Another Week, Another Fire

Last night was the first band concert of the school year. If you read my review about the last band concert I went to, you would have known how much I was looking forward to attending this concert. I remember sitting in the van as we drove home from work, thinking to myself, "Will someone barf at tonight's concert? How are they going to top their last performance?" My curiosity was interrupted as we rounded a corner and caught sight of my apartment building. I don't live in a flashy apartment building, so looking at it doesn't usually interrupt my thought process... but this time was different. There was smoke billowing out of the chimneys and pouring out of the windows. Flames were peeking out of the roof a couple apartments to the left of mine. Things were not looking good, especially on such a windy day.

My first thought was, "I hope my camera is alright!"
My next thought was, "I hope my laptop is alright!"
My next thought was, "What's with this town!?"

As I stepped out of the van I saw pastor Ted and Matt rescuing an elderly lady from the burning building. They said they just helped her across the street, but they were only being humble. What heroes! We sat on the Lyall's front lawn and watched our home get singed with fire and soggy with water. The elderly lady was taken into the Lyall's house to catch her breath (she was hooked up to an oxygen tank inside the burning building before the heroes escorted her away from there). Soon a gentleman from the Fording River mine rescue team stopped by to give her some oxygen until the ambulance arrived. By this time the streets were busy with small town folk walking and driving by to check out the excitement.

Eventually someone noticed a cat in the window of an apartment on the second floor. A man bolted forward and climbed up to the balcony of that apartment and opened the sliding door. He didn't come out valiantly holding the cat, but at least he opened the door and gave the cat a way out. Not only that, he increased the oxygen to that apartment so the fire could be fuelled further. What a hero! Actually, it was probably not a bad idea to open up the door. It rules out the possibility of a backdraft. I'm sure none of us want to sit through a sequel to that movie!

As the fire continued, more fire trucks arrived and the blaze was brought under control. It looked like my camera and laptop might've actually made it through the ordeal. Too bad I couldn't have been taking pictures of the event, though. I always miss out on these things! Like the time I watched a movie while the old school burnt down. How was I to know I was missing out on great photo ops just a block away? Nevertheless, I'm sure you're all dying to know if I made it to last night's band concert. I'm sorry to say, I missed it. I was too busy trying to figure out how to get a pair of underwear for today. We're a small town, remember. No Wal-Mart here!

Don't worry, the evening wasn't a total loss. The Calgary Flames beat Minnesota 5-3 last night! Before you make a bunch of jokes about flames and fire, I'll save you some time and let you know I've already heard them all. Don't even bother!