Long Beach Fire. My parents are fine.

[kcontheroad]

I realize that several of you know my parents or know of them. I've made some references to the fire, but I haven't posted it here so everyone can know they're OK. My parents live in the same tower as the unit where the fire was. Their place is directly below it on the 11th floor. They have a second one two floors below that that they currently

Comments

[kcontheroad]

Did you watch the first video? You have to see an advert before the video proper begins. Some shots of the area where they live. Anyway, you can see that the fire became very fierce and some one stranded on the balcony had no hope to escape.

Firetruck ladders don't reach that high, of course. When the building was built, it included stand pipes that go all the way to the top, so the firefighters were able to access water once they made it up there. I don't envy them carrying all that equipment up 18 flights of stairs, but they did it and managed to keep the threat to people and property to a minimum.

[kcontheroad]

The building was built to exceed fire code at the time it was constructed in the 1960s. Each of the units has only one way to get to the central tower, which is where the two stairwells and the two elevators are.

[missdiane]

I didn't hear about the fire, but I'm glad that your parents are ok. I hope that they can salvage a good deal of their belongings, though having them safe is the more important thing.

*hugs*

[kcontheroad]

Most of their possessions are unharmed. As luck would have it, they were using the opportunity of their trip out here to do some remodeling to their kitchen, so they had removed everything from the kitchen to the living room and covered it all in sheets. Most of their damage was to the kitchen, but there was a barrel in their kitchen under the light fixture that caught most of the water. Still, they will now have to remove more of their kitchen than they had planned on doing and the parquet flooring in the entry way is now toast. They had moved the valuables out of the entry to facilitate the contractor's coming in and out, too, and so they were undamaged. The unit where my brother will live has damage to the carpet from the molten metal and glass that fell into it and it will have to be replaced, among other things.

The water and mold mitigation people are there already and there's a lot of work to do in that respect. Still, it could have been much worse.

Yeah, having them safe is what matters and we've all let them know.

[missdiane]

Wow, what a fortunate coincidence for your folks! Talk about something looking out for them on both the no-harm and lower-inconvenience fronts.

[kcontheroad]

They'll be the first to tell you that they lead a charmed life. Couldn't happen to two more deserving people.

[fracindy]

It's always heartwarming when unfortunate situations like this trigger a strong sense of solidarity and support amongst a community.

I'm glad your parents are okay.

[kcontheroad]

People are good at heart. I really believe that. We hear on the news about the idjits who shoot some one for some tiny slight, but day-to-day, there are more good things that people do than bad things. I was at the market the other day and, because I'm on crutches, I was looking at my things and pondering the best way to get them from the cart to my car about 30 metres away. A stranger came up to me and asked if he could carry my things to the car for me and I accepted. After he had put them in the car, I thanked him and said he is a very nice man. He then thanked ME and said I'd made his day.

I think most people are like that. We feel good when we help out some one in trouble.

[tinuvielberen]

Oh my goodness, how horrible! Thank goodness they're safe. What a mess cleaning up, though...

[kcontheroad]

It could have been so much worse. I'll pass your sentiments on to them. It's such a gorgeous place for them to live and they love it so much. They've already begun the process of setting things to right. The current word from the building inspectors is that they will have to be evacuated for four months. Some people on the lower floors with very minimal damage have been let back in and so we have hopes that the four months is a very conservative figure and they'll be allowed back in sooner.

As evacuees, they can still enter the unit, particularly for repairs and such, but can't be residing there. They have to sleep somewhere else.

[veganhothead]

Oh dear, I'm glad they're safe and that most of their possessions are unharmed.

Any idea where the 'rents are going to stay? Will insurance cover their expenses?

[kcontheroad]

They'll be here until the 10th. They're making arrangements to stay in a corporate apartment after that ahd yes, their insurance will cover most of their expenses including the place to stay.