PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Monday 30 April 2012

Dial 999 and ask for the Fire Brigade...

Last night we had a mini-drama, luckily all ended well and no one was hurt, the animals are fine and the house was not damaged.

Although we regularly have the chimney swept we had a chimney fire, well to be more accurate a fire in the flue from the Rayburn.  It began as what looked like lots of mist sweeping down from the roof - this effect was compounded by the fact that a lot of mist was also sweeping in and across the surrounding fields...  I remarked to George that it was looking rather like that old film "The Fog"!

A short while later we established that it was, in fact,  very pale grey smoke coming from the flue and in excessive quantities...a crackling roar could now be heard in the flue ... time to get the animals out of their beds and into safety and call the emergency services!  I saw to the animals and left George to do the telephoning and see to closing doors, and so on, then deal with the Firemen when they arrived.

My only thought was to  make sure the animals were safe and grab my handbag.  I had no thought for photographs albums, jewellery, treasured and cherished items.  Luckily our daughter and her family live just across the garden and they were kind enough to allow my menagerie and I sanctuary!  Davina was a star.  She plonked the baby into my arms and poured me a glass of wine then kept the conversation flowing.  Thank you, Davina!xx

Last night was one of those nights when I was happy that Toby is an old dog, he was happy to be where I was, no fuss, no nonsense.  Complete acceptance.

You can read an account and see photographs of the incident, if you are interested, on my brother's blog Owl Wood.  Thank you Ian for all your assistance last night.  You were brilliant.xx

The Fire Brigade did a wonderful job, minimal fuss, almost no mess whatsoever.  We were fortunate that it hadn't ignited after we had gone to bed.  Our chimney/flue was swept in October last year, the firemen said that there had probably been a build-up of residue in one particular spot and this had ignited.

So, I could launch into how lucky we were, endless possibilities.

I'll go back to that old chestnut - what do you think  you would you grab if your house were on fire?

All I could think of - knowing that George was fine - were my animals and their safety, I grabbed my handbag because that was on my route out - apart from that I walked away knowing that nothing else truly mattered.



42 comments:

  1. thank goodness you all are ok.....thanks for the reminder. off to organise the chimney brushes from my bro in law!!!
    x

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    1. Thanks John. Enjoy your role as chimney sweep - messy, but worth it!

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  2. Glad all is okay, to answer your question, my family and a pair of pants to preserve dignity... everything else is just material

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    1. Hi Gavin, Yes, everything is fine, we spoke with Jonny on Skype this morning, so he knows not to worry. Love to Julia and Olive.x

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  3. I'm so glad to hear that you all are fine. What a drama. Have a great day.

    Hugs
    Elna

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    1. Hello Elna, Everyone is fine - thank you. Here is hoping for some peaceful days!

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  4. I read about this first on your brother's blog. I'm glad everyone is okay and your house isn't damaged! I worry about chimney fires, even though we have our chimney swept professionally. We heat with wood so it's an issue. My friend told me very strong winds can cause chimney fires but I forget the mechanics of that. Anyway, just glad you and the pets are safe.

    My first thought in a fire would be to gather up the animals!

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    1. Hi Knatolee, The wind was very strong yesterday, so perhaps that was a factor. Anyway, all is well that ends well and Toby and the cats are fine, thank goodness.

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  5. Dearest Elaine...I'm so glad you and family are safe. You already know how I prepare for an emergency. I'll check in with you later today...

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    1. Dear Meggie, Don't worry, we are all fine and order has been restored. Speak to you later.

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  6. Oh good grief Elaine-thank goodness it turned out ok in the end...
    Yes for me it would be to grab the cats. I even make sure the cat carriers are easy to acccess in the spare bedroom just in case I ever need them in a hurry...

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    1. Hi Green Dragonette, Our cats thought it was their lucky day - they are not normally allowed in Davina's house and are constantly trying! They prowled around the kitchen nosing into every corner and making the most of the opportunity!

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  7. Thank heaven you are all OK.Your heart must have been racing.
    I would grab cats, anything else could be replaced. On second thoughts I really need to have a "grab bag" handy...to keep insurance papers, emergency cash that sort of thing.
    Jane x

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    1. Hi Jane, We keep all our papers in a couple of fire-proof boxes, just as well because they didn't figure on the list! The cats just made the most of it and Toby is always fine when he is with me, thank goodness.

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    1. Hi Joe, Thank you. We are all fine and so were the animals, and that is the main thing. Thank goodness for the Fire Service!

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  9. Glad you are all okay - like you pets and then my bag x

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    1. Hi Mrs Thrifty, Welcome to the blog - I promise you that life isn't always so dramatic around here, for which I am thankful! It is funny how we go onto automatic pilot in these situations and just deal with things.

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  10. I saw Owl Wood's pictures and read his account of the fire. I'm so relieved everything turned out OK for you! Isn't it wonderful to have a photographer in the family? My daughter, Brenda, has always been the one in my family and I totally rely on her because I'm so bad at it. Of course, you take wonderful photos as well.

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    1. Hi Ms Sparrow, Don't worry, we are all fine and the house is restored to order. Ian is a wonderful photographer - luckily he knows better than to ever take any candid shots of me! I am very much a point and click photographer, sometimes it works, mostly it doesn't!!

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  11. I saw Owl Woods post and then I came here glad all is OK with you. Inanimate things can be replaced animate things can't that is what would affect my rescueings and with that thought photos too.

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    1. Hi cuby poet, Absolutely! It struck me that although it is something which so many people think they would rescue they didn't matter one jot to me. All I could think was to make sure Toby and the cats were safe.

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  12. Oh my goodness, hope all's well,

    Same as you, pet and people, possessions just tie you down at the best of times never mind at the worst of times

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    1. Hi Andy, Yes, don't worry. It was dramatic at the time but we were lucky and the firemen were extremely good. Young Harry missed all the excitement, probably just as well!

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  13. Wow - I'm glad you are all well. It was a horrible night weather-wise to be forced out of home. Love to you all, Jx

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    1. Hi Jan, We are all fine, thank you. It all happened so suddenly, no time to really stop and think. The wait for the fire brigade was the worst bit - feeling helpless and not able to stop it. Any way, it all turned out fine in the end and the animals are unscathed and there was no real damage to the house. We were so fortunate!

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  14. Safe and well is the best ending. Yes, it would be cats and dogs first here. I'm taking this as a warning to see where they sleep at night.

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    1. Hi Joanne, That is a really good point, Sparky tends to sleep wherever she fancies on the night. Toby and Bennie are more predictable and like their beds.

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  15. I am so glad you are ALL alright. Your are so right that nothing else matters.

    In the modern world, I believe, many people no longer heat their homes with pieces of burning things. In our house, we have a little plastic box on the wall; I think it's called a thermostat. I don't know how it works exactly but we never have to have our flu swept (which is a good thing because I'm sure I couldn't find it).

    But, truly, I am sorry you had such an awful scare; glad you're all fine; and especially glad you have the good fortune to be surrounded by such a wonderful family!

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    1. Hi Mitch, We were very lucky indeed. The scariest part has been re-lighting the Rayburn, I know it will be fine, but still. Maybe we should just switch on the underfloor heating instead, the immersion heater for the water and use the combi oven.......no, that Rayburn does all those things and does them well. I must not be feeble!

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  16. I am so pleased to hear that it wasn't more serious. Phew. And thank god for the fire brigade - they are rather fabulous.

    As for what you would take in an emergency, I know the answer to this! I lost just about everthing some 10 years ago - watched my entire life go up in smoke and it really hurt. Though I did manage to retrieve a few photos (not enough) and some jewellery my mother had left me. But when the raw feeling wore off I realised that it was only "stuff" and I am just glad no one got hurt! If I sound so sanguine, it took years and the odd bottle of wine . . . :)

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    1. Hi Marmalade Scarlet, We were very lucky and for that I am thankful. I am so sorry to hear about the awful experience which you had...time, and wine by the case, I should think. You are absolutely right about things only being "stuff". Three cheers for the Fire Brigade, they are indeed rather fabulous.

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  17. Elaine what a scary thing to happen. Glad the damage wasn't too bad and most of all that you were all safe. I got trapped in the floods here yesterday but everything turned out OK. As far as 'what possessions do you grab in an emergency? Yesterday I got to thinking that possessions weren't all that important - its people that you can't replace.

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    1. Hi Molly, I shall scurry on over to your blog in a moment. I am so pleased that you are alright, but what a scary experience for you. I knew instantly that all that mattered were George, Toby and the cats. (He says he is grateful that I listed him first!)

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  18. Scary! Glad you, George and the pets are okay! Pets and purse would be the first.

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    1. Hi Janet, The place is getting back to normal, the cats were completely blasé about it all and Toby was fine because he was with me. The fire service men were wonderful, never have flashing blue lights been such a welcome sight to me!

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  19. phew Elaine !! what a scare...you've got your priorities right I see though.....all the ones you love first!! Glad to hear you and yours are ok.

    Amanda :-)
    at Crafty in the Med

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    1. Hi Amanda, All fine and well, thank you. We are back to cold, incessant rain - good job we can have the Rayburn on again!

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  20. Such drama! Thank heavens you're all safe! Maybe your scone baking days are over! Aha ha ha!

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    1. Hi Dom, Is that a gauntlet I see before me? Scone challenge at the Village Show? Okay young man, you are on! xx

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  21. So glad you're all safe and sound. Fire can happen so fast. We had a woodstove growing up and we heard many cautionary tales about chimney fires. I'm like you; I would have grabbed people and animals and high-tailed out.

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    1. Thanks, Jenny. We are all fine, and my little furry friends are totally relaxed and happy again. I may become even more neurotic and demand that the chimney be swept every 3/4 months, but better safe than sorry!

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