# I had to call 911 today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 1, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892 "2002-11-01T20:46:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/1 "2002-11-01T20:46:29Z")
My neighbor was on fire. ☹ I don’t know what he’d been doing, but he was in the back yard. There’s privacy fence between our houses. I heard god awlful screaming, and saw the son beating something with a blanket, and the wife with a garden hose. The ambulance just left with him. We don’t know them very well, but they seem nicer than the other neighbors. I hope he’s going to be okay. ---
**Author:** ![Jonno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jonno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonno)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/2 "2002-11-01T20:53:27Z")
I want a neighbor like you. Last time I set myself on fire, my friends just laughed at me. Bastards. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/3 "2002-11-01T23:46:53Z")
oh no!!! goodness i hope he will be okay. his son and wife did very well reacting to the situation. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/4 "2002-11-01T23:56:46Z")
That’s what happens when ya smoke a cigarette after chuggin’ the ol’ moonshine. Juuuuuus’ kidding! 😉 Burns are awful - hope he’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/5 "2002-11-03T23:47:30Z")
☹ I didn’t call quick enough. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/6 "2002-11-04T03:47:52Z")
OMG , that’s awful. I hope you know that you’re not in any way responsible. Did you find out what on earth happened? That poor family. And traumatic for you as well, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/7 "2002-11-04T03:54:43Z")
Yes, I doubt that the ambulance arriving 30 seconds sooner would have really helped in a case like this. ☹ I’m sorry to hear about your neighbor though, that’s horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/8 "2002-11-04T05:33:03Z")
He was trying to fix a gas grill. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/9 "2002-11-04T14:34:32Z")
My husband started himself on fire – his arms were ablaze. He had giant blisters the size of his arms and was wrapped in gauze for a long time. But he’s fine now. He was drunk and screwing around near the bonfire. Hope your neighbor is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/10 "2002-11-04T14:50:27Z")
It seems the neighbor died. What a sad story. Sorry to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/11 "2002-11-04T15:16:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hillbilly queen \* > \*\*☹ I didn’t call quick enough. \*\* Please don’t be hard on yourself for this. From the limited facts you have given us, it sounds like you did the things a responsible person would do. I am sorry for your neighbors’ loss (if the man did die) and for your trauma. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/12 "2002-11-04T16:32:43Z")
Yes, he died the next day. From what his wife said about his injuries, this is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/13 "2002-11-04T16:44:53Z")
Oh, **hillbilly queen** , I’m so sorry. You did all you could, but sometimes, things can just be too severe. Take care of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-call-911-today/134892/14 "2002-11-04T23:51:16Z")
oh my. i’m so sorry to hear that. you and your neighbours responded very quickly. burns are very difficult injuries. they are extremely difficult to recover from. i’m thinking there was lung damage as well from your post above. i will keep you and your neighbours in my thoughts and prayers. so horrible for his wife and son. i wish them comfort and peace.