TheBanyanTree: Victoria Is Burning

[Tom Smith]

Anita,

Your account brought back memories of a 2003 fire on a similar
scale near where I live.  A friend was ordered to evacuate but
before doing so, set up a "Rain-Bird" sprinkler to dispense water
in a full circle toward the direction of the fire from his house.
When allowed to return days later he discovered that the fire had
"split" at the sprinkler and went round his undamaged house. 

Another friend, married to a firefighter, lost a rental unit.
The tenant's vehicle was found parked nearby with a door open 
and a set of keys was found about 10' away.  Inside the vehicle
were clumps of melted aluminum right next to still-readible 
newspaper.  The tenant's remaines were found under what was left
of the bed.  All that was left of drywall was powder.  There
was no trace whatsoever left of any windows or glass.

The firefighter said the best thing the tenant could have done
would have been to run out into the middle of an open field
nearby, where there was a minimum of fuel and lie down.

Maybe, who knows, these lessons might help, and for added
insurance I'll wish you luck!

Tom  

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com