A Fireman came out of retirement this morning
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:37 pm
I was a volunteer fireman many years ago, in my local community. There weren't a lot of fires, but we also went on rescue calls and car crashes. We had lots of calls. It required lots of training. I had to resign when I divorced. I raised the children and there was no time to be a volunteer fireman.
Fast forward to last night. We had momma's family at our house for the third time during the Christmas holiday. I got home from work right as the first guest arrived. I made a huge batch of garlic bread as I had driven a co-worker home who usually walks or bikes. It was cold and he appreciated the ride. Driving past the bakery a second time was not an option. Garlic bread would go over with the crowd that had already eaten dinner. Another festive night drew to a close and I was exhausted. I went to bed early. Momma was up early to go to coffee with her brother. As she left, she was aghast that she had left a candle in the bathroom downstairs lit all night. I hadn't even known there was one in there, let alone lit. She left and I headed to the man cave to catch up on the internet and things here. I wasn't there 15 minutes and above me I heard a crash and thought "What did those %^&* cats break now. I was going to let it go for a while, but I went upstairs. I heard a vibrating noise and smelled smoke. I saw the shadow of flames as I rounded the stair case. The coffee table and rug under it were on fire. A large triple wick candle had gone unnoticed as well. It burned out the side of the body and molten wax was everywhere it could go. Not all of it was on fire yet. I was able to put plenty of water on it from the kitchen and it was out fairly quickly.
The crash was when the wax let loose and went all over the glass top of the coffee table, which was already heated from the candle all night. The glass broke and the fire spread. Luckily I was home, awake and went to see what it was right away. The vibrating noise was the old wired in fire alarm going off. It sounded more like a phone vibrator than alarm. It wasn't audible in the basement man cave area. The rug, the table and a few other things on the table were ruined. I ventilated the house and checked for more candles. I secured the house and went to take family to the airport.
I just got home from the store. Four new smoke alarms and two fire extinguishers came home with me. I am about to install them, but wanted to post this now.
Life is short. Be careful and thankful for what you have. The whole house would have gone up if I wasn't home or awake. Let my mistakes be a lesson to you all. The stuff could be replaced, but we can't. As life is short, I got a few other trinkets at the store. No new guns though.
Fast forward to last night. We had momma's family at our house for the third time during the Christmas holiday. I got home from work right as the first guest arrived. I made a huge batch of garlic bread as I had driven a co-worker home who usually walks or bikes. It was cold and he appreciated the ride. Driving past the bakery a second time was not an option. Garlic bread would go over with the crowd that had already eaten dinner. Another festive night drew to a close and I was exhausted. I went to bed early. Momma was up early to go to coffee with her brother. As she left, she was aghast that she had left a candle in the bathroom downstairs lit all night. I hadn't even known there was one in there, let alone lit. She left and I headed to the man cave to catch up on the internet and things here. I wasn't there 15 minutes and above me I heard a crash and thought "What did those %^&* cats break now. I was going to let it go for a while, but I went upstairs. I heard a vibrating noise and smelled smoke. I saw the shadow of flames as I rounded the stair case. The coffee table and rug under it were on fire. A large triple wick candle had gone unnoticed as well. It burned out the side of the body and molten wax was everywhere it could go. Not all of it was on fire yet. I was able to put plenty of water on it from the kitchen and it was out fairly quickly.
The crash was when the wax let loose and went all over the glass top of the coffee table, which was already heated from the candle all night. The glass broke and the fire spread. Luckily I was home, awake and went to see what it was right away. The vibrating noise was the old wired in fire alarm going off. It sounded more like a phone vibrator than alarm. It wasn't audible in the basement man cave area. The rug, the table and a few other things on the table were ruined. I ventilated the house and checked for more candles. I secured the house and went to take family to the airport.
I just got home from the store. Four new smoke alarms and two fire extinguishers came home with me. I am about to install them, but wanted to post this now.
Life is short. Be careful and thankful for what you have. The whole house would have gone up if I wasn't home or awake. Let my mistakes be a lesson to you all. The stuff could be replaced, but we can't. As life is short, I got a few other trinkets at the store. No new guns though.