This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that have gone on in and around my apartment complex and in my neighborhood in the past 25 years that I've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.
A while back I posted about this guy who is mentally ill (most likely schizophrenic) and homeless. He walks around trying to open apartment doors and car doors all the time. He stands by people's bedroom windows and talks to himself. I posted a short video of him at the end of this post. In case you don't know who I'm talking about. Well this week he was arrested. I'm guessing he tried to open the wrong door. I wonder how long they'll keep him. Most people are back on the street and back in our neighborhood pretty fast. I'll keep you all informed.
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Around 11PM Thursday night I heard some ambulance and fire truck sirens going down my street. I looked out my bedroom window and saw smoke across the street so I told my daughter there was a fire across the street. When she walked across the street and into their alley, she realized the house fire was on the other side of their alley right around the corner so she walked over there. She took some videos and I tried to upload her videos here but they wouldn't play, so I took some screenshots from the videos.
The police, ambulances, and fire trucks got there really fast.
The entire street was filled with emergency vehicles.
I counted no less than 6 fire trucks and 3 ambulances drive past my apartment.
The street was filled with smoke so the pictures are a bit blurry plus my screenshot taking capabilities leave something to be desired.
This fire truck had the hook and ladder on it to reach the second story of the house that was on fire.
There was a lot of smoke. The second floor of the house had the most smoke and flames. The firemen brought out two people and were performing cpr on them. They were taken away in ambulances.
The people who were out there told my daughter that the house was vacant and there were homeless people squatting in the house. They set the fire and neighbors called 911 when they saw the smoke and fire coming from the second floor of the house. So they go there fast and were able to get the fire out fast.
The fire department and ambulances were there for hours after they got the fire out.
I walked by the house the next morning. You can barely tell that the second floor was on fire. But you can see that second floor window is busted out and the framing is all black. The eave of the roof on the right side is all black where the other side is light blue. The fire department got the fire out fast.
The news release I found said that one person died and one person is in critical condition. The news release got the name of the street wrong, it's Catalini not Catalina. My daughter was talking to a lady who used to be homeless around here and is friends with the homeless people in the neighborhood and told my daughter who it was that passed away. I'd seen the guy around here for years. She said they started the fire on purpose to try and keep warm but the fire got out of control and they couldn't get out. It's sad that someone lost their life.
I found the house fire on PulsePoint app. The third thing down from the top that says structure fire is this house fire that happened.
The high this week was 68F/20C
The low this week was 43F/6C
So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.
It is sad that trying to get warm cost someone their life.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the man with mental illness gets some treatment but it doesn't sound likely.
I doubt it but he hasn't been back since.
DeleteSad week indeed. Just homeless people trying to get by. And the fire could have been much worse...
ReplyDeleteYes, it could have.
DeleteIt's no fun being homeless.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's not.
DeleteThat's terrible someone died in the fire.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteThat’s so sad. Are there a lot of vacant houses in that area? It looks like it was a really nice house at one time.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few vacant ones on that street.
DeleteIt is very sad that someone lost their life in that house fire all because they were trying to stay warm.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteI'm sad about someone dying in that fire. Tragic.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteVery sad that someone died in the fire, a horrible way to go.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteNot a good week
ReplyDeleteNo it wasn't.
DeleteVery sad
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteFire is scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteFires can move so quickly! Wow, what a tragedy!
ReplyDeleteYes they are fast.
DeleteFires are scary. And loud. Did you get close enough to hear it? Sad about the death. This homeless problem is not a failing of people but of our society, and it's terrible that it's come to this. They should not have to risk their lives to keep warm.
ReplyDeleteYes they are loud. There was a fire 3 years ago in my courtyard too.
DeleteSo terrible!
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteThat is super sad, fires are so scary. I hope they keep the bozo away from your place.
ReplyDeleteYes it is.
DeleteIt is really sad they aren't doing more to help the mentally ill. That is terrible about the house fire.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteOh that is dreadful someone lost their life and another injured.
ReplyDeleteSchizophrenia, it's not a good thing to have at all, trouble is people never seem to want to stay on their medication or need it changing. It can be managed to a degree. I have been in a situation where I have cared for these souls.
Take care.
Yes, it is. I doubt he was on his medication since he was homeless.
DeleteWe had a housefire a couple of blocks from me back in August. Thankfully no one was hurt and the house was demolished last week. Fires are scary. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYeah they are.
DeleteOh, this is just terribly sad!
ReplyDeleteYeah it is.
DeleteWow. That's so sad. I'm sorry someone lost their life just trying to stay warm. It's been so dry here, there have been a couple house fires and a lot of wild brush fires.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is sad.
Delete