On Saturday our neighbors tree caught on fire! One of the branches fell down onto the electric power line below and it started sizzling away.

I was upstairs when this happened. I looked out the window because I saw a person circling in the intersection looking down the street beside our semi detached house. I wrote it off as just someone doing something a little weird.

A few minutes later someone knocked on our door to tell us that the tree beside our neighbors- the neighbors who’s house is attached to ours was on fire!

Ahhhh!

Chris ran outside to see how bad it was and I picked up the phone to call the fire department! I got 911 on the phone and in a shaky voice told them ” the tree next to our house is burning! It’s a big maple, a branch fell on the electric power line!”

Of course, as would happen, I’d just had a shower and my hair was wet and all over the place. Never the less I ran outside to have a look for myself.

By this time it appeared the fire was stopping or slowing down. I went back inside the house to at least comb my hair … our houses weren’t on fire and the tree didn’t look like it was going to fall .. and the phone rang. This time it was the police calling me just to verify the info that I’d told them and to let me know that fire trucks and police were on the way.

As I was on the phone there was a loud explosion! A big bang! Of course I’m freaking out a bit as I’m talking to the police after that! LOL

I later found out that the explosion was the electric box that the wires powering the adjoining street, and our neighbors house went into. Amazingly we still had power.

In the end the fire contained itself and Hydro – our Toronto power company, came along to reset the electricity – one whole street was out but our house still had power – and I think they trimmed the tree too.

It was an exciting few hours but in the end didn’t amount to all that much.

I did learn a few things though … the tree was burning for at least 10 minutes before I called the fire department. Others were aware that there was a fire – especially when you consider the person walking strangely across the street that I’d seen from my upstairs window.

I was the only person to call 911.

The neighbor who’s house was affected was so scared he stayed inside the house!

Hello people .. if your house has a huge chance of catching on fire get the heck out! Number one rule!

So I guess I live in a neighborhood filled with people who have no clue what to do in an emergency situation. Gee that makes me feel better.