Motherfucker. I really didn't need this. On the heels of hadjiboy's post I went to sleep and then woke up to the smell of smoke. →[More:]

At first I thought I was dreaming because of the post but then I saw flashing lights reflected in the mirror. I jumped out of bed (scaring the cats silly) and ran to the living room which was awash in spinning red and blue lights with a strobe kicker.

OK. It does not seem to be my house.

I dressed and went out. 3 ladder trucks. 4 pumper trucks. 3 equipment trucks plus other fire department vehicles, paramedics, cops and TV crews. Thick smoke and now a chopper overhead.

I round the corner and one of the 1920's 6 townhouse buildings is belching flame from three holes in three of the units rooftops.

I talked with the residents of the townhouses and everyone (and cats and dogs) but one old couple got out safely. We offered rooms but everyone has family in town.

The old couple's unit seems to be the starting point and they were carried out by firemen and taken off in ambiences. We don't know them except for the fact that they have perfectly trimmed hedges. Twice a year the old guy set up poles and strings and levels and donned his orange jumpsuit and trimmed the hedges meticulously.

It's after four AM and the crews are still here. I am drop dead tired and yet so full of adrenalin I want to basejump off a 20 story building. I feel cold and hard and yet I want to cry.

I took many pictures. I may upload them to flickr in the next few days.