To continue the Fire Day story...
We are all standing in the lobby, having just left Sarah on stage wondering why we just left unexpectedly. One of Demi's hands me a phone and says "It's the fire chief and he wants to speak with you.". Through the conversation we confirm that it is our house that is on fire and no one was home when it occurred. I'm asked "When will you be here?". This is one time (not the only time) during this situation I regret my response. "I'll be there as soon as I can get off the phone with you!" said with marked irritation in my voice.
At some point Emilianne says "I wonder about Percy." He's our pet rabbit who lives in the laundry room.
Erik and I jump in the truck and Laurie, Emilianne and Laurie's parents head home in the van. As we are driving along Erik, as usual, is full of all kinds of questions. Will there be fire engines there? How did they know to go put the fire out? Do you think Percy is ok? Then he gets really quiet and is looking out the side window. I ask 2 or 3 times if he is ok without a response. He finally says "I just got a book from the library." with tears in his eyes. I reassure him that the Library will understand and we can pay them for the lost book. He says "No, it's not that. I was really looking forward to reading that book." I can't help but smile at him. Then he starts to cry a little more and says "I wonder if my Bible burned." Now it's my turn to tear up. (FYI - His Bible made it through fine).
When we arrive on the scene it's organized chaos. We hit road blocks 2 streets from the house. We are let through. There are dozens of fire trucks and ambulances, but a clear lane through them all. They've done this before. The fire is out and the clean up has already started. Erik asks if someone was hurt because and ambulance has a stretcher out on the grass. No, that's just there in case it's needed.
We are met by the fire chief. We reconfirm it's my house and I'm the home owner. With compassion he states that I need to remain where he can find me and goes off to talk to someone else. Someone comes over and tells us that the rabbit is fine and is in the back yard. A fireman who was checking the house to see if anyone was home found him in his usual corner. There are at least 50 fireman and rescue folks at the scene - all volunteers. That gives me a new perspective and appreciation for these folks.
I find out later that it's Wendy, our neighbor, who noticed the house burning and called the fire department while her husband broke into the house to see if anyone was home. Thank You!!!
Two Fire Marshalls come over to ask me about the layout of Gen's room where the fire started. They are trying to determine the cause of the fire. It's seems pretty clear that it was probably a box fan that was on the floor by the window. They go back into the house to do further investigations. The day after the fire we are driving through West Chester and pull up to a light. We see Andrea, one of the Fire Marshalls, at the light we are stopped at. We all wave and give her big smiles. She gives us a confused look then recognition dawns on her face and she waves back. I like being on a first name basis with the Fire Marshall.
Laurie arrives almost immediately behind me. Emilianne's first question is about Percy. I think she went back to check on him once she found out he was ok. Sarah, Gen and Aaron arrive about ten minutes later. Sarah is distraught and saying "It's all my fault, I left the iron on. I'm so sorry." I start to cry, not because of the fire, but because Sarah lived with this thought all the way home from her graduation. I reassure her that it was not her iron, which has an automatic shut-off, but likely a fan in Gen's room. Relief immediately shows on Sarah's face. By the way, Sarah's iron was not left on.
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