fire truck siren: a sound i wouldn't want to hear at 4am

At predawn today, at about 4:00 in the morning, I was roused from my sleep to the sound of an ambulance siren. I'm normally used to the sound of ambulance sirens, assuming that this is just an ambulance. But this particular "ambulance" never moved. It stayed and blared her sirens as if to alarm and wake everyone in the vicinity. I didn't move but I kept all my senses alert for any sign of unusual activity. I didn't smell anything. And aside from the blaring siren (which by this time has already stopped), I didn't hear any running or shouting, just a distinct "cracking". Then our dogs started barking. Then my sister opened our door, turned on the lights, and calmly said to our mayordoma "Yay, may sunog."

Ok, panic mode! All of us got up and went outside to check where the fire is. From the compound's garage, the only view we have is that of Kingswood Condos. And we saw that the entire side of Kingswood was lighted up with orange, lighted by the intensity of the flames that were engulfing the squatter's area below. Then there was a loud and sudden blast followed by bigger flames. Our neighbor went out to check how "far" the fire is from our place. She went back and reported that the fire won't reach us until the house behind us catches fire. But as a safety measure, Units A and D already packed their very important things, took our their cars from the garage, and waited.

Meanwhile, my sister and I went out and decided to do what Filipinos are best known for... "maki-usi". And besides, in our case it's better to see for ourselves how bad the situation is, to see if we really need to leave as well.

Geez, it was HUGE! Ang scary talaga!! The flames reached almost the 7th floor of Kingswood (and their 2nd floor is actually 3rd level na from ground level). And the wind is blowing glowing ashes into our direction, threatening to burn our home as well.

More fire trucks coming in, all the way from Binondo (ah yes, the chinese volunteers), Quezon City, Tondo. There were fire trucks everywhere and we're pretty sure that in no time, they'll be able to put the fire out. We went back home to check on the others. Mom's pretty calm now. Our neighbors are still out in their cars waiting. Then we went back to the scene and saw that the fire's almost out. Thank God!! We really had a scare.

We decided to go to Kingswood to check on Tito Ody and Lola. Tito Ody was the one who called Mom and alarm her of the fire near our place. He was roused from his sleep by thick choking smoke, looked at the window and saw that the fire was just below them, though they were 20+ floors up. The lobby of Kingswood was like a mini refugee camp. Residents, most likely of the lower floors, with their luggage, some are still in their pajamas, are just waiting for a signal to leave. The podium lobby was full of thick smoke, it stings the eyes. We got to their room and found Tito Ody, Tito Toto, and Lola calm in the living room, watching tv. Even if the fire's out, they can't go back to their bedrooms because it was still full of smoke.

here's a pic i took from Tito Ody's room, 20+ floors up. The fire's out now but the entire area's still smoking. yeah, malabo, from phone camera lang kasi yan.

Ok, all's well with them. Now back home. Units A and D went back inside. Everything's safe. Time to go back to sleep again. I went back to bed but can't sleep, I'm still in shock to even feel sleepy. I just prayed and thanked Him endlessly for sparing our home from the tragedy. Then sleep finally overtook me and I was out. I woke up and it was almost noon.

The fire deparment's fire prevention month warnings, I take them seriously. You'll never know when tragedy will strike. Or you see them in the news, read them in the newspaper, seeing them happening to somebody else, wishing it won't happen to you. Unfortunately, according to Calvin's mom, "you are also somebody else to somebody else."

Better be careful.

Oh, and did I mention that throughout this whole ordeal, my Dad, our resident fire brigade volunteer, is in Bicol with the priests? He felt really helpless and can't sleep until everything was ok. Naging joke na lang tuloy sya... "ay si dad, hindi makatulog kasi wala sya sa aksyon. hindi sya makapag bida bidahan." hahahahaha!