Yesterday afternoon the boy and I bundled up and went out for a trek around the block in the snow. Somebody needed a potty break, and it wasn't me. On our way back in we got to the top of our stairwell when the boy sat down in the snow and refused to move, preferring instead to sit in the snow mesmerized by watching one of our neighbors trudge through the snow to the dumpster to throw away some garbage.
Once the neighbor was out of sight the boy was finally willing to get up out of the snow, so I dropped him off inside and grabbed our garbage to take out before the dumpster lid got too heavy with snow for me to open it. I actually had a little difficulty already, and once I got it open and tossed the trash in I noticed what looked like steam coming from inside the dumpster. A split second later I realized it was smoke and noticed a melting, smoking corner of a plastic garbage bag. So I ran inside, yelled to my honey that something was burning in the dumpster, and we went back out to the dumpster together with our makeshift firefighting equipment: a dustpan and bowl to scoop up snow to throw in the dumpster.
Then we called 911 to report the fire, and were told that the fire department would come out to check it out but it might be a while due to the weather and road conditions (um, duh, why do you think we threw snow in the dumpster before we called you?). They did ask us to keep an eye on it and call them back if it got any worse. Within half an hour the fire department SUV made its way up our hill, which was the only vehicle I saw successfully maneuver the hill all afternoon. About ten minutes later three firefighters in full gear with shovels in tow came slowly walking up the hill, since their truck couldn't make it. They checked it out, took our contact information, and told us that throwing snow on the smoldering mess was exactly what they would have done, hence the shovels, but to be very careful in any situations involving smoke. Then they said that by the way, the investigators could not get here to check it out because the roads are so bad so please stay off the roads, and asked us to pass the message along to the condo association to please remind people to cool all fireplace ashes in a metal container.
So there you have it: cool all fireplace ashes in a metal container. And those of you in the greater Seattle area should stay off the roads and take a snow day. The nice firefighter said so.
2 comments:
Good thing you noticed it and put snow on it! I think too many people are trying to drive when they should not. Me? I'm not going anywhere unless it is on foot. Luckily I live close enough to some stores to get provisions but seriously- will it ever end?
I walked down the hill to the store today, which was the first time I left the house since Saturday aside from short walks with the dog. I got a call a few hours ago letting me know that my workplace is opening at the regular time tomorrow, which seems completely insane since I can't imagine very many people will be able to get there. I don't even know if I will make it in even though it sounds like I pretty much have to. Not too sure how that is going to happen since we have over a foot of snow and I don't even think the busses are operating in our neighborhood!
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