High Street and Lows

Looking across my yard as the fire is being put out.

Back of house.

So, I'm on my way home from an amazing 4 mile+ walk on the rail trail. I'm coming up the street and I see black smoke near my house. The first thing I think is "someone is burning trash" which is illegal in our area.
As I get to the house next door, I see that their house is on fire.
I stop and look and see the side of the house near their kitchen with bright orange flames.
Now, I have been de-sensitized by watching all the garbage on TV and movies with all the horrible disasters. Something was different about this.
There was no horror music. The only sounds I can hear is the crackling of the fire, breaking glass, and popping noises.
I noticed that the smoke was going straight up, and it was very high.
I saw someone on the front lawn with a cell phone, so I knew that she was calling 911 for help, so I drove my car home in order to clear the street for the fire equipment.
My driveway is on the other side from the fire, so I walked back over (I couldn't run because I had just completed a 4 + mile walk) to the front of the house. A lady was trying to go into the house through the front door.
I yelled to the lady to not open the door because I was afraid there would be a back draft and she could get hurt. She asked me what to do.
I told her to bang on the door and go carefully around to the back of the house and start yelling.
In the meantime, I kept looking to see if I could see anyone inside.
Other people showed up and I told them to yell from the front which they did.
Things are a bit hazy, but I remember thinking how fast the flames were spreading and as big as the fire was, it might spread to my house.
I went back to my house and tried to get the garden hose set up, which required a trip to the basement to turn the line on, then go get the hose and attach it to the spigot. I took a look at the side of the house and decided it wasn't safe. So, I got my camera and started taking pictures.
In the meantime, all the emotions of the past year hit me and I became a total mess.
I couldn't think, I couldn't react. All I could do was watch.
By this time, I went back to the front of the house since the fire company arrived, and I watched them set up and start to fight the fire.
I decided to get out of the way, so I walked back to my yard and took more pictures. Then, I remembered I had a video feature on my camera and I set that up and started it running. (see video below. It is uncut and the voice is me trying to call my son while recording)
I also took a picture with my cell and sent that out to my kids.
During the course of the event, I lost track of time, but I remember seeing two neighbors trying to get into the house to try to save one of the dogs. They had to turn back because of the heat.
The house is a frame structure and the fire spread so fast that it was surreal. One minute, it was at the kitchen, and the next, it was all the way through the house. It also took out the garage which was about 6 feet from the house. The vinyl siding just melted, and left insulation exposed.
The car was burned on the right front, but the rest of it was spared.
I could feel the heat and smell the burning wood, and hear the crackling of the fire, which didn't sound at all like the movies. The odor is still in my lungs.
The people lost everything, but they are safe. The lady managed to save one of the dogs but the other was killed.

Garage after.

I didn't sleep too well last night and had to take a nap this morning. I left a note on the neighbor's car window offering what little help I could.

I was hoping to write a more positive blog report today. I was able to sell my blue car, pending pick up tonight.
I mentioned the walk, but I also took a cleansing long drive on Saturday. It really helped to get away for a little while. I need more time away.
I am making progress on the house, and will try to walk again tomorrow. I have sore feet today.
My thoughts and prayers to the family next door.