Skip to content

Safety first

This is a true, short story about the devastation wrought by a house fire – and a not-so-subtle reminder that we’re in the middle of Fire Prevention Week, which runs until Oct. 13. So, read on.

This is a true, short story about the devastation wrought by a house fire – and a not-so-subtle reminder that we’re in the middle of Fire Prevention Week, which runs until Oct. 13.

So, read on.

Three days after Christmas in 1971 a young boy was sitting around the family tree enjoying the company of his parents and three cousins who had come for a visit. Everyone was laughing, smiling and having a good time, when the boy noticed a bulb on the tree was out. He bent down and turned the bulb to see if it would glow. It didn’t. Instead, it collapsed, creating a spark that set the dried-out Christmas tree on fire in an instant. Flames shot up the ceiling and the house was ablaze in less than 30 seconds.

Everyone – except the father – dashed out the front door to safety. The father went upstairs to the second floor to make sure no one was left behind. Black smoke and raging, orange flames filled the home. The heat was intense.

Outside, the boy was the first to notice – “Where’s dad?” The boy ran towards the front door and threw himself on the floor, screaming for his father. His cousin pulled him out by the legs. The mother screamed. And then they all stepped back and watched.

Within seconds a second-storey window came crashing to the ground, followed by the father. He hit with a thud, his glasses went flying. The boy watched, picked up the glasses and handed them to his father. His face was burnt, black as coal, but he was alive, moving.

That all-too-familiar noise of a fire-truck siren filled the air and soon hoses were putting out the fire. Firefighters arrived within minutes. The house, they estimated, burned to the ground in nine minutes. Safe and physically unharmed, the family nonetheless was left traumatized. The father and son were lucky. The family rallied but never forgot that horrific day.

This nightmare-come-true scenario can’t always be avoided – house fires will take place no matter how well-prepared homeowners are for such an occurrence.

So let this be a clarion call to all St. Albert residents. Let fire prevention become a year-round practice, let it become a daily habit like getting up in the morning to go to work.

Generally speaking, a fire alarm is a key place to begin when it comes to fire prevention.

“The need for everyone to have working smoke alarms where you live and sleep is one of the most important” elements, wrote fire prevention officer Michael Bos in a recent email to the Gazette.
“The presence of working smoke alarms reduces fatalities in fires by half and can have a large impact on how much property is lost in a fire.”

Equally essential is an escape plan.

“Everyone needs to understand what to do and what their exit paths are. Once everyone knows the plan, it needs to be practised to reinforce the message and to ensure the exits are adequate.”

To learn more you can check out an upcoming open house at Fire Hall No. 3 on Oct. 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. or go to http://www.ofc.alberta.ca/fire-prevention-week.

Either way, take part. This is just common sense, a stark reminder that precious lives are at stake.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks