We had too much excitiment this weekend. The building next to us had a fire. It started with us smelling smoke, then hearing sirens, then looking down at the street to see everyone there (incl the firemen) looking up at us. So we grabbed our passports and greencards (always have your papers in order!) and put on our shoes, and even remembered to take our computer back ups, and left the building.
The fire had started on the 4th floor next door. We live on the 4th floor. So we had the nerve wracking vision of flames licking awfully close to our windows. It was the worst fire that I had ever seen personally. I kept thinking, we're here, it's just stuff in there, the important things are safe. When we were in crisis I was calm, but afterwards I started to tremble.
The firemen seemed to take forever before the hose got running (apparently they originally started to take the hose to the back of the building, which is where the fire started, but had access pb's, so then had to go to the front of the building which is where all the onlookers were standing) Eventually they broke the windows and plumes of grey smoke rose up into the air, and red flames licked out, turning the brickwork black. Finally the water began to have an impact, and billowing clouds of steam and soot started to rise. The air on the street grew thick and hazy.
Luckily some neighbors invited us into their apartment, so we could stand inside an watch it all. My son was very upset. Eventually we booked a near by hotel room and took him to it, so he could crash. They let us get back into the apartment at around 1.30 am but by then the apartment was far too smoky and awful to sleep in.
The next day we spent cleaning and counting our blessings. The fire didn't jump, the sprinklers didn't go off, there was no real damage that couldn't be washed away (exept for the doors which the firemen broke, but they had only good intentions, so we don't hold it against them!) Note to self, if you are ever in a fire again, don't lock your front door!
On Sunday I did 7 loads of washing, but still the stench of smoke permeates our apartment. My eyes got very swollen and red and weepy. The boys are fine, neither of them reacting at badly as I am.
Today the house is cleaner, though you can still clearly smell the smoke. The builders arrived at the building next door, which was thankfully vacant. Hopefully by the end of this week, things will be back to normal.
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