8mm Forum: There was a fire ...

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 01, 2018, 11:15 AM:

I just need to vent for a bit, I hope you folks won't mind.

Friday morning, at 6:05 A.M., I was woke up to what sounded like gun shots, which I thought odd, especially for this time of year and in town. the gunshots increased, and then I started to hear a little yelling. I sprang from my bed to look in the hall and from the window from the back door down the hall, I saw flames thru the window. I immediately woke up my wife to get herself and the kids woke up, as I feared that the back bedroom of our house was on fire (the back bedroom is only used for storage).

I put on my shoes and robe and ran outside and found that it wasn't our trailer on fire, but my neighbor, Alan's trailer, which is only 20 feet from ours. I ent back there to see if i could help and heard Alan screaming for help from inside his trailer. I and a neighbor were trying to force our way to his trailer, but the police and firefighters were holding us back, just doing they're job.

I went back into the house to find my family completely dressed and informed them that our house was not on fire, but Alan's.

I went back outside to find that they had dragged Alan outside and were doing C.P.R. to no avail. Our neighbor of 13 years had died of burns and smoke inhalation.

In hindsidght, I am thankful that they held us back, as it took four firefighters to get Alan out of his house, (Alan, while a good man, was rather obese) and so, though I desired to help, I might well have been either hurt or killed in trying to get him out.

We were rather lucky in one way, as there was no wind that morning and so the flames were not blown onto our trailer. Our trailer is safe.

It will be difficult not to think of his screaming for help.

I had aleready made the decision to do this in the recent past, but we are going to do opur best to be out of our trailer within a years time. When we first moved in 13 years ago, we were surrounded on all sides, by neighbors. In that time, two of our neighbors trailers have been burned down and the other was torn down when the occupant left. It almost feels like we are on borrowed time, living here.

Please forgive me, as I know this has nothing to do with film, but I do feel that, though we have never met, i feel like you folks are friends. long distance, of course, but friends, just the same.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on December 01, 2018, 12:45 PM:

Just glad you and your family are ok. Stay safe.

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on December 01, 2018, 02:40 PM:

Osi,
As the season of goodwill approaches - thank the lord you are all ok - so sorry that you lost a neighbour and friend. Good Wishes from South Wales UK

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on December 01, 2018, 03:30 PM:

What a horrible experience Osi,very frightening for you all and poor Alan.

A few years ago in our old house we were woken up by the smell of burning,I got up and looked around and our house was fine but next door was on fire,I jumped the fence and when I looked in the neighbour was out cold on the sofa,she had fallen asleep smoking and it set the sofa alight,I kicked the door in and got her out while my wife rang the fire brigade,I managed to keep the flames back with the garden hose,she had burns but survived and so did the house,a frightening experience and that first smell of smoke for me was the worst,Mark

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on December 01, 2018, 03:47 PM:

How awful for you and of course your poor neighbour.
A house or a trailer - fire spreads so quickly, all places of residence should have fire extinguishers really - it might not save the house but it could help just clear a path to get out!
Glad you and your family are safe.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on December 02, 2018, 12:11 PM:

Remember your neighbor as Our Lord remembers us - Shorty

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on December 02, 2018, 12:44 PM:

Terrible story ! I'm glad you're ok.

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on December 02, 2018, 01:42 PM:

Such a terrible thing. Life has a way of waking us up and nudging us in a direction if we are paying attention. I am thinking of your family. Your neighbor Alan's demise serves to make us thankful when a loved one passes quietly and peacefully from this realm. Glad you and your family are safe.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 03, 2018, 11:04 AM:

Thank you for you're kind consideration and words. As for me, I'm just paranoid all the time now. Not totally "wigged out", but paranoid.

Mark, you are quite the man for what you did. [Smile]

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 03, 2018, 01:09 PM:

I know how you feel it took me months to get back to normal after the dehumidifier fire in my cellar and that only charred a few joists and spread soot around. Hope you can relax again soon.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 03, 2018, 01:49 PM:

One thing I hope everyone has is "smoke detectors" at home... its really a must have.

Posted by Jason Smith (Member # 5055) on December 03, 2018, 04:52 PM:

I am with Graham.For better piece of mind, I would make sure you have carbon monoxide/smoke detectors in every bedroom, hallway, and in the kitchen.

I am glad that you and your family are okay Osi.

I think this is a good time for all of us to check our smoke detector batteries and make sure we have everything in order.

[ December 04, 2018, 02:18 AM: Message edited by: Jason Smith ]

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on December 03, 2018, 09:36 PM:

I think a new fire extinguisher or three needs to be among Santa's gifts to our household. And yep, I'm overdue to check on smoke alarms. The main one's fine, but...

Osi, what a sad and tragic thing. I'm so glad you and your family are OK. May by God's grace and blessing you get out of there into something more viable long-term, and may He keep you safe until you do. (And thereafter!).

Thank you for sharing.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 04, 2018, 11:43 AM:

Thanks bill (and all others) ...

One thing about "trials" in life, they are not there to destroy us but to refine and strengthen us, so I tend to look at things in that-a-way.

Beyond even that, there are those that have suffered far worse than I and my family, take those folks down there in the California wildfires ...

So, put in the proper perspective, I am still thankful and grateful. [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on December 04, 2018, 12:43 PM:

Osi, thankfully your all OK, very sorry to hear of your neighbors awful demise.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on December 04, 2018, 07:35 PM:

Osi, both of those are excellent and wise perspectives!

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on December 04, 2018, 07:39 PM:

I'm so glad that you and your family are alright Osi. Very sorry for the loss of your neighbor. As others stated above, if any good can come out of this all, it makes us all more cautious. Check electrical outlets, etc.

Praying for continued safety for your household.

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