals first. Even docile, obedient dogs are hard to control. We put her in car and finished grabbing things.

Have a grab bag. We have lists of what to grab, have practiced, but just forgot it all in panic. I forgot kindle charger for instance and some mementos.

Have a place to meet up. It's a new house and we don't have a meet up place.

My instincts were right, though. People and animals are first priority.

We are going to go cut more grass outside our property line today.

Update: Thanks all for well wishes. Firefighters have left and all houses and pets are safe. I will be better prepared (and I thought I was prepared!) next time.

[MuseRider]

1. Very glad you are ok!

That sounds terrifying. I hope this is the last time you have to deal with that.

[haele]

2. If you live on a canyon, see if you and your neighbors can

Rent a herd of goats for a couple days to clear undergrowth from the canyon.
Best brush fire break builders in the summer - almost as good as a controlled burn without the wind and spark risk.

I still remember watching the Ceder fire coming over the ridge just before dawn when we were living in Lakeside, CA; the huge wall of fire lighting up the North and East, and the ash falling like snow on our porch and stairs. Lucky the County was able to use the San Diego riverbed as a firebreak, that was a monster.

Haele

[QED]

3. I'm glad your family and dog are safe.

You're right - get the animals first and get out!

My neighbor's house was caught fire when he was having supper outside. He went back in to get his truck keys and didn't make it back out.

Get out and don't go back in!

After my neighbor died, I put my papers (will, insurance, bank stuff) and put them in a fireproof safe I can grab easily. That's my go bag - anything else I can replace.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

12. My neighbors house burnt down too

Saw the flames while looking out the picture window at the storm clouds I didn't quite believe my eyes than I realized that flames and smoke were coming out of their roof.

So I ran over there.
They were in the kitchen unaware thier den was on fire.

Helped them get thier pets and Momentos out,mom still home,called the fire department.

[7wo7rees]

4. Terrifying! Are you all really ok? This time I hope it's ok to extend to you, you are in

our thoughts and our prayers.
Stay safe and well.

[cally]

6. Thanks

I'm OK. Thank you.

Fire is out but firefighters are still here. Seemed to take a long time for firefighters to arrive but I suspect it was very quick.

[Demsrule86]

5. So scary. I was in a fire at 15, babysitting. The owner had done his own electrical in

the living room. and the wall burst into flames. I had smelled smoke earlier and actually called he fire department. They patted me on the head and said there was no fire. Well, technically they were correct. I was upstairs with the two kids...thank God or I never would have got them out. Some people saw the house catch fire who were driving by.

This was Connecticut where you had old houses with balloon framing so they burned quickly. The people who were driving by threw rocks at the window to get my attention and when I opened the door, the smoke was so thick I had to crawl on the floor to the kid's bedroom. I had the presence of mind to shut the door to the den behind me. It had the only windows you could jump from without breaking multiple bones. The kids and I crawled on the floor to the den with cloths over our faces (We had fire safety at school), and I pushed them out the den window into the rose bushes...pushed the cat and the big New Foundland too...the dog bit me. Yes I know...not supposed to save pets...save yourself, but I couldn't leave them... so scratched, bleeding and with a nasty bite on my hand, I jumped out the window into the rose bushes just before flames exploded out the den window. I sprained my ankle and needed stitches for the dog bite. It could have been so much worse if those folks had not seen the house go up flames.

I am glad you are OK...take care.

[cally]

7. Wow

You are a hero!

It is heartwarming that neighbors do help each other in times of crisis. Folks were pounding on doors telling each other to get up and get out. Others were shouting, "Fire!" Not just friends but everyone nearby.

[Demsrule86]

46. Cally, sounds like you live among wonderful people. I was really scared. My Dad called the fire

department and gave his er opinion on how I was treated and how they endangered three children's lives. If those folks in the car had not stopped, I doubt any of us would be alive today. Glad you are safe. And sounds like you and your hubs were very brave and it is very nice that you have such caring neighbors and you all look out for one another.

[cally]

48. We just moved and know very few

So it was a nice surprise. I still wish they wore masks during lockdown though. :eyesroll:

[Demsrule86]

50. I know. In Ohio, everyone wore masks in our area...so we were lucky.

My rescue Pom Molly got out of the gate right after we moved to our house...a kid cutting the lawn had left it open accidentally' and I was panicked couldn't find her anywhere. My neighbor put it on our Facebook neighborhood site....so many people came out and looked for her. They drove around and walked too...and we found her thanks to the neighbors just before she crossed a very busy street. They were planning to stop traffic if they needed to...I was so pleased to realize I live among such wonderful people. We were new and didn't know many folks then.

[cally]

53. How wonderful

It’s nice during these crazy times to realize how wonderful folks can be

[Goonch]

9. My townhouse caught on fire one night ...Lessons learned:

Have smoke alarms that have Escape Lights and in every room. Also have night lights that come on when power goes.
My power went out during the night. Total darkness makes finding anything very difficult.

Don't leave frightened rescued dog/cat alone in car or you'll surely have shredded seats and ceiling.

[Demsrule86]

45. Oh dear...sounds like you had a bad time...I don't have safety lights but I have a flash light by my

bed...my rescue Pom can be very destructive when she is nervous or scared. Glad you got out safely.

[Goonch]

55. Thanks but

smoke can render a flashlight useless as attested by this firefighter:
"Best Flashlight for Firemen....
Im a member of a Volunteer Dept. and the city gave us permission to train on 3 houses that are going to be demolished .

One of the excercise was to do a search in a smoked filled house .
Of course being a flashaholic , decided to try my flashlights to see if they will help.


The smoke was really thick, but what the heck, I have a Quad Cree Mag that might be up to the challenge....


Ok, maybe not...


Definitely not, the flashlight didnt really help beyond 3 feet..it was really scary.."

[usaf-vet]

21. This I have NEVER understood. In the state where I live you need a license to be a plumber.......

...... no license required to be an electrician.

Who's ever heard of a house being destroyed where life or death decisions need to be made in split seconds (house fire) happening with a bad plumbing job. Granted there are health issues but no one where you wake up in the middle of the night and have seconds to evacuate to save your life.

Here is one thing the "preppers" may have right.... have a GO bag packed and ready to go on your way out the door. ID, medical necessities, cash, cellphone (911), etc.

[Disaffected]

24. "...... no license required to be an electrician."

?? That seems bizarre and a recipe for disaster. Are you sure?

[usaf-vet]

32. Absolutely !!! sure.

When I grew up I was very lucky in the state I was born in I had three uncles. One was a plumber. One was an electrician. And one was a carpenter. So I grew up learning all the trades.

When I moved to the state I live in now. I wanted to do some basic wiring upgrades. So I went to the electrical supply house expecting to be turned away (no license) but was surprised they sold me everything I want. Eventually, I wanted to upgrade my service panel from old screw-in fuses to breakers. I thought for sure it was going to be time to own up to the fact that I wasn't a licensed electrician.
So I owned up to it and was told you don't need to be licensed.

Now 40 years later I know a lot of young "electricians" who I know never served a formal internship.

I have never hired out to do work for others but I have always done my own electrical and plumbing work in my own home.

[Disaffected]

39. OK, it's the same here in Alberta.

If you do you own work on "your own premises with your own hands" it is allowed (but, you must get a permit/inspection if the work is substantial i.e. changing and existing light switch or receptacle for example doesn't require a permit). Same for plumbing. Not sure about gas but when I build my house I did all of that.

Any work done otherwise requires a licensed tradesperson. IIRC you also need to hire a licensed electrician if you have a rental suite or some-such in your house.

[Demsrule86]

42. I think that is a very good idea. And there was a burning smell. I called the fire department before

the fire and they came out and treated me as if I was a halfwit.

[wnylib]

40. Good thinking and great courage

at a young age. You saved lives. Hope the parents were forever grateful that you were the babysitter that day.

[Demsrule86]

41. They were very grateful.

It was scary alright. The family moved about a year after the fire...so I heard from them for a couple of years and lost touch.

[Demsrule86]

44. We had recently in school had a big fire safety push and what one should do in a fire.

I was very fortunate to have taken this course. I had to get to those kids or I could not have lived with myself...

[wnylib]

52. I understand. I did a lot of babysitting

at that age and you feel responsible for the children in your care.

When I was 14, we had a house fire in the midfle of the night. We hadn't had home drills, but had learned in school drills what to do and not to do. That drill training kicked in during the fire. Too long of a story to relate here, but we all got out ok and cool thinking by my father with a garden hose, plus quick response from the fire department, saved the house. Only the living room was destroyed.

I remember, though, the incredible amount of smoke, and heat so intense that I felt like turning back upstairs to escape it. But I also knew that would be a fatal mistake and kept moving forward, past the living room where the fire blazed and roared from floor to ceiling, wall to wall, until we all reached the door and got out.

[mahina]

64. Jaysus

👁👁

[MissMillie]

8. So glad you're safe

the grab bag idea is GREAT

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. I keep leashes hanging by both doors so we can

get out fast if we need to.

The house next door burned and we had to run for it. It's very scary and there is no time. You just have to run. There is no time to find stuff.

[samnsara]

11. i live in the forest. I have grab n go bags packed all summer long. I have all my papers, meds

..and cash in a little metal box, extra dog food and leashes and all my electronics together. We are always getting fire weather warnings up here.

That must have been so scary for you. I have 2 goldens and 2 rescue terriers. I would have to catch the terriers and collar them up. The Goldens pack their own bags.

[Politicub]

13. Had a friend who was evacuated from her home in Calif.

It was during one of the fires. She woke up to the fire department beating on her door. The sound frightened her cat, and he hid. She couldn’t find him in time to leave.

She was out of her home for a week. A benevolent firefighter went by her house about three days in and left food and water, though.

Her house was okay, but she was so stressed about her cat. Her lesson-learned was to leave a lot of food and a big bowl of water as you’re rushing to go out the door. There probably won’t be enough time to find the cat, but he wouldn’t go hungry or be thirsty. That’s about the best someone can do. It won’t alleviate worrying about a pet, but it can be a relief to know he or she is fed and watered.

[Blue Dawn]

14. Wow!....I am so glad you are safe!

Reading these posts impresses upon me the need to get a grab bag ready in case something happens to us and we need to evacuate quickly. I have a strong box with things in it, but I can see that it needs to be in a location closer to the front door.

I have never been close to a house fire but can imagine that it would be terrifying. I am sure that I would more than likely forget my best-conceived plans in a moment of panic. I think home fire drills sound brilliant.

I again just want to say how glad I am that you and your loved ones are safe, cally. Sending a warm hug your way.....{{{{💖💖}}}}

[spanone]

15. Whew, what an ordeal.

[Johnny2X2X]

16. I always thought I'd grab my hose too

I back up to woods and if they ever caught on fire I’d be out with a hose too. But the reality is a garden hose isn’t going to do much against a forest fire. Maybe I’d duct tape it to the roof and leave it running and leave.

[hlthe2b]

17. Yup. There is absolutely nothing I'd grab before my sweet furry girl.

I'd have a lot of guilt and recriminations about leaving certain irreplaceable momentos, but nothing like losing my pup.

[Duppers]

18. Great advice! Thank you!

Wow was that ever a traumatic experience! Such a Close call; glad you, your family, & doggy are safe!

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. I'm so glad I read this

I share a house built in 1979. A retired couple retired couple are the owner/residents. I'm sitting in the dining/living room - no smoke detector. I looked in the kitchen - no smoke detector. My bedroom - no smoke detector and there are makeshift burglar bars (wooden dowels) in the window. 2 small inside dogs and 2 inside/outside cats.

They are going to Europe for 10 weeks at the end of the month. Not only do I need a bug out bag, I need to get my brother over here to install some smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and I need to buy a couple of fire extinguishers.

[Disaffected]

26. Very wise.

We had a family of seven lost in a house fire near here day before yesterday. I'm willing to bet they had no (working) smoke detectors.

[SheltieLover]

20. Glad you are ok!

Really scary stuff for sure!

[Texin]

22. Very glad you're safe.

We don't have the issues with wildfires here, but we do have to worry about tornados. We've had two or three tornado alerts and warnings this past spring, but were lucky we weren't in the path. About eighteen months ago, we had a major (IIRC it was a category 4) tornado that missed our neighborhood by less than a mile away. It skipped through and past our area at I-635 and Abrams Road and up through Richardson where my stepson and his partner had tornado damage (minor). This was the same tornado that ripped down through central Dallas and caused extensive damage to neighborhoods in Preston Hollow and throughout neighborhoods to the west, and moved east toward Central Expressway then north. It's always scary and dicey about how they move and skip around. I go to the safest area of our house near a guest bath and hallway and I take my weather radio and all my prescription meds with me. My husband continued to watch the Cowboys game throughout the threat. Oh well.

[momta]

23. We got evacuated a few years ago.

It wasn't the first time. We had a plan. Got the cats loaded. Our houseguests helped us grab everything on the list, and we all met at the designated spot. Unfortunately I had been cooking when we got the call, and I take my rings off when I cook. I had left my wedding and engagement rings behind.

Fortunately our local firefighters did heroic work. We were evacuated for about two weeks. The fire took about eight houses, but not ours. (One of the firefighters lost his house and his dog. Very sad.)

This fire was because of some f*cking idiots illegally camping nearby. PLEASE don't do this!

So glad you are safe!

[AllaN01Bear]

29. if u have meds , grab them if u have time and always have a copy of med list on hand .

[momta]

30. Yup. Did that too.

Both hubby and I were on some pretty important meds. That might have been the second thing we grabbed after the cats. (Also I keep a weeks worth in my purse at all times.)

Great advice.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. Make sure all your digital documents and photos are backed up to offsite backup, perhaps cloud

Scan or take high quality copy digital photos of all printed photos and certificates and documents.

Keep important documents like passport and insurance policies in safe deposit box at bank.

I keep a backup removable hard drive in the bank that I swap out with its identical mate every couple of months. I have over 25 years of work on it and over 15 years of digital photos and more years of scanned photos and photos scanned from my parents wedding album and other albums.

[Fla Dem]

27. That was quite the Wake Up call.

So glad you, husband, guest AND Pup are ok. Also glad your house was spared. Hope others in your area survived as well. Way to start the day!

[AllaN01Bear]

28. where i used to live i always had a evac kit by my bedroom door when i was little .

where i am , the rule is 100 feet if u can do it. we uusally have untill june to do it. glad u all are ok.

[peggysue2]

31. Thank goodness, you and loved ones are safe

I'm sure it was terrifying, no matter how many times you practice or prepare in advance.

Best wishes!

[PlanetBev]

33. Had to evacuate during the Woolsey Fire

Almost had to evacuate again six weeks ago because a couple of kids from Westlake High were smoking on the slope next to my housing development. They got it out just as I had one foot out the door.

Hell of a way to live.

[MineralMan]

34. Yikes! Glad you're safe.

[rickyhall]

35. It's also good to have a hose already attached to an outdoor faucet,

I found when my neighbor's house burned.

[MustLoveBeagles]

36. That must've been terrifying

I'm glad everyone's safe.

[Hortensis]

37. Wow, terrifying, but came out okay and a good exercise for the neighborhood.

Bet you're all somewhat safer for it now. Thanks for sharing what you learned.

[Grasswire2]

38. excellent hints. Thank you.

Even though our place is small - 750 sq ft, it is on the ground level of a hundred year old wooden house, and last September we watched firefighters fight a fire within hollering distance that required five fire departments, three fire boats, and 900 feet of hose (it was arson-set on an island park right offshore in the river adjacent to this property).

If the wind had changed, we might have needed to evacuate with little notice.

I need to act on your hints.

[Initech]

43. That happened to me last year.

Went outside, neighbors are screaming that there's a fire coming. Sure enough, sky started turning black and smoke was spewing everywhere. A few minutes later, cops are patrolling the neighborhood telling everyone to evacuate.

Grabbed my dog, my computers, clothes and then headed out to go stay with my brother the next few days.

[malaise]

47. You seem quite prepared

Gla you and yours are OK

[Mr.Bill]

49. In 2015 I was evacuated with five minutes notice

at 7 am on a sunday morning. I did the same thing you did. Grabbed dog food and left far more valuable things behind, which we still laugh about because there were stores in the area where we could have bought dog food. It teaches you a lot about what things are important to you. The dogs were number one. We were out of the house for two days while a 100,000 acre fire raged a few miles from our house.

[Hekate]

51. Thank gods you are all okay! We left for 2 weeks with virtually the clothes on our backs...

…when the Thomas Fire came down. We were also in a new home, and the power had been out for a couple of hours by then, but my husband has a bunch of nightlights in the outlets that function as flashlights. But still. I left my phone behind. Nowadays I charge both the phone and iPad under my bedside table and spare chargers and adaptors are in a bag. That night my husband grabbed the huge binder of important papers and I swept all our medicines off the pantry shelf into a laundry basket. The dog had been leashed first thing. We were outta there in under 15 minutes: dog, papers, prescription medications, and both cars.

I have a system of laundry baskets for evacuations, which works for me. By good fortune, the prior owners had built a little locker inside the pantry. Now I keep two laundry baskets on the floor beneath the shelves of the locker. I can sweep all the important stuff off and be gone.

A month or two after that I put a box in the trunk of my car with the kinds of little things I wished we’d had back then: toothbrushes, combs, my own shampoo, underwear, a couple of new XL T-shirts with the logo of a friend’s lab (XL being a generic size for both of us for sleeping in or for maybe shopping for new T-shirts). Spare glasses. Spare prescription sunglasses. All in the box. Every so often hubby says he “needs” to move that box and I do like Nancy Reagan and just say no. There’s an extra dog leash and water bowl in the car, too.

You stay safe. It’s going to be a long fire season, Cally.

[cally]

54. Thanks... It's a wake up call

Ironic thing is one of the reasons we moved is to get away from a very high risk fire zone that we lived in. No where on the west coast is safe this year

[Maggiemayhem]

70. Was it a wildfire or a house fire?

I am terrified of fireworks in this wooded area.

[cally]

71. Wildfire

Probably illegal fireworks. I saw remnants of casings

[BigmanPigman]

56. Living in CA, I have had a plan

for earthquakes (the fastest natural disaster) a d my baby/dog was automatically the first thing to grab, followed by leash and dog meds. After that I focus on important papers, cell phone and charger, cash, my purse, my glasses and shoes and a blanket. I also have an Earthquake preparedness kit/backpack from the Red Cross. Water, freeze dried food, a whistle, duct tape, perm. marker, string, screwdriver, first aid kit, masking tape, hammer, scissors, etc.

A lot of people forget to keep a couple hundred in cash... since ATMs will be down you will need cash.

[Hekate]

59. Yes, a bit of cash. And, ever since 2016/Trump, I refill the gas tank at the halfway mark...

Trump really eroded my faith in just about everything. It’s sad to say, but all my plans to escape involve having a car that works.

[BigmanPigman]

61. Gas...definitely.

People will be sitting in the few gas stations still opened, wasting more gas. I wish I had a garage and could store some spare gas, just in case.

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Yikes!!

Glad things didn't go really bad!

[proud patriot]

58. I'm so thankful you are ok

[Solly Mack]

60. Yikes!

Terrifying!

Glad all are OK.

[FakeNoose]

62. Another thing - have an exit strategy planned for 2nd or 3rd story rooms

Which upper story window will you open and exit from? Does that window open out to a roof or balcony? Is there a fire escape ladder or another safe way to get out and down?

These things need to be discussed with family and frequent guests.

Many Fire Departments give out window stickers that indicate which windows are sleeping rooms for children or PINS - persons in need of assistance.

I'm glad you and your family made it out safely. It's a terrifying experience, but also a good chance to learn "the hard way."

[electric_blue68]

65. Good graciousness, thank goodness you and yours are safe!

Definitely terrifying!

Just for the back of your mind...

It's possible you might have a delayed
trauma reaction; it's not a given, though.

At some point you might get more anxious, things that normally don't, or only mildly irritate you will become (more) aggrevating. You might become mildly depressed.
These are the ones I can think of off hand.
(trauma, potential trauma info was disseminated by media post 9-11 here in NYC)


Once in my early-mid teens there was a fire 4 floors above me. Looked up from my window, fire coming out from
that window. Freaky!

Luckily fire fighters arrive quickly, and put it out.

[calimary]

66. Glad you're safe!

Living for years in earthquake country, one of the best tips I heard was to make sure everybody in the family had the same out-of-state contact number. Phones might be down in the affected area but there may be more reliable connections with different systems across the country, where the wires or antennae are unaffected by whatever hit your area. Make sure one relative or close friend at a distance is your family’s contact. And THAT’S who everybody checks in with.

That main central contact can then relay messages to everyone else and let them know who’s reported in and how they are.

[Neema]

67. I'm so glad you're safe! decided today I'm buying

an extra leash and harness for our dog to keep in our bedroom. She sleeps with me and, if a fire broke out on a lower floor, our escape route would be up and out our roof deck door.

I read that the part of the tower in Florida that didn’t collapse had to be demolished yesterday, and no one was allowed to retrieve personal items or pets left behind (apparently there were several). The thought broke my heart and got me thinking about how best to make sure my dog is safely with me at all times. She’s my heart and soul.

[Demovictory9]

68. scary!! glad it worked out

[cate94]

69. That is terrifying!

Glad you are all okay.