Monty and the management just announced that due to the nice weather, they would leave the pool and hottub on the rooftop deck open for an extra weekend.
Friday, November 4th-Michelle calls from the station to say there's a fire call at 10th and Jackson, which is actually the parking garage in front of my building. The fire alarms weren't going off, so I thought I'd head up to the roof and see what I could see. I step out of the elevator and the adrenal glands make a big hiccup. I whip out the trusty digital camera and begin taking pictures.
The first pic from the roof was taken at 10:54:56.
20 seconds later.. 10:55:16
Then last, at 10:56:25.
That's just a shade under a minute and a half.At first glance, I' thinking, 'oh my, that's a fire on my deck, thank goodness I brought my camera.' It was exhilarating, but I wasn't panicked. I hit the elevator button down and kept taking pictures. It was very windy, and the fire was really whipping around. I walk down the hallway to make sure I know where the stairs are, walk back and take the last picture, with the fire spreading across to the benches and wall across from its starting point. The glass windows are popping, I'm feeling the heat now, and the pulse is quickening quickly.
I head downstairs and run into two firemen about a flight down. I point them up to the roof and keep moving. I run into two more firefighters when I get to the level that has the walkway across to my building(one property, several buildings all sharing the rooftop deck, floor 7 on my side, 8 on the other side), I run into two more firefighters. I tell them what I saw ,they ask if I've seen any other firefighters, and I lead them back up to the roof. This time, the light in the stairwell is out. Pitch black, they whip out a flashlight and up we go. As we get to the roof, the 10th floor, I can see flames coming out of the top of the door to the stairwell. This door is down a hallway, 20 feet or so from the glass doors where the first photos were taken. I head back down the stairs, using my cellphone as a flashlight. Then the fire alarm starts going off, in between the last pic and 11:04, when I snapped the first outside pic, which was after I had walked down the bridge from the building.
Now the rooftop is a fireball. Consumed by 20 foot flames according to the Herald. I'd bet higher. There was a swarm of firefighters, and I could tell that it was under control in a matter of just a few minutes. I allowed a well dressed blonde intern to interview me for channel 7. I tried to glance at the camera a lot and talk disjointed. Walked around to get a few different views of the building. There were a few spots with flames, but a team of firefighters was fanning out across the roof and those would be gone in a few more minutes. Found Bandur and Coleman to show them the pics and give a hopefully much better interview to the home team. Then Laura and I head up to the Underground so I can use the restroom, then over to M's at just after midnight or so for a glass of wine or two before last call. My neighbor Sean told me Embassy Suites was offering discounted rates for the Old Market evacuees. When we came back, my side, the Butternut side of the building was open.
Update:I just tried to get across the walkway into the other building, 2:58am. OPD officer is posted in the building, near the walkway that connects the two buildings. He was friendly, but I didn't ask any questions. He told me the floor was off limits, but I'm not sure about how much of the other side of the building is closed, the side with the fire.
Update:3:18, another emergency alarm.. the guy outside, presumably with the Red Cross, which has a large command unit parked on the bridge, finally tells us we don't have to worry about anything and we don't have to stay outside. I asked him how much of the building was shut down. He also said most of the Ford Warehouse building was closed off, at least the corner where the fire broke out. He says there is water damage because the sprinkler system was activated in some of the rooms right below the fire. Good information, but it still doesn't stop the fire alarm from beeping.. its 3:30am.... "ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, 'attention, attention, an emergency has been reported in this building. Please cease operations and leave the building utilizing the nearest exit or fire exit stairway. Do not use elevators. Repeat. Do not use elevators." and again and again and again goes the talking fire alarm, with speakers in my living room and bedroom. I have no other rooms.
