But we are so fortunate; we are alive and well and only lost part of a wall (and cheap paneling). The fire was contained to a laundry room and started inside a wall. An inside wire went haywire, and that was enough to set off a spark, which set off the insulation. We could smell smouldering, but we couldn't find the flames.
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Then we saw the swirling smoke.
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We called 911; two fire trucks and about six firefighters arrived, and they spent two hours putting out the hot spots. Just as they arrived, the fire was JUST to the point of igniting and would have spread rapidly. The chief said that the house would have probably burned to the ground.
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We called 911; two fire trucks and about six firefighters arrived, and they spent two hours putting out the hot spots. Just as they arrived, the fire was JUST to the point of igniting and would have spread rapidly. The chief said that the house would have probably burned to the ground.
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Fortunately, we were home and it was early in the evening; had we been away, we would have lost our house. Worse yet, had we been home but asleep, we might have lost our lives.
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Unfortunately, the very next night (Friday), the Hernandez family wasn't so lucky; four people (two children and their parents, the mother four months pregnant) died in a fire that started in their basement.
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Unlike us, they were dealt a bum hand, and they had almost no chance. Three teenage girls did escape the fire, but they had to jump from a second and third story window.
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Unfortunately, the very next night (Friday), the Hernandez family wasn't so lucky; four people (two children and their parents, the mother four months pregnant) died in a fire that started in their basement.
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Unlike us, they were dealt a bum hand, and they had almost no chance. Three teenage girls did escape the fire, but they had to jump from a second and third story window.
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Read the whole story here. (York Daily Record, York, PA)
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My husband and I will be donating some money to a fund that will help defray their funeral expenses and the transport of their bodies to Mexico for burial.
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If some readers of this blog could find it in their hearts to make a small donation to this family that has suffered so greatly, that would help them so much. This blog has a few readers a day, so every little bit would surely help.
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The address:
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Salvation Army
Hispanic Worship Center
257 E. South Street
York, PA 17403
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If some readers of this blog could find it in their hearts to make a small donation to this family that has suffered so greatly, that would help them so much. This blog has a few readers a day, so every little bit would surely help.
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The address:
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Salvation Army
Hispanic Worship Center
257 E. South Street
York, PA 17403
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Make out any checks to the Salvation Army, with a Hernandez family notation.
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By the way, I don't know the Hernandez family at all, but I do feel a connection with them.
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Most important: hug your children, family, and significant other.
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And check your fire alarms. Tonight. Before you go to bed.
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Best to all,
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Ms Domainer
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By the way, I don't know the Hernandez family at all, but I do feel a connection with them.
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Most important: hug your children, family, and significant other.
.
And check your fire alarms. Tonight. Before you go to bed.
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Best to all,
.
Ms Domainer
Jennifer
Oh no! But, I'm so glad it wasn't a major fire! Get your electrician to check the rest of the wiring, too. They can usually spot troubles ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteMy tree knocked down my neighbors power line the other night but the power stayed on. He has 4 children and I was worried they lost power but he turned his porch light on when the fire dept. got here.
Take Care,
Jeff
Spambait,
ReplyDeleteYes, the electrician has checked the immediate problem and will do a thorough check this.
Meantime, I'm sleeping with one eye open...
Thanks for your comment.
Ms Domainer
Keeping Inventory
ReplyDeleteEarlier this year, we had an electrical fire in our home -- old wires in a 50-year-old house. While the flame part of the fire was contained in the kitchen, our home was cooking with steam, soot, smoke, and heat for hours before the fire actually started. As a result, even though the framework of our house is still standing, we have now been through two months of inventorying, dumping, and gutting everything. Everything from 20 years of marriage and everything our two teenage children defined themselves to be, and have known all of their lives. So now, we are rebuilding, at every level, and trying to help others who have had similar experiences. As part of our "therapy", we are publishing a literary magazine ... Fire, Earth, Water, Air ... to help us creatively manage our emotions and hopefully allowing others to share theirs at our blog as well. Please share with others. Thank you.
BLOG: http://keepinginventory.blogspot.com/
Family Literary Magazine: http://magcloud.com/browse/Magazine/19038