Came upon a burning home today...

[ultrarunner]

Still a little shaken although better now that I learned no one died in the fire.

I had just left my tractor barn after picking up a little electric hammer for a job I needed to do.

As a got about two blocks away, I noticed low thick smoke through the trees... we are having strange weather right now, Blue Angels in town and had to cancel practice because of huge intermittent showers and lightning.

So I pull closer to the home and see an old women frantic in the driveway saying my house is burning and yelling for her husband... she had gone out for groceries and last night was the first cold night of the season... so lots of folks were heating for the first time.

The 1700 square foot ranch home had thick brown smoke oozing from every crack and encircling the eves... home had a tile roof...

I call 911 and try to back my truck and trailer out so responders have room.... 911 call took awhile because it goes to Highway Patrol first and then transfers where you have to repeat all the info...

In the heat of the moment, I approached to go in... yet the smoke really started billowing out.

I told her fire is on the way and an ambulance... I go out to the road and direct the responders and help with the fire lines/traffic all the while feeling bad for thinking what if the old guy is laying there and a minute might save his life...

The rain is intense and one of the firefighters went in and was injured... turns out, no one was home because her elderly husband was picked up be a friend.

It's a haunting feeling when you are the only one that can act and have to make a split second decision...

Home is a total loss... battalion captain thanked me for my help and said it was fortunate I happened to come by.

 

[irvingj]

"battalion captain thanked me for my help and said it was fortunate I happened to come by"

Ditto. You did the right thing. Nice to know there are still some people who know & value right from wrong. (Sorry-- just a bit depressed after reading about so many crooked politicians & gov't administrators lately...)

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Yes, you did the right thing. Nothing worse then you getting killed going in to try to find someone who is not home. In situations like this, the first and most important thing to do is call 911 and get the fire department responding...

 

[JSUnlimited]

Still a little shaken although better now that I learned no one died in the fire.

I had just left my tractor barn after picking up a little electric hammer for a job I needed to do.

As a got about two blocks away, I noticed low thick smoke through the trees... we are having strange weather right now, Blue Angels in town and had to cancel practice because of huge intermittent showers and lightning.

So I pull closer to the home and see an old women frantic in the driveway saying my house is burning and yelling for her husband... she had gone out for groceries and last night was the first cold night of the season... so lots of folks were heating for the first time.

The 1700 square foot ranch home had thick brown smoke oozing from every crack and encircling the eves... home had a tile roof...

I call 911 and try to back my truck and trailer out so responders have room.... 911 call took awhile because it goes to Highway Patrol first and then transfers where you have to repeat all the info...

In the heat of the moment, I approached to go in... yet the smoke really started billowing out.

I told her fire is on the way and an ambulance... I go out to the road and direct the responders and help with the fire lines/traffic all the while feeling bad for thinking what if the old guy is laying there and a minute might save his life...

The rain is intense and one of the firefighters went in and was injured... turns out, no one was home because her elderly husband was picked up be a friend.

It's a haunting feeling when you are the only one that can act and have to make a split second decision...

Home is a total loss... battalion captain thanked me for my help and said it was fortunate I happened to come by.

It's nice to know that there are still some decent folks out there to help others in a time of need....good job and thank you!

Now, if only Ohio's Governor could experience something like this..............might make him realize the value of public servants.

 

[Bird]

It's a haunting feeling when you are the only one that can act and have to make a split second decision...

Yes, it is, and you obviously made the right decisions under pressure.:thumbsup:

 

[grsthegreat]

Yup, the right decision. Even a firefighter would hesitate to enter a fully engaged house fire without a respirator.

So many things we keep in a house and stuff used to build the house give off toxic vapors when heated in a fire..... don't even want to think about it.

Many years ago while walking home from work in Calif, i came upon a house on fire. Ran up and pounded on the door, they came out. They didn't even know about the fire. Neighbors called fire dept. Not too much damage. Back in the late 1970's and early 1980's smoke detectors were a luxury i guess, cause i don't think these people had them.

 

[Western]

I call 911 and try to back my truck and trailer out so responders have room.... 911 call took awhile because it goes to Highway Patrol first and then transfers where you have to repeat all the info...

Great that you kept your wits, sometimes it doesn't "soak" in until it's over. Good job

I do have a problem with the way they operate their 911, seems it would be better to have a central dispatch when time is of the essence, or at least be routed to the nearest 911 dispatch depending on the area you are calling as it is here.
If I am in my county and dial 911, it goes directly to my counties 911 dispatch, If I am on the county line and get the neighboring counties dispatch, they will patch me immediately through to the 911 responsible for where I'm at. Seems very quick and efficient and I only have to explain once.

 

[ultrarunner]

I just went by on the way home tonight...

The owner came right over and asked if I was the one that called it in... he was very grateful... said he and his wife have lived there 43 years...

I asked about his wife and was told she is with their niece resting... she could hardly speak and was given a mild sedative...

Her husband seemed to be in remarkably good spirits... he said there is nothing in the house he can't do without and he enjoyed every minute of the 43 years.

In a way, today was the best time if a fire had to happen... the home backs up to thousands of acres of open space and 48hours ago, it was tinder dry...

Looks like the tile roof help to make the inside like an oven...

 

[tcartwri]

A house fire is a very sobering event. It is amazing how fast the fire takes hold once it has some heat and a source of oxygen. I have seen a couple, and it scared the crap out of me.

 

[Western]

I just went by on the way home tonight...

The owner came right over and asked if I was the one that called it in... he was very grateful... said he and his wife have lived there 43 years...

I asked about his wife and was told she is with their niece resting... she could hardly speak and was given a mild sedative...

Her husband seemed to be in remarkably good spirits... he said there is nothing in the house he can't do without and he enjoyed every minute of the 43 years.

In a way, today was the best time if a fire had to happen... the home backs up to thousands of acres of open space and 48hours ago, it was tinder dry...

Looks like the tile roof help to make the inside like an oven...

UR, you may have just met a new pair of good friends. The home owner sure has a positive attitude.