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Wednesday Word—Fire

Wednesday Word—Fire

We live in the hood in a multi-family dwelling. TW hates living in a place with lots of other people. So many things can take place that can be dangerous or even life-threatening because of another tenants negligence. Our community has had three such instances in the past month.

The first was more annoying than anything. The fire alarms sounded at about 3:40 a.m. on a week night. It woke us with a start. TW raced to the door and felt for heat. Then she looked out in the hall. Nothing was visible so she called the front desk. We could hear sirens in the background. The concierge informed us it was a false alarm. Armed with that knowledge, we tried to get back to sleep but we couldn't because that alarm continued sounding for thirty minutes! It was loud. So loud that the peeps' ears rang for hours after it stopped.

Then one afternoon FD was here for the A Building. Some teenagers though it would be fun to throw firecrackers down the garbage chute. Apparently they didn't know there was garbage down there that could catch fire. Duh!

Wednesday Word—Fire
I hear sirens. Pop, turn on the fire/police scanner. OMC! That's our address!
The last instance was Saturday night. My Facebook friends know all about it. We heard sirens and Pop turned on his scanner. The only words TW caught were [my street] command. She axed Pop where it was. He replied it must be the laundry room in the community next to ours. After all, the smoke alarm didn't sound so it couldn't be our building, right? They said the North Building and everyone refers to our building as the C Building. Their exact words were "light smoke condition in the laundry room." TW could see the fire trucks' flashing lights out the window. She had an uneasy feeling.

She told Pop that she was going downstairs to find out just where the "light smoke condition" was and she wasn't coming back up if it was our building. Of course she doesn't have a mobile phone so she wouldn't be able to call him so he and I could evacuate too. That's the way she is. In fact, this is the 3rd time she's done this to The Cat. Oh, and like the good reporter she is, she forgot to bring her camera.

The only reason she took the elevator was because someone got out of our elevator when she was locking the door to our unit. Everyone knows you're not supposed to use the elevator during a fire for at least two reasons: 1) firemen may have to use it and 2) elevators stop and open on the fire floor. You could find yourself staring into a wall of flames like many people did on 9/11 at the World Trade Center. All of them perished.

Wednesday Word—Fire
We do things first-class around here. Not.
Back to my story. The lobby of our building was crawling with men in turnout coats and fire helmets. TW's knees grew weak as fire is her biggest fear about multi-unit dwellings. She didn't know which way to go. She couldn't get back into the elevator. Not safe even though she didn't see any smoke or fire. The front entrance was blocked by burly firemen and she couldn't walk past the laundry room to use the side door. As she was going for the other side door, she ran into another fireman and axed if the fire was out. After he convinced her it was, she ran up the four flights of stairs so fast she was out of breath. That's when we posted on Facebook. Many thanks for all your comments. It made me truly feel loved.

We were lucky that it was a small fire that they "knocked down" with a "can" (fire extinguisher). We were also lucky the concierge didn't try to put it out herself cos that's when fires get out of hand.

Oh, one thing we DIDN'T hear was the smoke alarm. It never sounded.

UPDATE: The president of our condo association got all bent out of shape when TW e-mailed to ax why the residents weren't informed since many use the laundry room which was now closed and why the smoke alarm never sounded. He claimed a resident overloaded one of the washers and burnt out the motor. He also claimed there was smoke but no fire but we all know where there's smoke there's fire.

Apparently FD also noticed there was no fire detector in the laundry room which is remarkable since they do yearly inspections. Residents are fined if they don't have smoke detectors but they never thought to look in the common areas. Since our complex is over 25 years old, it's remarkable that this is the first time there has been a fire in the laundry room. All in all, I guess we were lucky.

Would you like to comment?

  1. Geez, CK, it sounds like your place is some kind of crazy fire trap! Stay safe!

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  2. That's really scary. I lived in apartments for years and agree it is scary when you are living with so many other people who may or may not be responsible. Glad you are all OK. Hope you get a smoke detector in the laundry room soon.

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  3. so scary....fire is the one thing that really makes mom worry since it moves so fast. glad you are all safe

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  4. So relieved to hear you're ok, CK. I hope the building gets smoke alarms in the common areas ASAP!

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  5. That was very scary! I am glad you are all safe.

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  6. CK, those are harrowing for you and for your parents. I understand the fear of living in a multi-family dwelling just for those very reasons. You must always be on the alert as much as is possible and act immediately when you have to. Hard way to live. XXOO

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  7. Yikes CK! Very glad that you and the peeps are ok. Hoping that they fix the problem w/the missing smoke detectors asap.

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  8. CK, this is so very scary, and we are glad that you are all okay! The condo assocation president's reaction to TW's email is messed up. :(

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  9. That really is scary but we are so happy all is okay CK!

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  10. ck....de food servizz gurlz dad izza volunteerz fire dood...shuld say waz coz him iz ancient now.....but we noe how scaree firez iz...we iz glad ..make that buzzed glad... everee ones safe & knot hurt N noe kinda crazee $hitz happened ......

    even in houzez....flames can go.. like that....frum woods ta houz, frum houz ta houz...in deed itz scaree....that N gaz.......we due knot like gas either ~~~~~~

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    1. pea ezz...de managurrz fulla it two.... coz smoke detectorz R for.....detectin smoke

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  11. Oh CK, that was too close for comfort. Thank Cod you are all okay. How very scary. Since people have kitchens here and are elderly (forgetful) that could easily happen here. We are thankful that we live right next door to a side exit door and that is the exit we are supposed to head for. it has firwalls, so they want us to stand out there. M has PTUs ready so all she has to do is grab me and out we go. We're so happy you are okay.

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  12. My Momma stresses out over fire too. She says she knows she doesn't leave open flames unattended ... she doesn't smoke ... she always stays in the kitchen while cooking, etc, but there's no guarantee that anyone else does and we have neighbors on all sides. Ever since a bunch of units did actually burn, she hates leaving me at home all by myself just in case. I guess it shows she cares about me ... but her anxiety gets annoying sometimes! ~Bear Cat

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  13. Oh gosh, how scary. I'm glad you are okay. I hope they install smoke detector as soon as possible and such incident will never happen again!

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  14. OMC that's scary, CK. What a relief that you are okay :) Pawkisses for a Happy WW :) <3

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  15. We are just happy that you are all okay, and that none of these instances was serious. Our mom's biggest fear is fire in general. She won't even light a match. Stay safe. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  16. So glad you are all ok!!!!!! We blogged about a fire that occurred in our building a few weeks ago.........we only have 3 floors, (but no elevator)........we are on the top floor. Can't remember if I blogged about it on Cody's blog or Dakota's.......but....shame on you!!!! Our downstairs hallway was full of smoke (turns out a kid fell asleep with a pot on the stove).......I was the only one who called the fire dept. I grabbed Cody (in his carrier) and Dakota and told my husband he could come if he wanted to. I would never, ever leave without the pets!!!!!! catchatwithcarenandcody

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    1. So the Condo president said the alarm didn't sound because there ws only smoke ? DUH ! That's why they're called SMOKE alarms !

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    2. Actually he said there was NO smoke alarm in the laundry room.

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  17. That's so scary. It's true...we all have enough to worry about in our own homes, but with condos and apartments you have to worry about any weirdos living around you too. I can't believe TW planned to evacuate without you and Pop though!

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  18. I guess you were very lucky. If there was a fire, I am sure TW would go back for you CK. I am willing to burn with my cats if I can't evacuate all 13 in a fire- I hope it never happens though.

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  19. That is so scary! I'm so glad that you, TW, and your Pop are okay. It is pretty nerve wrecking to live in an apartment building. People always do stupid things and there isn't anything you can do about it.
    -Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

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  20. Fires can be so scary! We're glad everything and everyone is okay.

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  21. That is so scary, CK. We read about your laundry room incident on Facebook. Mom totally understands TW's worry about fire. We live in the forest and have to be aware of that danger all the time.

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  22. What an ordeal you've had. I'm glad you were never in any danger. Hopefully you won't have any fire scares for a very long time. Our smoke detector went wacky at midnight a few days ago. Mom got up and took it off the ceiling and put it in the garage so we wouldn't hear the beeping. A new battery didn't fix it so they installed a new one. I absolutely hate those beeping alarm noises!

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  23. That's quite a dramatic and alluring photo of you, my darling! All fiery like that---mmmmmm, makes my little heart burn for you! Oh, and I'm sorry you had these skeery experiences, my sweet. But that picture...... XOXOXO

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  24. My goodness, they sure are keeping you on your toes, aren't they, CK? Well, we are beyond glad that you, TW, Pop, and everyone else is okay! We'll be purring that things quiet down for you!

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  25. Oh boy, frustrating and annoying for you all.

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  26. Wow, so much going in in your neighborhood! I'm glad you and TW and Pops are all okay. I hope it settles down.

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  27. My word, CK. Sounds like an active condo you and the family are in. Take care my friend.

    Shoko

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  28. Wow! That's horrible! I hope the damage can be fixed quickly, and I hope you get those detectors you need in order to stay safe. You must be so worried!

    Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

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