FIRE!
Yesterday, with my back door open, I smelled smoke. From my garden I saw smoke coming from my neighbour's upstairs window. Banged on the door, no answer, so I called 999.
The firefighters arrived just in time to save his dog.
It reminded me of ten years ago, when my daughter's apartment burned due to a candle and a wafting curtain. A whole month it took us to erase the stink.
A salutory lesson never to leave a naked flame burning, and keep your insurance up to date!
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And my poor neighbour! His windows are no longer blackened - the glass has all been replaced by boards, and he can't even clean up until the insurance assessors have been. His dog survived by a whisker - scorched but alive.
I'd probably have let the dog burn for the sake of the narrative
ReplyDeleteNeil! Maybe in fiction... In fact, the dog nearly did burn - his skin is scorched and it's a miracle he survived. He's a very large animal - a smaller one would have perished.
DeleteFire ain't no joke. Glad the pup survived but "scorched" sounds so painful for the critter :(
ReplyDeleteHe's a lovely dog too.
Deletewhat a timely reminder. it pays to keep an eye out for those fire hazards.
ReplyDeleteEspecially in summer time.
DeleteOh! How horrible that this is based on a true story! Poor guy. Nicely done, Liz.
ReplyDeleteThaks, Dale. He can't even start clearing up till insurance bods have been.
DeleteI swear... they truly can be slow to act, can't they?
DeleteExcept when they're chasing their money.
DeleteThese stories always leave me so sad. Hope your daughter's dog is healing well.
ReplyDeleteThe friend's dog will need a few more trips to the vet but he'll be okay.
DeleteOh wow, true story. I was wondering as I was reading. Visiting from Friday Fictioneers.
ReplyDeleteAnne Higa
True indeed. Our village FB hub is crammed with messages of support, and his daughter has started a go.fund.me page to replace his furniture.
DeleteOh that poor dog! Sandra
ReplyDeleteBiff the dog is a huge, gentle bulldog/mastiff/query mixture who probably weighs five or six stone. A lighter weight dog wouldn't have survived.
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteSound advice at the end. I'm so glad the dog survived.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, Rochelle. My neighbour unfortunately decided a year ago that he didn't need insurance.
DeleteFires are one of my greatest fears.
ReplyDeletePoor doggie. :(
I'm afraid of them too, as any sensible,person is, I think.
DeleteI was expecting this to be fictional, but I see it's true. Well done for saving the doggo - hope he has a speedy recovery and your neighbour can start the clean up
ReplyDeleteand restorations soon.
Sometimes I just have to tell a true story - they push any thoughts of fiction out of my head!
DeleteOh no. This is so frightening. I'm glad the dog got rescued, and that apparently none of the people got harmed. Poor pooch.
ReplyDeleteCandles are so dangerous. I hope that the dog will be ok. Mike H
ReplyDeletethecontemplativecat here. Fires are scary and just seeing a wildfire gives me chills. We live in Wildfire zone here in S. California.
ReplyDelete