When we heard it, I said to the neighbor boy who was helping us garden, "Sounds like a power transformer. I'll bet some neighborhood doesn't have power anymore." It wasn't the crisp bang of fireworks, or the bang of a shotgun or a rifle, and it wasn't dynamite--the noise had a gentler "attack."
Or it could have been a lot farther away--like a mile. I heard they evacuated the building after they smelled gas, but sirens have been going to and fro, and the smoke is darker and still rising after 2 hours.
I hope the neighboring buildings and businesses and residences were well insured. I like The Chocolate Caper.
The Barr House's previous tenant had put up amusing messages about the bar business, and kept it up even after they moved. Google street has "Life is not a fairy tale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you're drunk."
FWIW, first reports got one of the streets wrong. You'd think that was pretty easy to get right, but I guess somebody got the landmark "Old City Hall" and turned it into "City Hall."
And they are evacuating around the area as well, so they must worry about the gas lines too.
UPDATE: A contractor hit a gas line.
UPDATE2: So far 2 firemen hurt and a cop had minor injuries. Sirens go to and fro.
UPDATE3: One fireman dead, 2 hurt. Part of the street flew in the air, according to a fellow I know who was driving in the area.
UPDATE4: When they write that a restaurant was "heavily damaged" they mean that the foundation still looks good. And maybe some of the walls. The volunteer fire captain who died owned the Barr House.
Please pray for the family of the fire captain who died. Also please pray for the fire fighter whose condition was upgraded from "critical" to "stable". Other minor and less minor injuries. Four buildings leveled or badly burned; condition of other buildings in the area not known yet. Our mechanic's shop isn't open today, and other businesses in the area are closed. Youngest daughter pointed out that memory care patients were being displaced. Fire happened at a major intersection, so a state highway and a county highway are closed, and traffic is going to be a zoo today. disrupted considerably. Staying away from the athletic club and the library, as these have given priority to displaced persons. Main shelter is at high school. The contractors whose error caused this also need prayer; they must be in shock. Thanks.
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