the many faces of a Fire
Everyone has a different reaction to situations in life. One event will look different to each of us the same way text and images can have a different meaning depending how the message is received. My journey began Friday January 31, 2014. It all started...
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 some of 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 grew 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 grew 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.
What if you were there?
How would you react when you heard the alarm?
They are dancing closer,
Wilder.
How would you react when you heard the alarm?
They are dancing closer,
Wilder.
Could you?
What if you...?
I remember 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 in 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"
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 in 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"
"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 a few 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.
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 a few 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, and linens. 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, and linens. We walk into a bare house and empty closets. My "fashionista" about had a heart attack! What am I going to wear?
Our fire, in the grand scheme of life, was minimal. It was relatively small with few damages.However, It has been almost a month and were are still not back to 100%. As I type today, there is construction and restoration going on around me. We were displaced for eleven nights and the clean up process has been detailed and seemingly endless. To my family it has been a burden and a challenge the entire way.
But, I realize this was not as much of a challenge as it could have been.
Not the challenge many other families have found them selves faced with after a fire. What if? What if I would have left? What if it spread so fast I couldn't get the kids out? What if we would have been asleep? My story could have been like this... |
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