Hot Stuff - Literally

Flames and fire are great at a campfire, in a fireplace, for toasting marshmallows and roasting hot dogs (sorry, my vegan friends), and warming fingers and toes.   

They’re not good when they’re licking walls, gnawing roofs, clouding up streets, fouling lungs, and causing havoc.

The midtown six-alarm blaze this past Tuesday was but yards from our condo building, so close you could take vivid photos without zooming in.  A shift in wind and we’d have been evacuated like those unfortunate folks on the east side.

What a frightening scene.  Streets blocked off with that official (ominous) yellow tape.  A multitude of flashing fire engines and police cruisers.  Just-in-case ambulances and other emergency vehicles.  Inquisitive media and hovering helicopters.   

It’s an awakening, disturbing open-your-eyes reality check: anything could truly happen at any time.  How many of us are actually prepared for an emergency?  A handful, perhaps?

The devastation and damage could have proven tragic.  Fortunately, injuries were minimal and destruction contained (for the most part) to the badminton and racquet club.  There are blessings to count and a vast range of first responders to acknowledge.

Let’s provide our heartfelt thanks to all of them for their courageous, unwavering and untiring assistance.