So did you see that big plume of black smoke a little while ago, somewhere south of Park Place Mall? That was, oh, about four houses away from me. Let me tell you: Seeing a house across the street from you in flames is not a happy sight. Also not a happy sight: Seeing the telephone poles and power lines in flames. I seriously hope no one was home at the time, and that the people who lived in that house are OK and will be OK in the days to come.
And let’s all take a moment to appreciate our awesome firemen: They had that fire out in minutes.
This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2006.
Update: It was two garages that burned because someone’s motor home caught on fire. According to the City of Tucson guys I talked to on the street, only 1 firefighter was hurt because the telephone pole fell on him, but they were pretty sure he was OK. So not actually the house per se, but pretty near close.
The house next door to us burned down a few years ago. (Solvent-soaked rags in a corner. No one was hurt.) I have never worshipped any human being as much as a fireman up on the roof, roughly 10 feet from our roof, hacking a hole backlit against the smoke. I still worship him, and the whole crew. Fire in your nabe is a uniquely upsetting thing.