I returned from my weekly trip to Big Y this afternoon to discover that the section of street my condo complex resides on was shut down. I followed the detour only to realize that I still couldn't get through. I rolled down my window, explained to the sergeant that I lived in that complex and he proceeded to scream at me for about 2 minutes before I drove away. After safely pulling over to the side of the road, I called the Canton police non-emergency line and was informed that there was large fire in the building next to mine.
Obviously I was concerned for people's safety. Having said that, it would've been nice if the folks over at Canton emergency services (the ones who recently demanded an additional 2.5% of my money - obviously none of this money went to pay for sensitivity training) could've explained everything to me before a full-blown panic attack set in.
Without a clue of when I could return home and if there would even be a place to return home to, I set out for my parents house. After drinking all of their Diet Coke I called the fire department, where an extremely courteous fireman told me that my street had been re-opened and I could check out the damage for myself. It turns out that my building was spared but the folks to the right of me weren't so lucky. There's no visible fire damage to the exterior but I'm not quite sure if the six units inside the building are still habitable.
Moments like this make me extremely happy that I have family nearby, 24F weather to turn my trunk into a grocery fridge, and a comprehensive content insurance policy. Fires happen and the important thing is that people stay safe. However until the day comes when I have an address without a unit number in it, other people's noises, cooking scents, and carelessness with lit objects will have a direct impact on me. Content insurance runs about $250/year and is available through any insurance agent in Massachusetts. I'm thankful I didn't have to cash in my policy today but either way I still think it's the best $250 I'll spend all year.
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2 comments:
Came here via Universal Hub. Just wanted to say that's a scary experience. I once saw a house down the street from mine fully engulfed in flames and it was scary. Renter's insurance is the way to go to protect your wallet if you rent. After all, it's just stuff. But you're right, you're at the mercy of your neighbors, and a plan for getting out if it happens in the middle of the night is key to safety. Glad you had no damage and you're safe.
I actually live in the building that had the fire (front side, 2nd floor). Luckily, I only have smoke damage in my unit. My neighbors in the rear weren't so lucky. The unit above where the fire started looks like swiss cheese inside. There are holes punched everywhere and the walls have streaks of soot. The unit that started the blaze was completely destroyed. The floor was covered with an inch of black muck. The ceiling beams were barely holding and thick beams were wedged in to prevent the 2nd floor from collapsing. The hallway is completely black all the way up to the third floor. It will definitely take a long time to fix this mess up. :/
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