New to blog'n... A rough week.
Hi, Falon here, and I am new to blogging. not really sure what to talk about, but I have had some challenging few days this week.
December 21st 2017 - This is probably one of the more traumatic things that has happened to me in my life time. Lets see I started my week with a house fire on Monday 18th. First house fire I have ever been in. I woke to a loud crash at about 8:50am -5:00GMT roughly may be off by 10 mins one way or another. I was house sitting for my friends while they were on vacation. husband & wife and 4 children. (will not give names) I was watching their house for 2 main reasons, one they have a large breed dog that can be aggressive, also because they don't live in the most safe of neighborhoods. They were going on a family vacation to Disney World in Florida. Expected to be back Christmas Eve. so 10 days, I believe?
Anyhow back to waking up to a loud crash. I sat up in the bed, listened while grabbing my cell which just happen to be sitting on my tablet, do not know why I grabbed both, but I did. slipped on my slippers and began heading to the bedroom door. It is now that I smell something burning, I open the door, and get washed in pure black smoke that I cant breathe. I can not see the floor or the kitchen which is their bedroom is attached to. I can not see the dining room to my left of the kitchen. (South I believe.) I make my way out the back door to the right of my direction im facing. (North I believe.) I can not even see the door to open it. Finally after a few seconds of fidgeting with the handle on the door trying to find it. I get it open and move down a half set of stairs. This room even though sealed was also dark and filled with smoke. To the left is the door to the outside. I again have trouble opening this door to, as it was locked. After what felt like for ever but was probably a mater of seconds in the real world. I got it unlocked and opened. as I step out for fresh air I began calling the dogs name in hopes he would come running out while calling 911. (emergency services) several attempts of calling and the dog did not respond or come. I could not hear him over the hissing and crackling of the windows and smoke that seemed to be wafting out of every vent of the houses attic and broken or cracked windows. The lady on the other end of the line picks up asking me what is going on and information so she can send the Fire department. And being the idiot I sometimes can be when dazed confused and just down right lost in what he heck was going on and why, I told the lady on the phone the house was the 900 block of (street name here.) So when the fire trucks all turned onto the road heading the wrong direction from me I was like wth? and looked closer at the houses street address number. Its the 700 block not 900 block, but how was I supposed to know its not like I live here I just visit and hang out once an while. Duh.... but some where I am sure I knew and it just didn't register because of the amount of adrenaline and other things going on that made me not think of it right. I called my Dad to come and bring me some clothes and shoes and told him what was happening and then hung up because I had an incoming call (Emergency Services 911) asking me what the house address was again. At the exact time the Fire chief in his black & red SUV shows up and starts asking questions. I hang up with the lady on the phone.
He starts directing the Firetrucks now showing up. Still no dog or barking. I'm thinking the worse at this point. Kept going over in my head what did I do to burn down my friends house what could I have done differently, of course it turns out It was not my fault at all, and there was nothing I could do but more on that later. I call my friends up at this point while standing in just a pair of shorts in the snow and wet ground. The Firemen keep asking if im ok and asking if anyone else is in the house, I responded Yes I'm fine and that there was a dog still inside. Of course I wasn't fine. I started coughing hard and having slight issues breathing like when my asthma acts up. but not to the point I am having a full on asthma attack. I started coughing up large amounts of black junk.
What feels like forever, I wait for my dad to show up. My friends are on the phone I think they are still in shock and not sure if maybe I am pranking them, and I get ushered to a paramedic vehicle where they start checking me out. Apparently I while I was sleeping I was inhaling Carbon Monoxide, and had some in my system causing my heart to beat really bad I guess cause they kept telling me my bottom numbers were way to high and asking me if I felt ok and if I have a heart condition or anything, and I am like no. They run there test blood pressure tests a few more times each time my lower number gets lower, last number I heard was 101, which I guess is getting borderline or something. (told it has something to do with the valves of the heart.) They looked in my mouth and throat and said it was pitch black, well that I guess is the reason I am coughing black junk up. The Paramedic wanted to take me to emergency room at the hospital. I said my dad was already on his way and I would have him take me. They tried to insist once more but then let it go.The fire chief came into the cab of the vehicle at this time and said if I was up to it he would like some information about the house, I still had the owners on the phone they listened to everything I think. I don't really know what she heard on her end. I said well the owner of the house is on the phone if that would be more helpful and handed him my phone. My dad was already here but couldn't get to where I was cause they had the roads blocked off. Still hadn't heard if the dog made it out ok at this time yet either. After the Fire Chief was done he asked my name and address and phone number, and asked what hospital I would be going to. My dad was let in to us by now, and so I got out of the ambulance and got into my dads truck and we went to the Emergency room. They took more readings & tests. They had a special meter for Carbon which I had a reading at the end of 3.4 but I do not know what that really means. Also had chest x rays. The fire chief showed up at the Hospital to ask if we were up to coming back to the house and do a walk through with him. To help explain where things were or rather where I remembered them being. Also he informs me that the dog is still alive and in mostly good health, AMAZING! He still had smoke inhalation issues as did I but he was in the house much longer than me. Not exactly sure of time anymore kinda stopped paying attention.
We get back and several of my friends family had showed up. The Dog was running around the neighborhood, as I step out of my dads truck I get a call from Emergency Services asking me and letting me know that the dog was running around the neighborhood and the neighbors were complaining about a large dog. I inform the lady that we were back at the house now and would take care of it and was still with the Fire chief, she let me go. My dad breaks out a tow strap (you tow cars with) and we use it to leash up the dog. The fire chief goes into the house and comes back with his leash, which we switched to. Owners Sister grabs his leash for me while i walk in the house and go over things with the Fire chief. Inside I can't believe what I was seeing, now that all the smoke was gone. the once bright walls were all black charred remains of boxes plastic stuff burnt and melted everywhere.We went in through the back entrance. The back room was mostly sealed off but was still completely black with soot everywhere, then we head up the half stairs into the kitchen. It also is even more black and soot everywhere and the air is just harsh. Hard to describe but best way is to describe it would be standing next to a pile of burning tires leaves, and other debris. Everywhere I looked you could not recognize anything just shapes. Of course being at their house staying and watching it I brought things for entertainment and for my health and stuff. so I am looking to see if anything has survived, survived seems to be relative at this point though. Everything from clothes to pillows to laptops Presents Furniture all just roached and toasted. The family in one swoop Lost every single present including their stockings they had hung up. But more than that they lost their home, the place they live eat sleep and share together. I cant really give out many details as to the cause of the fire at this point because the house fire is still under investigation at this time of this post. I can say that it was told to me both by the Fire chief & the Fire inspector sent by the insurance agency that I had nothing to do with the cause of the fire. Which was a little relief because up till this point I still believed it was something I did or had brought with me. At least my guilt can go away, but now I just feel crappy because I know if what I saw and what they lost and I am sure it will be a while to get back to any kind of normalcy for my friends and their family.
We begin to wrap things up at this point and the Fire Chief gives me a key to the house as they had to board up the house and they broke the back door I think cause it had a padlock on it now, but not sure if they broke it. or just figured it was easier to put a padlock on the door. Fire Chief tells me he has the only other copy of the key and its my responsibility as the house sitter to make sure that the family gets my copy of the key and to not let anyone in and I could take any of my stuff back to my house that I had brought over that was still salvageable, I figured since their bedroom escaped most of the fire I would be able to recover my clothes PS4, Kangaroo Mini PC, and Nintendo switch. I am going to attempt to wash my clothes & pillow cases & pillows in vinegar someone said that will help remove the odor and hopefully stains. If this works I will inform my friends to try it with their bedding clothes pillows and other fabrics that did survive but had major soot damage. My Switch & pc Works ok after tearing them apart cleaning them and putting them back together, my PS4 on the other hand turned on, screen blinked and then the power on the PS4 died. My other stuff Dell Precision M6800, HP Probook 6570b, Razer nostromo pad, Razer naga epic chroma, Razer chroma mouse pad, Monster Tower bluetooth speaker, Phillips bluetooth speaker, sony bluetooth headset, logitech mouse, logitech wireless H600 headset, Diabetic Meter, all my medicine, my wallet with pictures of my daughter and friends and their 4 kids are gone melted or ruined beyond on usability.
Since monday I have had to go back every day for Insurance reasons to meet with people such as a Plumber (To drain the pipes. Its winter here.), Fire inspector, Insurance agent. Today Thursday 21st is the first day I stayed home, but I did spend most of my day on the phone with people from Medicare & medicaid, Binsons home health supplies trying to re-get stuff I need for my health, but with out much satisfaction. I have got new refills on my medicines. but the Glucose meter they wont send a new one saying they will only cover it once a year.
I have tried to stay in touch with My friends who are in florida, and they too are not having it easy, vehicle problems on top of everything else they have to process right now. Life just is not fair, but at least were all alive to complain about it.
I can not say I got everything exact, and this is my very first post to a blog ever so I hope who ever is reading this doesn't score me to bad.
Till next post, Happy Holidays.
Falon
December 21st 2017 - This is probably one of the more traumatic things that has happened to me in my life time. Lets see I started my week with a house fire on Monday 18th. First house fire I have ever been in. I woke to a loud crash at about 8:50am -5:00GMT roughly may be off by 10 mins one way or another. I was house sitting for my friends while they were on vacation. husband & wife and 4 children. (will not give names) I was watching their house for 2 main reasons, one they have a large breed dog that can be aggressive, also because they don't live in the most safe of neighborhoods. They were going on a family vacation to Disney World in Florida. Expected to be back Christmas Eve. so 10 days, I believe?
Anyhow back to waking up to a loud crash. I sat up in the bed, listened while grabbing my cell which just happen to be sitting on my tablet, do not know why I grabbed both, but I did. slipped on my slippers and began heading to the bedroom door. It is now that I smell something burning, I open the door, and get washed in pure black smoke that I cant breathe. I can not see the floor or the kitchen which is their bedroom is attached to. I can not see the dining room to my left of the kitchen. (South I believe.) I make my way out the back door to the right of my direction im facing. (North I believe.) I can not even see the door to open it. Finally after a few seconds of fidgeting with the handle on the door trying to find it. I get it open and move down a half set of stairs. This room even though sealed was also dark and filled with smoke. To the left is the door to the outside. I again have trouble opening this door to, as it was locked. After what felt like for ever but was probably a mater of seconds in the real world. I got it unlocked and opened. as I step out for fresh air I began calling the dogs name in hopes he would come running out while calling 911. (emergency services) several attempts of calling and the dog did not respond or come. I could not hear him over the hissing and crackling of the windows and smoke that seemed to be wafting out of every vent of the houses attic and broken or cracked windows. The lady on the other end of the line picks up asking me what is going on and information so she can send the Fire department. And being the idiot I sometimes can be when dazed confused and just down right lost in what he heck was going on and why, I told the lady on the phone the house was the 900 block of (street name here.) So when the fire trucks all turned onto the road heading the wrong direction from me I was like wth? and looked closer at the houses street address number. Its the 700 block not 900 block, but how was I supposed to know its not like I live here I just visit and hang out once an while. Duh.... but some where I am sure I knew and it just didn't register because of the amount of adrenaline and other things going on that made me not think of it right. I called my Dad to come and bring me some clothes and shoes and told him what was happening and then hung up because I had an incoming call (Emergency Services 911) asking me what the house address was again. At the exact time the Fire chief in his black & red SUV shows up and starts asking questions. I hang up with the lady on the phone.
He starts directing the Firetrucks now showing up. Still no dog or barking. I'm thinking the worse at this point. Kept going over in my head what did I do to burn down my friends house what could I have done differently, of course it turns out It was not my fault at all, and there was nothing I could do but more on that later. I call my friends up at this point while standing in just a pair of shorts in the snow and wet ground. The Firemen keep asking if im ok and asking if anyone else is in the house, I responded Yes I'm fine and that there was a dog still inside. Of course I wasn't fine. I started coughing hard and having slight issues breathing like when my asthma acts up. but not to the point I am having a full on asthma attack. I started coughing up large amounts of black junk.
What feels like forever, I wait for my dad to show up. My friends are on the phone I think they are still in shock and not sure if maybe I am pranking them, and I get ushered to a paramedic vehicle where they start checking me out. Apparently I while I was sleeping I was inhaling Carbon Monoxide, and had some in my system causing my heart to beat really bad I guess cause they kept telling me my bottom numbers were way to high and asking me if I felt ok and if I have a heart condition or anything, and I am like no. They run there test blood pressure tests a few more times each time my lower number gets lower, last number I heard was 101, which I guess is getting borderline or something. (told it has something to do with the valves of the heart.) They looked in my mouth and throat and said it was pitch black, well that I guess is the reason I am coughing black junk up. The Paramedic wanted to take me to emergency room at the hospital. I said my dad was already on his way and I would have him take me. They tried to insist once more but then let it go.The fire chief came into the cab of the vehicle at this time and said if I was up to it he would like some information about the house, I still had the owners on the phone they listened to everything I think. I don't really know what she heard on her end. I said well the owner of the house is on the phone if that would be more helpful and handed him my phone. My dad was already here but couldn't get to where I was cause they had the roads blocked off. Still hadn't heard if the dog made it out ok at this time yet either. After the Fire Chief was done he asked my name and address and phone number, and asked what hospital I would be going to. My dad was let in to us by now, and so I got out of the ambulance and got into my dads truck and we went to the Emergency room. They took more readings & tests. They had a special meter for Carbon which I had a reading at the end of 3.4 but I do not know what that really means. Also had chest x rays. The fire chief showed up at the Hospital to ask if we were up to coming back to the house and do a walk through with him. To help explain where things were or rather where I remembered them being. Also he informs me that the dog is still alive and in mostly good health, AMAZING! He still had smoke inhalation issues as did I but he was in the house much longer than me. Not exactly sure of time anymore kinda stopped paying attention.
We get back and several of my friends family had showed up. The Dog was running around the neighborhood, as I step out of my dads truck I get a call from Emergency Services asking me and letting me know that the dog was running around the neighborhood and the neighbors were complaining about a large dog. I inform the lady that we were back at the house now and would take care of it and was still with the Fire chief, she let me go. My dad breaks out a tow strap (you tow cars with) and we use it to leash up the dog. The fire chief goes into the house and comes back with his leash, which we switched to. Owners Sister grabs his leash for me while i walk in the house and go over things with the Fire chief. Inside I can't believe what I was seeing, now that all the smoke was gone. the once bright walls were all black charred remains of boxes plastic stuff burnt and melted everywhere.We went in through the back entrance. The back room was mostly sealed off but was still completely black with soot everywhere, then we head up the half stairs into the kitchen. It also is even more black and soot everywhere and the air is just harsh. Hard to describe but best way is to describe it would be standing next to a pile of burning tires leaves, and other debris. Everywhere I looked you could not recognize anything just shapes. Of course being at their house staying and watching it I brought things for entertainment and for my health and stuff. so I am looking to see if anything has survived, survived seems to be relative at this point though. Everything from clothes to pillows to laptops Presents Furniture all just roached and toasted. The family in one swoop Lost every single present including their stockings they had hung up. But more than that they lost their home, the place they live eat sleep and share together. I cant really give out many details as to the cause of the fire at this point because the house fire is still under investigation at this time of this post. I can say that it was told to me both by the Fire chief & the Fire inspector sent by the insurance agency that I had nothing to do with the cause of the fire. Which was a little relief because up till this point I still believed it was something I did or had brought with me. At least my guilt can go away, but now I just feel crappy because I know if what I saw and what they lost and I am sure it will be a while to get back to any kind of normalcy for my friends and their family.
We begin to wrap things up at this point and the Fire Chief gives me a key to the house as they had to board up the house and they broke the back door I think cause it had a padlock on it now, but not sure if they broke it. or just figured it was easier to put a padlock on the door. Fire Chief tells me he has the only other copy of the key and its my responsibility as the house sitter to make sure that the family gets my copy of the key and to not let anyone in and I could take any of my stuff back to my house that I had brought over that was still salvageable, I figured since their bedroom escaped most of the fire I would be able to recover my clothes PS4, Kangaroo Mini PC, and Nintendo switch. I am going to attempt to wash my clothes & pillow cases & pillows in vinegar someone said that will help remove the odor and hopefully stains. If this works I will inform my friends to try it with their bedding clothes pillows and other fabrics that did survive but had major soot damage. My Switch & pc Works ok after tearing them apart cleaning them and putting them back together, my PS4 on the other hand turned on, screen blinked and then the power on the PS4 died. My other stuff Dell Precision M6800, HP Probook 6570b, Razer nostromo pad, Razer naga epic chroma, Razer chroma mouse pad, Monster Tower bluetooth speaker, Phillips bluetooth speaker, sony bluetooth headset, logitech mouse, logitech wireless H600 headset, Diabetic Meter, all my medicine, my wallet with pictures of my daughter and friends and their 4 kids are gone melted or ruined beyond on usability.
Since monday I have had to go back every day for Insurance reasons to meet with people such as a Plumber (To drain the pipes. Its winter here.), Fire inspector, Insurance agent. Today Thursday 21st is the first day I stayed home, but I did spend most of my day on the phone with people from Medicare & medicaid, Binsons home health supplies trying to re-get stuff I need for my health, but with out much satisfaction. I have got new refills on my medicines. but the Glucose meter they wont send a new one saying they will only cover it once a year.
I have tried to stay in touch with My friends who are in florida, and they too are not having it easy, vehicle problems on top of everything else they have to process right now. Life just is not fair, but at least were all alive to complain about it.
I can not say I got everything exact, and this is my very first post to a blog ever so I hope who ever is reading this doesn't score me to bad.
Till next post, Happy Holidays.
Falon
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