My Peaceful Wednesday Afternoon Has Been Interrupted By Fort Worth's Finest Putting Out A Fire

I got back here about 1, after going to Arlington to Veterans Park. And Pantego to ALDI. When I returned to my neighborhood my way to my domicile was blocked by a wreck. This has never happened before. It was an odd location for a 2 car collision.

Then, after lunch, I was peacefully minding my business, trying, desperately, to beat the Scrabble Queen of Washington at Scrabble, before moving on to more serious matters, when suddenly all hell broke loose with the noise from big trucks hitting loud brakes and more sirens. And lots of horns honking.

The noise seemed to escalate and was quickly getting on my nerves. I called Miss Puerto Rico to ask if she knew what all the noise was about. Fire, she told me.

So, I grabbed my camera and exited. Not bothering to put on shoes. Because I didn't think I was going far. I was wrong.

When I got a view of the street I saw the line of fire trucks and emergency vehicles you see in the picture above. And then I saw smoke.

I walked towards the smoke, along with a lot of other people.

Dozens of Fort Worth's finest were on the scene, in full action mode. Some were already in the building. The fire hose was not yet spouting water, but foam had been sprayed. I saw flames flickering out of the building in two locations. Oddly, there was no smell of smoke in the air.

A fireman got on the roof and attacked it with a chain saw, so that water could get at the flames. Soon the flames were extinguished, but smoke continued to spew. Soon it was clear that the conflagration was under control.

This is the second time I've seen Fort Worth's finest up close, in action.

A couple years ago I was walking over to Miss Puerto Rico's when lightning struck a roof, quickly causing the building to catch fire.

I have never understood how the Fort Worth firemen were so quickly on the scene. I saw the lightning strike as I walked to Miss Puerto Rico's. I then called her to tell her that I think lightning struck one of the buildings. She had already gotten an emergency call. I walked towards the building. By the time I got there the firetrucks were already on the scene. And firemen were on the building.

I have never figured out how this was possible. Maybe they were already there on another call. Miss Puerto Rico has never gotten an explanation either.

I'll likely hear the details of today's fire later.

Pre-Dawn Fort Worth Fire Lights Up The Tandy Hills

Incoming from Don Young reporting about a house on fire very close to home and the Tandy Hills. Currently I don't think there are any suspicions that this fire was in any way caused by Barnett Shale gas drillers.....

FIRE ON VIEW STREET

The house next door to mine burned to the ground this morning. We noticed a very bright sunrise coming in our window when it was supposed to be dark, about 5 am. The FWFD was here in less than 3 mins.

The place has been vacant for several years and had a lot of wood in it. Burned steady since there was little wind. The FD is still here at 8:20. Arson is suspected but it could also be someone stealing copper from the electrical system that was still turned on.

My property values are dropping rapidly.

DY

Note to DY: Your Earthlink mailbox is full and is bouncing back email.

Alma Sleeps Through One Of The Worst Fires In Port Aransas History

Yesterday down south on the Texas Gulf Coast, the town of Port Aransas had one of its worst fires ever.

Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, currently a Port Aransas resident, has been suffering a bad bout of insomnia, which went away hours before the fire blazed, with Alma sleeping through the conflagration and its accompanying sirens. Even Alma's large family of Guard Dog Chihuahuas slept through the flames and noise.

The wind-whipped fire totally destroyed 6 houses and left 2 others heavily damaged. The fire zoomed through the Private Marina neighborhood before the sun was up.

No one was injured.

Dozens of firemen from all over the area converged on Port Aransas to help the local firefighters. Fire departments from Corpus Christi, Ingleside, Portland, Rockport and Aransas Pass showed up to assist.

The fresh water hydrants had to be aided by water pumped from the ship channel, due to the high winds.

I have not made it down to Port Aransas since Alma took up residence there. I'd love to hear Alma sing at one, or all, of her various venues.