by Lucinda Davis

Created on: May 09, 2009

I've had two experiences with fire, both equally terrifying. If you are fortunate enough to not be injured and survive you learn from these experiences. Both times my children were present and I thank God they were not hurt.

The first time I was pregnant with my son and had my two young daughters in my mini van headed to the circus. The van had smoked before from the engine area when mechanics would spill oil on the engine. I didn't think too much about the smoke coming from my engine area because I was used to it.

As we pulled into the parking ramp the smoke got thicker and I told my girls I needed to park soon so I could see if everything was alright. I hadn't even considered the engine might be on fire. We were bumper to bumper in the parking ramp and as I waited my turn a woman from behind came running up and screaming "your van is on fire!"

The man in the car ahead of me came running back with a fire extinguisher yelling "get out of your car NOW!" I am still haunted with the thought that when panic sets in you don't think and that as my oldest daughter managed to get out on her own, my youngest daughter was still in the car. I quickly ran back and got her out and am so glad she was not injured, I would have blamed myself for eternity. It all happened in a matter of seconds and the man managed to put the fire out.

The fire had been caused by a broken fuel line which I later learned was a defect on this particular vehicle. It should have been included in a recall but if it was, the problem had not been solved. The entire situation could have been much worse but thanks to the quick action of those around me our lives were spared and no one was harmed. I have always carried a fire extinguisher in my car ever since that experience.

The second time I was involved in a fire my son was about two. It was a Saturday morning and I was sleeping when my oldest daughter came running into my bedroom shouting "Mommy there are fireworks in the playroom". I bolted out of bed to see my air conditioner that was merely plugged into the wall flaming and sparking from the outlet.

I yelled for the children to get out and they scurried out the front door as I scrambled to get the fire extinguisher from the kitchen wall a few feet away. As I dashed back to put out the fire I fell and skinned my knees. The fire had already spread to my curtains in a matter of seconds and it was starting up the ceiling. I managed to extinguish the fire. As I sat with my kids on my porch trying to calm down and quit shaking my neighbor told me I should call the fire department just to be safe.

The fireman came out and inspected my home to check for other possible dangers. I explained I was shocked that my air conditioner was simply plugged in, that it wasn't even running when the fire started. He told me that if an appliance shorts out it can cause a fire like that and the appliance doesn't even need to be running. He also told me that it was a good idea to call him out because an electrical fire like that can appear to be out but it can continue to burn inside your wall. He felt the wall and said since the wall was not warm that the fire was out.

Later I was speaking to my insurance company and I was telling the lady on the phone about the fire. She explained to me that her Mother used to run around the house every night unplugging everything that didn't need to be on. This is something they don't teach you in school, maybe they should.

I've never been able to sleep as soundly as I once did. Ever since that fire, every little noise will wake me up. Whether it's a natural noise like the furnace kicking on or some other noise outside the house I always worry there could be another fire.

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