Fire Engines and Ambulances Galore

The building where we live was having the parking garage power washed this weekend. That meant we needed to remove the car from its space and park outside. The first day went without incident, but the second day was rather eventful. When we parked our car back in the garage we could hear that the crew was still working one level below. Shortly afterwards we noticed a fire engine and an ambulance parked next to the building. Someone from a work car was exited to a gurney and placed in the ambulance. We assumed there was an accident in the garage and sat down to watch tv. But then we heard another siren. This time when we looked out the window it looked like Christmas. There were hundreds of blinking red and green lights! The building was surrounded by several fire trucks and ambulances. There was no notice from management/front desk about what was going on and no one was answering the phone. It didn’t look like a catastrophe because people were milling about and my husband kept saying it must be some sort of drill. But it didn’t feel nor look like some sort of drill to me. Then we saw several firemen enter the garage and the side entry door. When we saw the fire people standing outside our door through the peep hole we knew it was something more. So my husband went out and asked what was going on. Apparently there was a carbon monoxide scare. One of the workers was overwhelmed - which is why the first ambulance was called. When they realized it was carbon monoxide the building emergency was called. The dozens of firemen were literally on every floor monitoring the carbon monoxide levels. They suggested to open our windows. We offered the workers water or cookies but they said they were fine. It wasn’t until after eleven PM that a notice was finally sent about what had happened. It is rather concerning to see MANY fire trucks and ambulances surrounding the building. Thank goodness it was handled as quickly as it was. We hope the worker is ok. It was determined the problem was related to the chemicals being used rather than a building problem. That puts our minds at ease, but was scary regardless. When we lived on Capitol Hill the fire engines surrounded our house there too. There was a fire in the laundry room and that’s the scene we returned to from a morning walk. Aren’t we lucky!?

A Food Truck Fire

You never know what you will run in to in this neighborhood. Our house is a mess this week because we are having air conditioning work and wall repairs done. So we are walking later than usual to accommodate all the workmen coming in and out. Yesterday around lunch time we ventured out on our usual path and all the streets were blocked off, although pedestrian traffic could get through. I smelled a metallic burning smell and smoke. Right across from Tortilla Coast and a block from the house office buildings was a food truck on fire. There were two or three fire trucks and several police cars surrounding the vehicle. The owner was standing helplessly by, and about ten firemen were hacking away with a hatchet on the top of the truck. It seemed to go on forever. It was more smoke than fire and many gawkers were checking out and photographing the scene - including me. Aside from this, the other food trucks had lines of people waiting to get their lunch, a typical scene this time of the day. So the "Angry Something or Other" truck will be out of commission for awhile. Wonder how the whole thing started?