...or the other way around???
FIRE !!!
Next door to my home this morning! 20-30 foot high orange flames! (no pics, we were busy gettin' the H311 outta there)
Looks like limited to the convergence of 4 wood fences and a utility pole with a xformer. The xformer could be the likely ignition source but at one point the fire dept. thought the house behind and 2 doors down was on fire so ???
the dog started barking in his crate and woke us up. good dog - normally he's an idiot so maybe his brain works better after a night's rest.
Makes you wonder what you'd grab to take outta the house. Wheres' the cat? (that stupid feline woulda been toast - hiding from us when we call - idiot) what about important papers? Do you move the cars onto the street? we did. I unlocked and opened the gate to our backyard to facilitate access incase firemen needed to get back there.
Told my wife SHE was gonna tell the fire dept. about her torch fuel.(she is a hot glass craftsperson) 25lb. propane tank and oxygen cylinder. If our property was ignited.
crazy way to start the day. Our power went out while I was showering - went to work and left the wife and animals in the dark.
folks, have a plan for stuff like this.
Carl
'IT' is a dangerous servant and a fearful master...
Wow, sorry you had such a rude awakening this morning. Did you have a storm last night? Sometimes squirrels can short out a transformer though. That happens around here quite often. This would certainly be a stressful way to start the day! I'm not sure I would be able to concentrate on driving, much less working. I think my nerves would be rattled, stretched and twisted for a long time.
Wow Carl . . . what a way to start the day . . . glad you and the family are okay.
Your DG name says it all. You really are one lucky Texan! Glad you all got out ok but what a way to start any day.
Ann
no strom, and the wind had moderated from earlier so that was good.
Years ago we DID lose a transformer to a crow. The creepy thing was how crows from blocks away all gathered around my neighborhood to cry and hold a 'wake' or something! REALLY a 'Hitchcock-ian' event! I mean, normally we'd have a half dozen or so in my neighborhood in those days - but there was probably 150 crows after that one popped the xformer! It's body could be seen on top afterwards.
yes, thanx to all for your concern. At present, my wife and I don't really know about one particular house the fire dept. was interested in - but it appears there was no human or animal lives harmed. One set of neighbors mainatins it was the transformer that was on fire and lost it's cooling oil. That is waht ran down the utility pole catching nearby fences on fire. I think fencing and a xfrmer pole are the only damaged items - possibly some lawn grass, etc. But my (and likely others') gutters are full of debri nad of course trees and lawns are at risk this time of year. cloth covered canopies, decks, sheds etc. lot's of stuff that sparks or embers could easily ignite.
I never thought about it, but those privacy fences could spread a fire really quick through a whole neighborhood. Scary. I'm glad we don't have one.
I've never cared much for wooden fences though I'm sure many folks enjoy the privacy. I grew up with chain link fences being the most common type and they have much less maintenance and last so much longer. And to me it seems it would be easier to deter criminal mischief with the increased visibility.
We have the wooden fences and I have wondered about the fire danger. Several years ago a lightning bolt split the fig tree nearest the house. The privacy factor is nice, but the fencing is costly at replacement time.
Just got mine done recently and the budget is still reeling.
In all fairness, the fence may have been covered in oil from the transformer, but the fire had spread more than one panel away from the corner in all directions. And I'm sure grass fires could easily spring up near a burning fence. Plus, you have flying embers etc. A grass fire could also run 'thru/under' a chainlink fence - but at least the fence itself is nonflammable and won't send sparks flying.
Update from the wife; 3 houses with moderate to major smoke/heat damage - one with water damage. More fences involved than we knew about this morning. Transformer still suspected. 3 blew out in Arlington last night. No injuries to resident or firefighters.
Carl, you are 1_Lucky_Texan! That is a scary thing to wake up to. Hooray for your dog. Amazing what they can pick up on.
We woke up at the end of August to an inferno in DHs workshop. Until you have been thru it, you never know how you will react under stress. I'm pretty comfortable with my calm logic after that and the only thing I should have done that I didn't was kill the power from the breaker. I was even calm enough to remember the idiotic 911 address we were assigned and don't use. After calling the fire dept and moving our vehicle so the trucks could get in, I moved two vintage cars out of a smoldering garage next to the shop. By then the first fireman was there and took over so I went in a made pots of coffee. I found I couldn't sit still so redirected the energy. Yep, I did take photos and when all done, we took photos of the damaged items too and put all on a cd and sent it with our insurance claim. There was no questions asked and no contesting the claim. Bless this insurance company, it was the first good dealings I've ever had with insurance!
BTW, there was a full 100 gallon propane tank 10 yards away from the fire and an almost full 500 gallon propane tank about 20 yards away. Neither one popped off. The smaller one got so hot it melted the gauge and fitting ends and is still full. Neither one was connected to the building that burned.
Anyway, yes, it did force us to assess our emergency tactics as well as anticipating future problems. One of the things on the agenda is to raise our property values on the insurance policy because rebuilding costs have increased phenominally. The other thing that came to mind was photograph every wall in the house, open every closet and cabinet door and take pictures. You can not imagine how hard it is to recall what all you have lost in a fire. When we cleaned it up, certain refuse would remind us of other items lost. Even today, we say we have, er had one of those. Still recalling lost goods. Absolutely on having a plan. We didn't but will next time. Glad your loss wasn't major and we hope no one else in the neighborhood suffered more than anxiety and lack of sleep.
