This morning I got up with the expectation of spending the day writing a multi-page midterm paper on the Civil War. I did do that, at least in part but the day cannot be categorized by homework. The day was instead filled with, among other things - smoke.

At around 2:15-2:30 I got up from my computer to brush my teeth, and before sitting back down to work on my paper I stood behind Sugar as she watched a movie that was almost over on our laptop. It was about then that I started to smell smoke. I thought it odd but we had our windows open and a fan blowing air through the house so it seemed likely that it was coming from outside somewhere. Moments later we heard the fire siren. I concluded that there was a fire nearby. Moments later I looked up and saw smoke billowing out of a vent system in our ceiling. This was when I concluded that the fire was in fact very near and dear to our fine situation and that action was needed.

Sugar and I quickly exited the building down a flight of stairs where smoke was flowing freely. We crossed the street and observed as several more firetrucks arrived. Our neighbor's apartment, not the one across the hall but on the other side of our back wall, had caught on fire. News reports state that the cause is still undetermined. What we heard is that it was a candle or a lighter or something, but the full truth is still pending.

We stood for a while outside, somewhat stunned, but also completely lost as to what to do since we had ever so wisely left our keys, money, and of course all the rest of our belongings inside the house. I called my dad who brought me some money and keys to the car and we all hung out a while longer as the firemen broke into the apartment that was on fire, and as they went up to the roof and made sure the fire was out everywhere.

After much deliberation we decided that I should still go to college and take in my one class for the day. While my mind may have wandered a bit during class it was probably good that I went and Sugar was able to find out everything we needed to know about our apartment situation. We are fine, other than a bit of smoke-induced allergies and a long tiring day. Our stuff seems mostly fine although there is smoke all through the apartment and we'll have to air out as much of it as we can as soon as possible. We're staying at my parent's house for the time being until we're allowed back in. Fortunately there was very little damage to our apartment, even though the one next to ours got hit pretty hard. My professor gave me a much needed extension on my midterm but this is just one more thing on my list of things that needs doing in the next few days. Its quite hectic and we're just now relaxing with a nice shower and a clean change of clothes.

Your prayers would be welcome, like I said we're fine, but we've got some long days ahead of us and we still don't even know when we can get back into our apartment for real, so it should be interesting at the very least. It sure does lead to an exciting story, and hey our backs even made it on the news so that's cool!

News Reports

• Video
• Follow-up Story: Teen Charged with Arson