About this time all three fire departments (our
town and two surrounding city fire departments were called to help) were
finally winding down and clearing the streets.
It had rained pretty hard for about 30 minutes earlier, but not enough
to put out the small fires still going between the brick and the frame of the
house. They said they would have to come
back in two hours to check the “smoldering areas.” (It was still burning? How is that possible?)
I was finally able to
reflect on the past 2-3 hours. The
paramedics had checked all 5 of us. I think the 30 minutes inside the ambulance
was overwhelming in itself. I couldn’t even remember birthdates or ages. I was so flustered. S had been on an
antibiotic last week recovering from strep. So one of the EMTs said that she
would need to follow-up with our pediatrician because she was the one with the
most smoke inhalation. We were released from the ambulance and walked out into
the bad dream again. I remember standing at the corner looking at the house
holding onto R and S. We just stood there holding hands.
Husband was the one
dealing with the fire inspectors, arson investigators (I couldn’t wrap my head
around someone even thinking it was
arson, but I guess that was just his job…) The fire team was trying to figure
out a way to get the cars out. They finally went in and searched for the keys
in the rubble, pried the garage doors open with the axes and crowbars, and got
the cars out. Melted tires, clear coat melted off, scorch marks on the hoods. I
just cannot describe it.
Everyone kept asking,
“What can we do?”
“I DON’T KNOW,” was my
response. Every time.
How do you even know where
to start with something like this?
People from my school and all the kids’ schools came. The principals, the counselors, PTA moms and
dads… Even a few teachers from surrounding schools drove by to offer kinds
words and help. (Even though we had no idea of what kind of help to ask for…)
About this time, the Red
Cross had been parked a little way down the street. The lady in the white vest with the Red Cross
insignia had been just patiently waiting in my driveway as the fire trucks were
cleaning up. She finally approached me
and I walked with her to her van. There
were two more Red Cross workers there and they offered snacks and Gatorades to
the kids. Someone else had ordered pizzas so there was plenty of food for the
neighborhood that was banding around us.
Husband was still with the fire fighters and his dad trying to figure
out our next steps.
The Red Cross lady (sad, I
cannot remember her name) had me fill out a ton of paperwork and gave us a Visa
card to buy immediate clothing and food.
They also set up a one-night hotel room for us – I was so thankful, but
so incredibly SAD about that. It was
when she had me sign the hotel form is when I realized… We are not sleeping
here tonight. Or any night for a long time.
Tears just burst from my eyes and she said she’d give me a minute. She
got out of the van and let me cry alone for a while. I so needed that.
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