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Andrew and I just moved into a beautiful new townhouse in Richmond. This evening there was a huge thunderstorm with dramatic flashes of lightening and several power and cable outages. At around 6:00 p.m. someone pounded on our door. I thought it was a neighbor coming over to ask a question or a kid selling something. I was in my bathroom installing a robe hook. After a minute, Andrew called up to me, "Kiri, there's a fire a couple of houses down. Let's quickly and calmly leave the house."
I asked him if I had a mintue to grab some things and he said yes. While he got the dogs, I grabbed my jewelry, my fetal doppler, his wallet and watch, my purse, our lease and insurance policy, and the keys to both of our cars. I turned off all the lights and shut all the doors and we got out. I left the front door unlocked in case the firemen had to get in - I didn't want them to have to break it down if they needed to get inside.
The fire was in the house 2 houses down from us. We could see smoke billowing out the windows and then huge flames started to shoot out. We put the dogs in the car and Andrew went to check on our right next-door neighbors (the left ones were already out). There was a crowd gathering outside and everyone called 911. I felt very sorry for the people renting that house, but I was also terrified that it was going to spread to our house. Thankfully, no one was home when the fire started. The man who lives there actually drove up right before the fire trucks arrived (approximately 12 minutes after our 911 call). He just moved in 3 days ago and luckily has renter's insurance. I had just switched our policy over to our new address this afternoon myself, thank goodness.
Three fire trucks arrived and they did their work. As they put the fire out, huge clouds of smoke started to blow right where we were standing - enough to make people cough. I got into the car right quick and drove away with the dogs, just over to the leasing office down the road. I called my mother and freaked her out. I also checked the baby's heartbeat and it was fine. After about 20 minutes, I drove back and the fire was out. It never got past that one house. Apparently, lightening struck the roof and there aren't any lightening rods.
We found out from our neighbors that this exact thing happened last year. The fire dept. suggested that lightening rods be installed, but they never did it. Apparently, they aren't required to do so by law. Andrew is going to look that up tomorrow. If not, we are going to have one installed ourselves. I'm not taking any chances with the baby. We also found out that there is a fire wall between every 2 houses, so ours was relatively safe. Luckily it was raining steadily so the trees didn't catch.
We got back into our house after about an hour and a half. We made sure that the firemen said it was safe for a pregnant woman and two small dogs (and Andrew). The electricity was back on and there wasn't even a hint of the smell of smoke.
I am so thankful to be safe and in my undamaged house with my husband and dogs. I can't imagine what would have happened if the lightening had struck our roof or if our neighbors hadn't noticed the smoke. First thing tomorrow I am buying a fire ladder. I already checked the smoke alarms and reviewed our evacuation plan. I suggest that y'all do the same.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Wow - I'm glad you are all safe. Our house burned down when I was 5 years old. I remember quite a bit about it, actually. We lost pretty much everything we owned, but we were all safe (Mom, Dad, 6-month-old sister and me).
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Wow, Mrs.M, I'm really glad you're all right. No damage to your house is just icing on the cake. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
Posts: 2267 | Registered: May 2005
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Edit: I should add, private health cover is not nearly so important here as it is in the US. We have medicare that covers all essential medical treatment, so if I fall sick, I will get looked after.
Insurance is just so I can get a private room at a private hospital if I wish - although all emergencies go to the public hospitals, and for dental/eyecare/additional non-essential medical care. So I do need to sort it out, but I'm not being entirely irresponsible.
Plenty of Australians don't have private health care cover, and the public universal system will look after them.
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We don't have renter's insurance, and it won't be in our budget for at least another year. Stories like this scare me.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Yikes!!! I'm glad you are all okay..... I'm glad my house is surrounded by trees that are TALLER than the house!
Posts: 251 | Registered: Apr 2005
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The OCD that makes me so organized also makes me worry. I'm glad you're covered no matter what, imogen.
kq, I don't want to alarm you, but maybe you should re-examine your budget. Our policy is only $32/mo. and it includes a large jewelry rider.
I also recommend that everyone who has insurance photograph anything of value in their house and have all your jewelry appraised, as well. Appraisals are also important if you have art or antiques. You also have to have them appraised each year, because prices fluctuate.
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Thanks, Miriya. Our trees are a bit taller than the houses, but they're all in a row that forms a canopy (which is very pretty). If one had caught, the others probably would have gone, too. Luckily, the wood was to wet to burn. It's very lucky, because we've had droughts in the past few years.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:kq, I don't want to alarm you, but maybe you should re-examine your budget. Our policy is only $32/mo. and it includes a large jewelry rider.
Have you seen the thread about how if we get the place we want to move into, it will take me taking an on-site manager position to close a $34 gap in our very meager budget?
We don't even have health insurance.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I don't know much about townhomes, because they aren't real common here, but I think my sister owns one in Fairfax, VA. Do all townhouses share walls? (Meaning there is no side-space between then, they are all connected)?? If so, I can certainly understand your fear that it would spread to other homes.
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kq, I owe you an apology. Giving you advice without knowing much about your situation was extremely tactless. I am shocked that I would do something like that and I can only attribute it to pregnancy and overtiredness. It was also coming from a place of caring - I am only neurotic about people who are important to me. It also occurred to me that you are younger than me and that Andrew and I were in your position not so long ago (without a baby, though).
Dagonee, they're physically okay but I don't think anything could be salvaged.
Minerva, it was a different house that was struck by lightening last July.
I'm fine during emergencies, Tammy, but I flip out afterwards.
Farmgirl, they are all connected. We share one wall with the neighbor on each side of us. The house that burned was an end unit, so he only shared a wall with one other house.
I'm glad to hear that, kat.
Olivetta, it really does put everything in perspective.
Belle, it seemed kind of long to me, too. I figured it was because of the storm. And then 3 engines showed up and a bunch of smaller trucks whose purpose I never did figure out. I lived next door to a fire house in NYC and their response time was something like 3-5 minutes. I actually thought of Wes yesterday, and you. Seeing a fire up close and personal really drives home how brave firefighters are and how real the risk to their lives is. I thought about being the wife (or husband - there was one woman) of a firefighter and how nerve-wracking that must be. I am writing a thank you note to them. It's a small gesture, but I hope they'll like it.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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(((Mrs. M))) My response was a little harsh, and I apologize. I really need to sleep more and post less. We are very hopeful that we will get the place we need, be able to afford to move into it (we're doing everything we can, but we won't even be able to afford a portion of the first month's rent without an advance on Jeff's salary at this rate, much less the deposit), and within a year Jeff will get a nice raise (very probable) and we'll be able to afford all those things like renter's insurance, life insurance, etc. that we really do need with a child to think of, but can't afford right now. I know you posted out of concern for us, and I was a butt to be so rude to a pregnant lady.
And yes, I'd say I'm probably much younger than you, and neither of us has the benefit of a degree yet, so we're struggling along. But we'll get there. Thank you for your concern and your graciousness in the face of my moving-away-forever crankiness. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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kq, I didn't think your post was harsh or offensive. Moving is so stressful - I'm not looking forward to doing it again. And it must be doubly stressful with a baby. PetsMart, of all places, has the best boxes and they're free if you just ask them.
My goodness, Dagonee. I'll pass the compliment along to my mother.
I think that's a good idea, saradipity.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Stories like this scare me.
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You certainly are cool, calm and collect during an emergency!![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
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I'll pass the compliment along to my mother.
