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offcntrWe'd just finished lunch. I was reading Twitter on my tablet; Denise was watching cat videos. I'd been vaguely aware of crackling sounds coming from the other room, so got up to check what the kitty was chewing on now--Tiki likes to gnaw on plastic bags.
But Tiki was lying quietly in the hallway. Flynn was asleep on the bed. And the sound seemed to be coming from the bathroom.
Outside the window, in fact. This is what I saw--but with flames.
I grabbed a jug of water from the kitchen and ran outside. Once I got there, I discovered that I was gonna need a lot more water. Struggled with getting the garden hose disconnected from the soaker, finally realized I was turning the wrong way, just as Denise arrived with the fire extinguisher from the studio. Shouted at her to turn on the water, and went and hosed everything down thoroughly. The fire had worked its way back into the corner, was beginning to lick at the shingles, and also the other direction, past the bathroom window. I hosed everything down twice, including the base of the building. Soaked it thoroughly.
At which point the smoke alarm inside the house went off.
What started it? As best as I can tell, the fire began on the left side, about three-quarters up the picture, and spread right, up and down, toward the house. What was sitting there?
This solar-powered lamp. I'm guessing sunlight through the glass chimney focused just right on the grass, and the wind took it from there.
Funny thing--I just mowed the backyard yesterday, before setting up Denise's papermaking station. I'm not sure if that helped or hindered. On the one hand, less fuel for the fire, and shorter, so less likely to jump to the house. On the other, I'm not sure if enough sunlight would have hit the lamp, with the weeds surrounding it.
But I'm really glad we were home at the time, and the bathroom window was open, and I--eventually--payed attention to what I was hearing.
This is not the kind of fire I'm used to dealing with.
But Tiki was lying quietly in the hallway. Flynn was asleep on the bed. And the sound seemed to be coming from the bathroom.
Outside the window, in fact. This is what I saw--but with flames.
I grabbed a jug of water from the kitchen and ran outside. Once I got there, I discovered that I was gonna need a lot more water. Struggled with getting the garden hose disconnected from the soaker, finally realized I was turning the wrong way, just as Denise arrived with the fire extinguisher from the studio. Shouted at her to turn on the water, and went and hosed everything down thoroughly. The fire had worked its way back into the corner, was beginning to lick at the shingles, and also the other direction, past the bathroom window. I hosed everything down twice, including the base of the building. Soaked it thoroughly.
At which point the smoke alarm inside the house went off.
What started it? As best as I can tell, the fire began on the left side, about three-quarters up the picture, and spread right, up and down, toward the house. What was sitting there?
This solar-powered lamp. I'm guessing sunlight through the glass chimney focused just right on the grass, and the wind took it from there.
Funny thing--I just mowed the backyard yesterday, before setting up Denise's papermaking station. I'm not sure if that helped or hindered. On the one hand, less fuel for the fire, and shorter, so less likely to jump to the house. On the other, I'm not sure if enough sunlight would have hit the lamp, with the weeds surrounding it.
But I'm really glad we were home at the time, and the bathroom window was open, and I--eventually--payed attention to what I was hearing.
This is not the kind of fire I'm used to dealing with.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-12 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-13 12:06 am (UTC)It'll be a while before I'm quite recovered; I went out after this post and soaked everything down again. It's a little south-facing alcove behind my studio and the TV room, tends to get very hot there.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-13 01:18 am (UTC)I'm so glad it wasn't worse!
SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS
Date: 2021-07-13 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-07-14 03:03 am (UTC)