Last night seemed short. Mom, Christy, and I all woke up around 4:00 a.m. Christy heard someone yelling, “Fire!” I heard someone yelling, “Mom. Mom. Mom!” Soon we heard sirens. They got closer and closer, and I knew they were coming to our street. I looked out to see if they would be stopping next door. To my surprise, there was a roaring fire across the street. Flames were shooting right into the air. What’s on fire? The house!
I felt sick at my stomach. A lady lives in that house with her two little ones – two years old and under. The house was all ablaze with yellow flames. In minutes after we saw the lights of the emergency vehicles, the fire trucks had parked, hoses were stretched out and connected to the fire hydrants, windows were broken in the house that was on fire, and water was being poured into the windows via the powerful spray from the hoses. Mom got up, and we all stood at the front door watching. Amazingly, it only seemed to take about 10 or 15 minutes to get the fire under control. Another fire truck pulled up right in front of our house. I went and put on a warm jumper and my winter coat and shoes and went outside.
Some of the firemen had on their breathing gear. A lady with a pony tail and dressed in black clothes was walking back and forth, crying and covering and uncovering her face with her hands. I wondered if she was the lady that lived there. Two other neighbors went down to talk to someone. Two other ladies, also dressed in black, were walking around down there as well.
Soon, one of the ladies came up the street. Shock, fear, and sorrow were in her eyes. All she could do was shake her head. I didn’t ask her anything because she didn’t seem to be in any shape to answer. Then our other nieghbor walked up. She said the lady and her two little ones had gotten out and were OK. Praise the Lord!
Well, it was time for Christy to be up anyway, so she just finished getting ready for work. Some emergency vehicles were still here, but she was able to take Dad’s van.
After getting a glass of soymilk, I lay back down. It took me a while to get to sleep. After a bit my feet were hurting. Guess they were cold. Finally went to sleep.
About 6:50 I was awakened by what sounded like a woman screaming. It happened three times in a row. I woke myself all the way up. There didn’t seem to be any trouble. Guessing it was just the neighborhood raccoons. Well, might as well get up.
We looked outside this morning, and it looks like the fire burned up quite a bit. Front windows and door are all charred and there is some black on the side window and wall. Poles are sticking out the side window and burned up bedroom furniture is on the lawn. It’s a sad sight. Some men (owners of the house maybe?) were here early this morning to look over the damage.
Please pray for our neighbor. Pray that she and the children will be able to find a place to stay and that they will be able to get whatever they need.