I happened to take today off from work and I was sleeping in a little. I was half asleep when the I heard a little commotion outside at about 6:45. Nothing really unusual.
All of sudden, someone is banging on my door, ringing my doorbell frantically. I grab a robe and answer the door. An older lady (who happened to be on her morning walk) tells me she thinks that the house next door is on fire and that she can’t get anyone to answer the door
I get my slippers, and indeed there is smoke coming out of the roof and there is a car in the carport. I don’t know my neighbor at all, just exchanged pleasantries. The lady says she already called 911 and reported the fire but is worried that someone is inside. I reassure the lady that my neighbor frequently spends nights away from home but I had no idea if she was at home or away last night.
By this time, I hear the fire engines in the neighborhood and they get here, break down the door to get inside. There is a small fire from the hot water heater but fortunately no one is home.
Some some smoke damage, and they found the lady (she was at her boyfriend’s house) in a neighboring town.
Kind of an eerie morning.
That is really scary. It’s such a sickening feeling. The apartment next door caught fire in the summer, just a little smoke and it was all put out in less than an hour but seeing smoke seeping out of one of the windows is very unsettling.
Glad it wasn’t worse than it could have been.
Yes FG, it could have been much worse. It could have started earlier, in darkness when no one was there to see it.
Our houses are only about 20 ft apart (with my propane tank in between).
And I hope you are feeling better!
Wow, lucky that lady was walking by! It could have been much worse if she hadn’t noticed it so quickly. Citizen of the day award. 
Yes for sure, in all the commotion, I didn’t get her name. She was walking with another lady who went to the neighbor on the other side. No one was home there.
Another walker said he walked by about 10 minutes before sunrise says he saw the smoke and dismissed it as fog, or burning leaves.
I haven’t been able to talk to my neighbor yet. The one thing I don’t understand is the kitchen window in the back of the house was blown out from the inside.
One of the fireman (personal friend of mine) speculated that it started around the hot water heater, but I don’t think it has been confirmed yet.
Little did anyone suspect that she SET THE FIRE HERSELF! :eek:
Good neighbors are priceless.
StG