Something to Write Home About

I had been out in the studio working and heard Jon come home from visiting his Mother. When I came in the house Jon had a look on his face that I recognized immediately. He was about to tell me something happened that wasn't going to be good.

He usually takes my little Toyota RAV when he goes to his Mom's. It's just so much more economical than the diesel truck he drives. He had just stopped at the red light on Hwy 212 at the Carver Junction when someone behind him didn't stop at the red light but instead smashed right into the back end of my car! Jon said there wasn't much noticeable damage to my car but the gal's car (yes it was a woman) was really badly damaged in the front. After going out to examine my car I realized why the other gal's car got the brunt. She hit the spare tire on my car and basically embedded into the door of my car. It was difficult to really see the damage without taking the tire off. Yeah she did a good job and we'll have to have the whole rear door replaced but they're willing to give us a rental for the 5 days it will be in the shop and we're just grateful Jon wasn't hurt in any way. It just made for a bummer of ride home for Jon. It took me back to the early days when Jon and I were first dating. He had borrowed my brand new VW Super Beetle and a woman backed up and ran her trailer hitch right through the front trunk hood of my car. I had only had that car a few days and I was quite upset. I learned a long time ago not to get too attached to my cars. You can't expect to drive them around town and not get them dinged up by either your own mistakes or someone else's. The RAV is 12 years old so it wasn't that big of a deal. The funniest thing of all is that the loud rattling noise that has always been in the rear door is now gone! How about that? Pretty funny.

After checking out the car I went back in the studio and worked until I was ready to come back in and fix dinner. Just as I returned to the house, where Jon was watching the evening news, he looked out the front window and said, "where is all that smoke coming from?"  By the time I got to the front window to look out, Jon was already running across the street to the neighbors saying it looked like Gordon's garage might be on fire.

I grabbed my phone and headed across the street. By the time I got to the Fischer's driveway, Jon had disappeared around the back of the house. Their garage sets back and to the right of their house. I could see one of their little compact cars in the garage (this is a big pole barn type garage) with flames on the floor underneath the car. Smoke was starting to billow high in the sky and turn black. I started dialing 911 and I immediately gave all the info to the gal on the phone. At the same time I yelled at Jon to please come back out away from the house and garage. I couldn't see him and I yelled that I was afraid the car was going to explode. The 911 operator asked me to please stop yelling because I was yelling in her ear. I think I apologized, I'm not sure but I did tell her I wasn't going to stop yelling because I wasn't seeing Jon or the Fischers. A lot happened in a very few moments. Cheryl had just come home from work. She had just parked her Subaru in the garage not 5 minutes before and had just sat down to eat dinner. That is where Jon found them when he went around the back side of the house, eating dinner. They hadn't seen the smoke. Gordon started to invite Jon in, when he yelled at them that there was a fire in the garage. I didn't know any of this was happening. I was trying to figure out where everybody was. While I was on the phone Gordon tried to take an extinguisher to the underneath side of the car but obviously knew it wasn't going to do any good so dropped it and went back around the back side of the house. I just wanted them to come out and leave everything alone. I yelled at Gordon that the fire engines were on there way. I guess the 911 operator didn't like that I was yelling at Gordon and Jon because she said, "They're on their way." and then she hung up. I have never had a 911 operator hang up on me before. Usually they want you to stay on the line, but she must have been miffed at me, is my only guess. It's hard to stay calm under such circumstances. 

I finally saw Cheryl come out her front door and Gordon came out the back and ran down the driveway toward the street. This is how high the smoke went within just the first 5 minutes of the fire.

First view of smoke

Gordon running back for some unknown reason.

 At one point Gordon went back to the garage. He had two cars and a boat inside. I think he knew he couldn't go inside but he was going to try to at least save his truck, which was sitting outside the garage. He was able to get it out and drive it back across the street. Then in the photo above he went back again. I'm not sure why but he turned right around and came back and that is when Jon got this photo of Gordon walking out of the black smoke into the street where the first Fire engine was just pulling up.

Gordon being greeted by the Boring Fire Department's first responder.

Later Gordon said he was upset that the Fire Department didn't send a water truck as the first truck. He thinks if they had, he probably would still have those things that were on the north side of the garage including his boat. I believe it was the THIRD fire engine that appeared that had the hose, parked up about 3 houses where the hydrant was and started hooking up hoses. You can see in the photo below that the garage was burning pretty darn good before they ever got the hoses hooked up from hydrant to the first engine and then to the garage.

first of the hoses

 We all know how brave these firefighters are. Here are two putting on tanks. I think they were getting ready to go inside the building and spray down the vehicles and cans of gasoline that were stored inside. I heard muffled explosions and found out later what I was hearing was the tires on the cars and boat trailer exploding.

putting on tanks to go inside.

Gordon was pretty darn upset and he had every right to be. All of his hobbies and toys were in that garage. He had two compact cars and his wonderful fishing boat. I think he was just getting it and his gear ready to go do some sturgeon fishing. This morning he said all he has left is a couple of screw drivers which were in his house.

Not only did he have years and years worth of fishing gear but also woodworking tools and power tools. We feel really bad for his loss. He just retired not too long ago and this is no way to have to start a retirement.

Subaru, Honda (I think) and boat in distance

the engine on the Subaru had just been rebuilt 3 weeks prior. There had been gasoline leaking out undeneath during the fire. That is where we all presume the fire started.

the boat

We all know it was just 'stuff' but that doesn't make it any easier for poor Gordon and his wife. They have always been such wonderful and helpful neighbors. We hope that we can help them out in any way possible until they get through the mess and back to normal. We are all so very grateful that no one was hurt and that it wasn't able to reach the house.

OK That is way more excitement than we like. We are now hoping things will calm down for a while. I would just as soon NOT have events like this to report on.

Take care and just as a reminder, Hug your loved ones today. Tell them how much they mean to you, even if it is hard to say, sometimes. It's important that they know how much they are loved and it does us good to say it.