Late last night (or early this morning, depending on how you want to look at it) I was awoken, as was everyone in the neighborhood, by firetrucks and sirens. Around 12 AM, I woke up to firetruck sirens blaring down the street. I can't believe I even heard them over the air conditioner and fan. I laid in bed for a second listening to where they were going, it was getting louder and louder...it stopped. I knew it had to be close. I jumped out of bed and looked out the window. I see firetrucks and police cars cruising down the street. Then, kiddy corner from us, I see a mini-van parked on the corner, a guy at the back of it pulling out a video camera, then he took off running down the street. I couldn't see down the street, but I knew there was something going on. I ran down stairs and looked out the front door, a house, about 7 houses away, was engulfed in flames. I don't remember a lot of what I did at the moment, but I do remember my mouth opening wide, my hand coming up to it and I said "oh my god. oh my god" I didn't even put on my shoes and I ran down to the corner with my brother's girlfriend, Aimee. We stood there watching. We could see my mom and brothers down the street in front of the house. I ran in, told David and we went down together. We stood there and watched this house burn. It was so sad. David went back and I stayed down there for a little bit. While we were watching, we noticed the fire pick up massively in the upstairs. All of a sudden, the window broke and a fireman was coming out the window. There was no ladder there to catch him yet. He was about as far as his knees when the ladder came to the window. He didn't care that there was no ladder, he was going to drop. I said "I hope nobody else is in there" and then a second fireman was at the window. He (or she) tried to get through the window, there was a struggle, they tried to break the bar from the frame and it wouldn't work, they tried to get through again, nothing. Then, they pushed so hard and slid through the window and down the ladder. It was chilling. People started cheering once the fire fighters made their way out. Here is a video from Channel 5, they don't show the intense drama that we saw in person.
http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S97658.shtml?cat=1
I have never witnessed anything like this. It breaks my heart. The lady that lived upstairs was sobbing. Her cats were still in there. When she said that, my eyes welled up with tears. I feel so bad for the families that lived in this house. To stand there and watch your house burn down, I can't even imagine. Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.
2 comments:
Oh my goodness, how scary! I'm so glad that you and your house are okay. I saw a house burning once and it was a truly haunting sight; I can still picture it. How truly awful. I am keeping those families in my thoughts & prayers.
Wow. How daunting to witness such a sight first hand! I saw the video on the news and heard about it, but I didn't know you were so close! I am glad you and your family is safe! When I was younger my house in St Paul (down the street on Blair Ave) caught on fire while we were gone because my dad forgot to turn off the stove. I don't remember exactly how it all went, but it was on my golden birthday (Nov 8-I was 8) and there were 2 firetrucks and the fire marshal. Luckly our house didn't burn down, but a lot of our stuff had to be thrown away from smoke damage. We ended up having to stay in a hotel for 2 weeks so they could de-smoke the house. It was fun to live in a hotel with a pool, but it was sad to lose the stuff they had to throw. I can't even imagine losing your entire house! I will definetly say a prayer for that family. Plus losing pets! Oh man! How heart-breaking!
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