It was 7:30am a few weeks ago when I was jolted awake by an ear-piercing, hi pitched noise. I covered my ears and took a moment to remember where I was (a hotel in Pennsylvania) and what had awakened me (the fire alarm)
In the next moments I looked at the time (7:30) I looked at Jim (already up and getting dressed.) Next, I visualized our escape route. I quickly dressed (not easy to do with your fingers in your ears) then we checked our door before opening it (the door was not hot) and dutifully made our way outside (easy, we were on the 1st floor). I smelled smoke…..it smelled like burnt toast.
The procedure in any building is to evacuate when you hear the fire alarm. We know the drill; we have practiced the drill in many places across the country and twice at sea in Alaska. You must evacuate – they will go room-to-room and get everybody out until the fire department arrives. In this case, going outside was the best and only way to escape the painful shrieking of the alarm.
During evacuation, so many thoughts very quickly go through my mind: What do I need? Where do I go? What do I bring? What did I leave behind? On a ship in Alaska, I wonder how cold the water is. If I end up in the ocean, my life preserver will only save me until hypothermia takes over. The time it takes to evacuate is the time I have to think about my situation. Even as I am in the process of taking action, I have those very same moments to contemplate the end of my life and how I might die.
In every situation, when we finally get the “all clear” from the fire department I feel relief. I also feel irritated by the rude awakening, and I also feel more than a little bit silly for letting something like the smell of burnt toast cause me to consider my untimely demise. All in all, I am just plain grateful to live another day.
HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF ALARMS AND CAUSES IN MY 20-PLUS YEARS OF TRAVELING:
Alaska Cruise ship FIRE ALARM! CAUSE: Incinerator fire (aren’t fires supposed to be in incinerators?)
Midwest hotel TORNADO SIREN! CAUSE: No tornado, but we made a lot of friends in the stairwell.
Symphony Christmas Concert FIRE ALARM! CAUSE: The entire audience and all performers were evacuated from the building and into the snow during our performance. There was no fire, a vendor was roasting chestnuts in the lobby. Which set off the smoke alarm.
Alaska Cruise ship FIRE ALARM! CAUSE: Dang incinerator again
Midwest hotel FIRE ALARM! CAUSE: No fire, someone smoking in their room.
WHICH BRINGS US TO MY LATEST EXPERIENCE:
Northeast Hotel FIRE ALARM! ……NO fire.
CAUSE: This time………It was just burnt toast.
Glad everybody was okay! Sorry that toast ruined your sleep!
Never had that experience in any hotel or venue. I did spend some time in basements or interior closets during the tornado warnings growing up.in tornado alley. Witnessed the devastation those storms can cause.
So when are you Publishing your Memoirs?! I’d like to reserve our copy now.
Have you ever had to listen to a smoke alarm chirp all night long in your room because it had a low battery ? Very irritating – especially if there’s more than one and you can’t tell which one is doing it ! 😡
Omg, I got to actually read your blog and read it without that catch phrase stuff. I know you have done that for security but I just couldn’t get through it!!!!!! Your stories about the “events “ leading up those smoke alarm incidents was a riot. You had us laughing.
We are looking forward to your show in the villages in October.
I am checking out my garden nursery and seeing what plants will travel good with you back to California.
Safe travels and see you in October.
Carol and Denny
Morning Anne;
You and Jim (I assume) do the same drill I do when checking into a strange bedroom – hotel, cruise ship, friend – immediately upon entering, check out where the fire escape is and how many doors etc. between you and the fire escape. I only had two in my years of traveling. Sounds like you two are more adventurous.
Safe travels, you two.
Harvey
Never a dull moment in the lives of these traveling troubadours. Would love your healthful, multi-grain bread, well toasted ‘ out now. Safe journeys 🙏
HILARIOUS rundown of fire alarms!! So at least some good came of them…