How would you react when you heard the alarm?
They are dancing closer, closer.
Wilder.
They are dancing closer, closer.
Wilder.
The smell overwhelms the house and smoke was thickening , but where was the fire? I check behind the washer and dryer, look behind the heater, felt the walls in the bathroom. No heat. Just smoke. I scurry throughout the house gathering the babies (my 2-year-old son and 10-month-old niece) and our important documents. All while still looking for the fire. There isn't much time, the smoke was thick as a spring morning's fog, the alarm won't quiet. I go back to the dryer, it has to be there, and that's when it all came to light.
The flames grow inside the dryer and are now reaching out of the machine. Looking for something to fuel their rage. As tall as I stood; they stare back at me.
The flames grow inside the dryer and are now reaching out of the machine. Looking for something to fuel their rage. As tall as I stood; they stare back at me.
Could you?
Would you?
I remembered back to...
911 Operator: Emergency services. What is the emergency?
Caller: My dryer is on fire. What do I do?
911 Operator: Where is the emergency?
Caller: Wilson Ave, Glassboro.
911 Operator: What is your full name?
Caller: April Robinson.
911 Operator: Okay. Help is on the way. Please get everyone out of the house.
Caller: OK.
Caller: My dryer is on fire. What do I do?
911 Operator: Where is the emergency?
Caller: Wilson Ave, Glassboro.
911 Operator: What is your full name?
Caller: April Robinson.
911 Operator: Okay. Help is on the way. Please get everyone out of the house.
Caller: OK.
I throw a blanket on the lawn and take the kids outside. I scamper back in to get my purse and their jackets, my heart racing. By the time i load them into the truck the first officer is on the scene.
"Is everyone out of the house?"
"Yes... NO! The dog. OMG, I forgot the dog! Brutis."
"Don't worry. Ill get him."
"Thank you!"
"Is everyone out of the house?"
"Yes... NO! The dog. OMG, I forgot the dog! Brutis."
"Don't worry. Ill get him."
"Thank you!"
As the sirens grow louder reality sets in. My knees clang together with each jolt of my body. My house is on fire. Smoke is coming out of everywhere, it didn't look good. The police arrive first; the firetrucks soon after. My privacy is violated, there are people all over my house. It looks like a scene from a movie.
All I keep thinking is thank goodness I was home still. The kids and I were heading out once my daughter got off the bus,
The school bus pulls up as the fire trucks have our block barricaded. My daughter is getting off, I see her emotions growing. Her tears, bring my tears, as I let it all fall heavy upon my shoulders. She runs toward me.
"Baby, it's OK."
"Mom, what happened? Is our whole house on fire?"
"The dryer caught on fire. I hope it just stayed inside there. The fire fighters were her very quick. We will have to wait and see what they say."
She sobs more.
"It's going to be OK. There is nothing that we can't replace," I say reassuring her.
All I keep thinking is thank goodness I was home still. The kids and I were heading out once my daughter got off the bus,
The school bus pulls up as the fire trucks have our block barricaded. My daughter is getting off, I see her emotions growing. Her tears, bring my tears, as I let it all fall heavy upon my shoulders. She runs toward me.
"Baby, it's OK."
"Mom, what happened? Is our whole house on fire?"
"The dryer caught on fire. I hope it just stayed inside there. The fire fighters were her very quick. We will have to wait and see what they say."
She sobs more.
"It's going to be OK. There is nothing that we can't replace," I say reassuring her.
Her little mind races and draws big pictures.
"But Mom, what about my dress. The girl scout prom is tonight."
In all of the commotion I had forgotten about the "Girl Scout Prom" or really just the "Snowflake dance." My 7-year-old (going on 17) had renamed it the prom.
"Oh, so now I see. Our house is on fire and your crying about your "prom" dress," I chuckle. "I think it will be okay."
Just then the fire chief came up to give me a report of the damages. The fire stayed contained to the dryer and the utility room.
"You are very lucky. A few minutes longer this would have been a much different conversation. You are not allowed back into the home until restoration is made. There is heavy smoke damage and soot throughout the house. Stay calm when you reenter to get your belongings. Contact your insurance company immediately. Do you have somewhere your family can stay the night?"
In shock.
"Uh, OK.. yes we do. Thank you."
"Excuse me, fire fighter." says this little concerned voice. "Is my prom dress OK?"
"It should be fine," he says. "That's unless it was in the dryer," he laughed.
"No it wasn't. It is hanging in my room. The purple room. It's hanging under the window. My earrings and shoes are there too. Do you think they caught on fire too."
"No. They are fine, but your going to need a lot of perfume. What does your dress look like? I will go in and get it for you."
"Thank you! Its black and gold cheetah print. With sparkles on top. It's my black dress shoes and my gold earrings. They are on my desk."
"I've got it. I'll see what I can do."
Moments later her hero returned, from behind the smoke, with her entire ensemble. Her heart was calmed. It was now going to be OK.
"But Mom, what about my dress. The girl scout prom is tonight."
In all of the commotion I had forgotten about the "Girl Scout Prom" or really just the "Snowflake dance." My 7-year-old (going on 17) had renamed it the prom.
"Oh, so now I see. Our house is on fire and your crying about your "prom" dress," I chuckle. "I think it will be okay."
Just then the fire chief came up to give me a report of the damages. The fire stayed contained to the dryer and the utility room.
"You are very lucky. A few minutes longer this would have been a much different conversation. You are not allowed back into the home until restoration is made. There is heavy smoke damage and soot throughout the house. Stay calm when you reenter to get your belongings. Contact your insurance company immediately. Do you have somewhere your family can stay the night?"
In shock.
"Uh, OK.. yes we do. Thank you."
"Excuse me, fire fighter." says this little concerned voice. "Is my prom dress OK?"
"It should be fine," he says. "That's unless it was in the dryer," he laughed.
"No it wasn't. It is hanging in my room. The purple room. It's hanging under the window. My earrings and shoes are there too. Do you think they caught on fire too."
"No. They are fine, but your going to need a lot of perfume. What does your dress look like? I will go in and get it for you."
"Thank you! Its black and gold cheetah print. With sparkles on top. It's my black dress shoes and my gold earrings. They are on my desk."
"I've got it. I'll see what I can do."
Moments later her hero returned, from behind the smoke, with her entire ensemble. Her heart was calmed. It was now going to be OK.
I entered the house alone to access what had just happened. Unbelievable! Words can not describe the destruction. The destruction, on my heart, as I saw my house at it's worse.
It was a few days before the kids were allowed in the house to see the clean-up process. The laundry services company had taken our clothing, shoes, linens, curtains and other cloth items like pocketbooks, throw pillows. We walk into a bare house and empty closets. My "fashionista" about had a heart attack! What am I going to wear?
It was a few days before the kids were allowed in the house to see the clean-up process. The laundry services company had taken our clothing, shoes, linens, curtains and other cloth items like pocketbooks, throw pillows. We walk into a bare house and empty closets. My "fashionista" about had a heart attack! What am I going to wear?