The Burning House...
 

Your house is on fire and you have ONLY FIVE MINUTES to grab items (assuming your family and pets are safe), what do you grab and why?

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1) All of the photo albums. This will require a
wheelbarrow and several trips!

2) Our important papers that are ALWAYS kept
organized and all together in the secure and
state-of-the-art container that we never get
around to purchasing. :/ Yeah, that one.

3) Cell phone.

4) Purse that has just about one of everything in it!

5) Tina.

My purse, that thing is always ready to go... It has extras of my sons meds, and my inhaler, my wallet, a book to read, a notebook with all my lyrics in it... So it has to go.

The car keys, so we can get to family when we need their support.

My laptop bag, It has the laptop and my external hard drive so it has all of the pictures I have ever taken of my kids, all my financial information, copies of my taxes. Even if all my documents burned I would still be able to access what I needed from there.

My sock monkeys, they are all together on their shelf, so I could get them in a single swipe. If I could only bring one thing that would make me smile, they would be it.

Well, my satchel bag from my side table which has my money, ids, keys, my phone, incidentals etc. would be the first thing I'd pick up.

Next would be my brand new backpack for travelling. It basically has everything in it that I would need to survive on for a few days at least (water, food, personal items, books, sentimental things, project plans, a journal, tea etc)

Finally I'd grab my vintage travel trunk that my boss gave me. It has all of my barber tools and some clothing (including a tie and the dress I wore last week).

Definitely my cat first! After that, I am not sure!

I don't assume anything. I would double-check and make sure all of my beloved furbabies are all out lol! I sleep with my wallet and cellphone, and have actually been through a couple of fires, so am definitely prepared with a rolling suitcase full of important things. If I had more time, I would throw some of the furkid's survival food in the yard, grab the photo album amd my Mom's ashes, because that is all I have left of them, and maybe my framed degrees. I could find shelter, food, clothes, etc., afterwards.

Fire is dangerous and unpredictable. You should not stop for anything besides your loved ones, be they human or critter.

I know, that's why I only choose living in places that are on a first floor. I have smoke alarms in every room and check them regularly. It also would be a good idea to learn where to shut off your main gas line leading into the house. However, the fires I've been in, and have seen, there still was a little time left, to pick up a couple of extra things. We should never assume this to be true in every circumstance though. The OP simply assumed that loved ones would be already out,and that there was going to be five extra minutes.

I am a firefighter. I will be representing my department at the funeral of an elderly lady that succumbed to injuries she attained in a house fire I attended. 4 people got out......she went back for her purse. Went from smouldering to fully engulfed in less than 2 seconds. The rest is just sad. My advise, just get out and away from danger.

Is it safe to assume the four people who got out did not go back inside for anything, and she was the only one who went back inside? I agree then, get out, and never go back inside, even once. Stay out!

I agree that it's dangerous and if faced with a real housefire situation it's best to worry about your safety first (and those you love).

I keep those three things next to me at all times so I wouldn't be trying to run around to grab anything else.

Well, As I was reading I had a whole list of things that I would need, including clothes, shoes etc. I happened upon Syr's post stating the story of the woman that perished, As the Fire Chief's daughter, I felt that I should rethink my list.

1) my *stuffed mouse* a gift my mom gave me before she passed away
2) keys
3) purse

I think I want to look for a better picture program on line that is EASY and I can load every last picture I have.
That way, I can follow the advice here. Grab my butch and the fuzzies.
Every thing else is just stuff.
Life is more important.

Also note to self: donate to american red cross. those folks help more people because of fires, countless untold stories of the rescue that makes life possible, after the rescue that saves lives.

(ONLY with safety...not if it is burning down around my head, then fuck all....)
 

protocol
 

I know this is more or less a fun question. I am going to agree with Syr. There is a protocol about leaving your house or leaving a forest fire. Protocols are in place for a reason. Have fun with the question and if you are in a fire let your mind latch on to a protocol. Leave the house.

I have a servival suply box in the trunk of my car,in it I have a large case of water,non persable foods plus things for my fur kids that they would need,clothes for me and my son.All my vip papers are in the saftydeposit box at the bank unless there is something I havent had time to take there I have a box on my tall dresser it would be in I would grab that,my fur kids would be out of the house first and in a safe place.I would get moms ashes,some pictures that are not replaceable or not depemds on the time I have.One thinsg for shure I wouldnt put my life or my loved ones lives injeopardy to grab anything as long as they were safe.My car keys are by the door plus I have an extra set of house/car keys in a secret place that no one but me or my son kinows.The fire department is two blocks up and one over I hope thay would be able so put out the fire so my belongings could be salvaged.On a note my son has a colection of motorcycles that is his pride and joy that are in the garage wich is about 40 feet from the house even tho all are inshured most are not replaceable.

I have an antique fender I would puke if anything happened to it.

Syr makes an excellent statement - The only concern at the outset of a fire is to “get out” period – end of story. Fire consumes in a matter of seconds. No matter how “priceless” you think a “thing” is – it is still just a “ thing” - living- breathing beings – should be the only concern at that point.

The time to think about what what should be gotten out – should be thought about “before” a fire – there are many precautions that can be taken and ways to back up files/photos/etc (before) something tragic may happen –
protocols set in place for getting out of the house – exits/fire extinguishers/fire safes/back ups/safety deposit boxes – where to meet outside of the house – emergency phone numbers/etc…

I know this question was meant in fun (sort of) but I and others on this site who have seen the devastation of fire up close and personal – where lives have been lost and are at stake on a daily basis to ensure safety of human life – the protocols are not just something to “think about “ when you have time – they are “essential” to life-perhaps your own or someone’s you love some day.

I agree. While it wasn't my space, I did have an experience with a fire in a friends building. It is of course always important to get you and your loved ones out with a plan already in place for emergencies. Of course sometimes in that moment all of that goes out the window. Time feels a lot different.

I guess just the way I have lived, I always keep the things I need close by at all times. I lived a lot of my life backpacking and working traveling from place to place so I am accustomed to not keeping a lot of "things". That makes what I do keep with me a lot more valuable and some of it while just "stuff" are things that are the last reminders I have of loved ones.

Safety first!

I think it would take about one minute to grab my bug out bag (that's what it's for), external hard drive and phone on the way to the door, keys at door.

With the bag I am good for 2 weeks, with access to my car which is street parked away from the property, another 2 weeks.

That is the luxury of time option. I could just walk out the door with nothing, if I could get to my car it is set up fine and a valet key is accessible on the exterior, master key on the interior impossible for anyone else to find.

Me + :cat: = good to go

*My prep is more for earthquake than fire, I guess if it is just the one structure it wouldn't matter. There are hotels to set up in then.

Yeah but.. alot of cats hide during fires and are harder to catch, and put in a carrier . They can become very powerful and hard to hold when they are stressed. For them, folks can buy a mesh laundry type quick evacuation sack that can be swooped over them to catch them. http://www.thedivinecat.com/qt/emerg...vac/index.html

Disclaimer: I do know this is "FUN and FLUFF" thread

I did live through a fire at the age of 15. We did not have time to grab anything other than... what we had on and it was in December in Minnesota at 3 am.

I am always ready now ... Shoes, bra, pants, shirt/sweatshirt pants, keys and phone alway sit next to my bed. My three sister's still to this day do the same thing. We are forever prepared for the next time around.

Now in the FUN and FLUFF....

Phone
clothes
Laptop
ecig
Mellow Yellow *smirk*

Aside from living beings.
 

1 red notebook. The person who wrote in it has passed. It's my most personal/prized possession.

I know exactly where it is, on my exit plan.

I have it duplicated, but if I have 10 extra seconds it's coming with me.

Everything else in my life is replacable.

I posted this once before in the what are you listening to thread - but i thought i would post it here too...it was sent to me by a friend - as a thank you - and i pass it along as a thank you ... if you know of a (rescue worker) in any capacity - pass it along - along with a silent prayer and thank you - believe me - they will appreciate it....

as I said before I know this was meant in fun (what would you grab) kinda thing ... but I appreciate that perhaps this has caused more than one to think about ... putting in place protocols and having a plan - so all that you do think about is "life" ... thanks again ...

1. Bug out bag
It has all the necessities and some other stuff too
2. External hard drive
It has pictures, letters, stories, poems etc and a complete back up of my computer.
3. Work laptop
I don't want a data breech, eesh ::shudder at the thought::
4. Wallet
For obvious reasons
5. My treasure box
It has the objects that are closest to my heart, and more than a few sacred (to me) objects.

1. My grandmothers pictures
2. My grandmothers suitcase packed full of her things that I kept after her passing
3. My Chevrolet purse
4. My Ruger
5. My pillow

my pets and my purse

My family already has a "bag" of sorts
filled with items needed in an emergency.
So we would just grab that.