Dear friends and family,
I want to share with you the
amazing story of how Michelle and I escaped our burning apartment building Saturday
night before last. I also want you to have a look at this video I made of the
Bigfoot Photo-Booth at our Summer Camp Love Story wedding weekend. (New and
improved!
Bigfoot Photo-Booth
Bigfoot Photo-Booth
Yes, our building was on fire and
we were in it. It was around 10:30p Saturday July 21st and I had
just finished uploading the video, when we both smelled smoke. I thought it was
coming from the door buzzer and she thought it was a lamp she was near in the
other room. In the next thirty seconds everything changed. The door buzzer was
making a strange very quiet buzz, much quieter and different than how it
usually sounds. We heard shouting outside, I looked out the window and there
were men screaming to get out, the building is on fire. We rushed around
looking for shoes and wallets and phones. We opened the door to go out and a
huge cloud of black smoke was rising up the staircase. The lights went out and
Michelle screamed up to Kevin’s apartment, but we had to shut the door. Out the
window of our third floor apartment, we descended one flight on the rod iron
fire escape and at the second floor I climbed up onto the handrail to get the
leverage I needed to lift the fire escape ladder that would disengage the hook
that keeps it up. Once released, the rusty old ladder needed some pushing to
get down and then was blocked from reaching the ground by the canvas awning of
the deli below. I lifted and rammed the ladder into the awning until it ripped
through. It’s funny, I have sat on that fire escape on so many occasions and
always wondered if I could engage that ladder and bust it through. I never
thought I’d find out. It did burst through and a man below helped rip it open
enough for Michelle to climb down low enough for him to catch her. When she was
passing through the opening in the awning, the hot smoke had been filling
underneath and the new opening was letting it all vent up around her as she climbed through. I
also came through with the help of the guy below. In the whirr of events we
never really met or had a chance to thank him.
Though the fire never really came into
our apartment most of our furniture and belongings were destroyed or damaged by water and smoke. The apartment below was completely destroyed. Burnt out! It seems it was in the
walls and originated in the deli downstairs. Still, the firemen blasted out
many of our walls with their axes to be sure the fire was out. There is a huge
hole between the kitchen and bedroom. Many of our favorite paintings were
damaged or destroyed by the firefighters. Bless their rugged hearts.
Over the past week we have been
cleaning the things that weren’t too smoke damaged and boxing them up. Movers
came Friday to help us put what was left in storage until we figure out our next
move.
Michelle’s friend Amy has loaned us
her apartment while she is out of town. She returns Wednesday, August 1, and we will be
looking for temporary housing.
We are thankful to be healthy and
safe and look forward to spending time with you again soon.
Maybe Bigfoot will show up..
Bigfoot Photo-Booth
Maybe Bigfoot will show up..
Bigfoot Photo-Booth
