On Wednesday of last week, this was the site outside of my office.
What's not clear from that image is that almost 10 minutes earlier I had returned to my office and smelled smoke. I asked Chip if he could smell the smoke - he said yes, but he thought it was something burning outside. I continued to sniff out the source of the smoke - I was seeking burning plastic - that's what I could smell.
Then I saw it - the fire was definetely not outside. At this point, if you were within earshot (and even if you weren't) you could hear me scream in shock. I stepped outside of my office and saw 18-24" flames on the catering table that had been placed near the conference room.
I ran down the hallway and grabbed the fire extinguisher. I thought back to my RA training at Loras (yes, we did learn a thing or two!) I worked quickly to use the extinguisher to put out the fire. The flames continued to re-ignite and Chip used the broom to help swat out the flames.
Once we had extinguished the fire Chip and I retreated to the fresh air of the loading dock.
Oddly, it was several minutes before anyone in the building noticed that there was a fire in the hallway. By the time the firetrucks arrived we had been outside for quite a while - but it was a quick response time following the call they received.
The fire caused a bit of excitement during an already hectic concert week and one gnarly piece of art.
The lesson for the rest of you - do you know where the nearest fire extinguisher is - in your home and in your place of work? On that day I learned that most of my building mates had no idea where the fire extinguishers were located in the building. I find that a bit scary. Take a moment tomorrow and find where the nearest fire extinguishers are located. It could save a life.
2 comments:
is that a table? What started the fire? You rock!!!
Plastic fumes are the worst. Is the Chamber bldg going to have to have any cleaning of walls, carpet or whatnot? Is there anything you cannot do? Nope...don't think so.
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