🚨 Four-Alarm Fire, Part Three 🔥
+ a few critical safety-related pointers
If you haven’t already, read part one and part two:
Last week, I mentioned a possible connection between the four-alarm fire and four “alarms” that Michael and I might need to pay greater attention to. Three presented as contracts to sign (or not); the fourth we didn’t see coming.
But before we get there, the burning building surfaced a few critical safety-related reminders. If you live near a fire zone, these may already be obvious to you, but I can’t resist sharing them here as a PSA:
I would also love to hear from anyone who has been through a fire, and/or firefighters and EMTs—shout-out to volunteer firefighter and Doh reader ! What am I missing?
🏍️ 1. E-bikes are a scourge; don’t ever buy one
In New York City, “Fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries—which are used to power electric bicycles—have proven to be violent, fast-moving, and tough to extinguish.”
In the first two months of this year, there were more fires started by e-bike batteries in the city than in all of 2019 combined. As of March 1, 2024, the FDNY already reported 66 fires started by lithium-ion batteries, killing five people. In 2023, there were 216 fires and six deaths.
🎒 2. Buy a fireproof go-bag (bigger or smaller)
Don’t just buy one—actually pack it and make sure it’s easily accessible. You may not be thinking clearly in an emergency, and you won’t have time to look. Many neighbors who fled the building lamented what they wished they grabbed.
My only related question is how to ensure that an easily spottable go-bag like this is not the first thing someone steals if they break into your house?!
☎️ 3. If you live in a city, better than yelling “Help!” is to be direct: “Somebody call 911!”1
From past incidents, this lets neighbors know exactly what to do when they are frozen in place or unsure of the severity of what’s happening. Even better, if you can see someone, ask that person to call.
However, that option isn’t always available. In the case of this fire, no one was outside — most neighbors were asleep in their buildings. Thankfully someone across the street heard yelling and/or smelled smoke and called it in.
On another pre-dawn morning, I heard two men in their twenties grappling. If one hadn’t been shouting, “Help! Someone call 911!” repeatedly, I wouldn’t have gotten the police involved.
I called 911 right after I heard his specific cries for help. When the operator asked me to describe the men—who were now farther away than I could see—I froze, coming up utterly empty. I couldn’t remember their height, their clothing, or anything else. To be fair, it was dark out, but still—as a caller, I was useless.
Make a point to describe the people and surroundings to yourself in the moment, while your adrenaline is pumping, as you call 911.2
