Tag Archives: Fire

Massive Blaze Ravages Popular Movie Studio

King Kong may have met his match (no pun intended) when a massive fire tore through his popular exhibit this morning destroying three quarters of it. According to news reports, right now damage to Universal Studios Hollywood is still being assessed but firefighters say a sizeable portion of the place where movie magic happens has either been destroyed or damaged. Fire officials confirm that at least one building has burned and as many as three blocks of movie facades are now ash. Fire investigators have not determined what caused the blaze but say it broke out just before dawn on … Continue reading →

Freaky Flight Attendant Starts Fire on Plane

Talk about a disgruntled worker. Be happy you weren’t on this flight: A Compass Airlines jet carrying 72 passengers and four crewmembers was forced to make an emergency landing in Fargo, North Dakota last week when an angry flight attendant deliberately set a fire in the plane’s restroom. Luckily no injuries were reported, but those on board the flight said the incident led to some very frightening moments. According to news reports, Eder Rojas, a 19-year-old flight attendant with Compass, was allegedly upset about his work schedule so he decided to set the plane on fire. But he only partially … Continue reading →

Do You Have a Pet Emergency Evacuation Plan?

The spooky incident with my neighbor’s fire yesterday got me to thinking about emergency evacuation plans. Namely, how I don’t have one. Which was something I’d never really considered before. Have you? Sure, I had thought about how to help Murph and the cats if I wasn’t there by posting an I.C.E sticker. But I’d never really considered what I’d do if I was there during the emergency. For some, like my neighbor Cindy, the question isn’t a hypothetical one. She’s got real-life experience in two types of scenarios. One where the danger was imminent and another where it’s urgent … Continue reading →

Cats and Fire Don’t Mix

Between the car accident and my mom’s stroke, I’m ready for things to get back to some level of normalcy. It won’t be today. I had just gotten into the shower when I heard the doorbell ring. Since I was naked and wet, as well as running behind schedule, I figured whoever was ringing would come back. Or call and say they’d tried to stop by. But a few minutes later I heard sirens. A few seconds after that I knew they had turned into our neighborhood, and it didn’t take me even a nanosecond more to realize they’d turned … Continue reading →

Celebrities On Fire Watch

Olivia Newton-John and “Titanic” director James Cameron may soon be sifting through charred remains of their homes if fierce Santa Ana winds don’t shift or die down. The celebrities are just a handful of Malibu residents whose palatial mansions are in the path of a raging wildfire. Hundreds in the area have been forced to evacuate their properties, including the family of country music superstar Tanya Tucker. Other celebs whose Malibu mansions are in danger include Jennifer Aniston, Nick Nolte, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Howie Mandel, Jeff Bridges, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, Linda Ronstandt, Goldie Hawn, Mel Gibson, … Continue reading →

What To Do If You Are Caught In A Wildfire

I have written several Blogs about Wildfires and what to do in order to make your home more resistant and safer. I have also written several Blogs on what to do when you face a possible Fire Evacuation or an urgent evacuation order. But, what do you do when you come fact-to-face with an actual fire in you path? US Fire Officials have raised the 2007 Fire Alert to the highest level. When wildfire strikes the evacuation order can come quickly and with no warning at all. It’s possible that you and your family could come in direct contact with … Continue reading →

Wildfire Evacuation Plan: When you have some warning.

In the last blog I wrote about the things we need to do if an evacuation is ordered and you must leave now. Sometimes, especially with wild fires, local officials may not advise an immediate evacuation but warn areas that an evacuation may happen because there’s a chance things may get worse. When you are asked to Stand By for an evacuation, consider this time valuable and take steps to protect your home and family. Protecting your house: Bring everything inside, including: Patio furniture, garbage cans, the kid’s toys, gardening equipment, hanging plants, and all the other things that may … Continue reading →

What To Do In Case Of A Hotel Fire

How many times have you spent the night at a hotel? If you are like me, your answer is: “too many.” Nothing made me believe that more than an experience I had at a hotel last week. It’s a stay I won’t soon forget. At 1:47 a.m. (I know this because I memorized the numbers on the digital clock out of fear) a high pitch wail tore through my hotel room. Within seconds I realized it was the fire alarm. The noise shook me to my core, but curiously it didn’t trigger my feet to move. In fact, I stood … Continue reading →

Tragedy: The Jacksonville Humane Society Burns to the Ground

Photo by Jakub Alaborski Today I logged onto the computer and checked my email like I do every morning. I had a surprise waiting: an email from my good friend Karen in Jacksonville, Florida. (a.k.a. Aunt Karen to Murph, Kitty, and now Tabby. She’s also the mom of Tucker, the 80 pound wonder dog, Murph’s all-time best friend.) Karen and her husband Michael are busy people. (They’re pet photographers who are usually either busy planning a shoot or traveling to one.) So I’m always delighted when she finds time to write. Except, today’s news broke my heart. According to the … Continue reading →

‘Tis The Season for Lights and Fire Claims! Tips For Safe Lighting

We all see the news reports every year, a family loses everything to a Holiday house fire. It is very easy to think it will happen to someone else, until you are the family on the evening news, standing in the driveway of charred ruins. The lights are very pretty that is for sure but before you string fire starters on your gutters be sure you keep safety in mind. Before hanging, the decorations be sure to check your strings of lights for: Frayed or bare cords, and check for broken wires. If you find any problems, with the actual … Continue reading →