One's Office Burning Down = Not a pretty experience

[AslanCross]

So my office (faculty center; I'm a high school teacher) burned down early this morning.

When I arrived on the scene, I immediately went to check my window. (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/7/photos/18/600x600/1/DSC03217.JPG?et=ZJHbeLxVVmE6faktyL4YoQ&nmid=117885747)

That's it on the left.

The lobby (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/6/photos/18/600x600/4/DSC03222.JPG?et=7wDiYsRnrBAdulLPIHaV%2BA&nmid=117885747) is still flooded with water.

The destruction (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/4/photos/18/600x600/7/DSC03225.JPG?et=%2B5Dsv6AeAbslhUnxgWmguQ&nmid=117885747) inside is apocalyptic.

The center rows (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/11/photos/18/600x600/10/DSC03232.JPG?et=7BZaY5Rzvigwi2n1FIsDaA&nmid=117885747) of cubicles were completely incinerated.

The wall (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/3/photos/18/600x600/9/DSC03227.JPG?et=d%2Cao%2BH17hoB8wK57Wu0ykA&nmid=117885747) that separates the center from the hallway has holes burnt into it. That's my cubicle in the center.

And miraculously... (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/2/photos/18/600x600/12/DSC03228.JPG?et=CzjYuCtD7HbY7M11Pj%2Bejw&nmid=117885747)

Despite the computers next door melting---this survived. (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/2/photos/18/600x600/14/DSC03230.JPG?et=8YeKCMJe%2BJkSGurCtT59Nw&nmid=117885747)

This green dragon mini was on my desk as a paperweight. Since I play D&D in the faculty lounge with students after hours, I store the minis in my cubicle. And yet it was completely undamaged.

The books were still damp when I got there, so I left them to dry before I extract them. I'm amazed at how untouched my cubicle is compared to those that got consumed completely.

Furthermore, all my critical files were either not in my cubicle or have been recorded already on my laptop (which I take with me all the time).

Just sharing one of life's little miracles. (No one was hurt, though some teachers had their record burnt up.)

[loopy]

Just in case you wanted to make your office burning down a more pretty experience next time, I'd suggest storing a couple of cases of fireworks around.

My sympathies though.

[AslanCross]

Ugh, no, thanks. Last time they set off fireworks on the school grounds I left my window open. When I got back from my vacation, I discovered everything was covered in soot.

[dish]

Oh my, that's just awful. It's so lucky that no one was hurt (and even the green dragon was unscathed).

I guess the message of your post is, "Take all your important files home at night."

One question, did the management give everybody the day off, or did you all have struggle on to teach as normal?

[AslanCross]

The building was a mess and the admin wanted to keep the kids safe, so they called off classes for the rest of the week. We have to clean up on Thursday and Friday (it's a holiday tomorrow).

[Ashtar]

I say the green dragon must have come to life and protected the D&D books... There's no other explanation!

Long live the green dragon!

[DraPrime]

Wow, that seriously sucks. Although it seems like God really likes D&D :smalltongue:

[Zeful]

It's more like fire likes D&D...
...:smallconfused:
That made more sense in my head.

[OldSchoolGamer7]

I want to say something witty, but nothing is coming to mind.

That green dragon surviving? I love it. I love it so much.

[evisiron]

A lot of that sucks, but the DnD surivial pics were brilliant.

You know the next time you run a game you have to bring in the green dragon saying "Even the fire that got this building didn't scratch it, so you guys don't stand a chance!"

[Crispy Dave]

No tpk for the element of fire today.:smallbiggrin:

well witty comments aside thats awesome that your D&D stuff survived. And also If i had a teacher at my high school that played D&D with me I might still go to it.

[Trog]

If it had been the red dragon there would have been many more questions, I think. :smalleek:

Looks like casting Resistance to Fire on the old cubicle paid off eh? :smallbiggrin:

[SurlySeraph]

Eek. I'm glad the really important stuff survived.

[Castaras]

Despite the computers next door melting---this survived. (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/2/photos/18/600x600/14/DSC03230.JPG?et=8YeKCMJe%2BJkSGurCtT59Nw&nmid=117885747)

Simple, isn't it? He caused the fire. :smalltongue:

[Premsyl]

Someone must have taken Milton's stapler and refused to give it back.

[Crispy Dave]

Someone must have taken Milton's stapler and refused to give it back.

I hate it when that happens

[FdL]

"Heroes of Horror": The book that just won't die.

[Vonriel]

That is awesome, Aslan. Err, not the destruction, the fact that the books survived. :smalltongue:

I do have one question, though. Have the police figured out what caused it? Arson, someone left the stove on, or what?

[truemane]

I'm surprised no one blamed the fire on you. Back where I'm from there would have been a mob out on the street claiming that you started the fire with one of your unholy satanic rituals. And they'd clainm that you sacrificed a high school kid of make it happen. Of course, the fact that no kids are missing would mean nothing.

And the fact that ONLY your BOOKS OF EVIL survived proves it. I mean, Heroes of Horror? What is that? An INSTRUCTION MANUAL?!?! Can you say SATAN? I knew you could.

[FdL]

And the fact that ONLY your BOOKS OF EVIL survived proves it. I mean, Heroes of Horror? What is that? An INSTRUCTION MANUAL?!?! Can you say SATAN? I knew you could.

LOL, this reminded me of the Church Lady from SNL XD

[truemane]

I think it was kind of a mix of Church Lady and Mister Rogers. :smallcool:

[Vaynor]

Simple, isn't it? He caused the fire. :smalltongue:

That's ridiculous! Everyone knows green dragons have a cone of acid, not fire! :smallbiggrin:
Note: I had to look up the type of breath weapon they had...

[Terumitsu]

It is horrible that the place went up in flames....

I'm gonna stop for a second and point out this silly bit about our language. Something can go Up in flames and then burn Down...

Actually, if you apply the idea behind gravity, that makes perfect sense. What goes up must come down and all..

Now where was I? Ah..

That is indeed brilliantly funny how that turned out though.

And acid has a burning sensation to it! It's not a far jump with faulty logic!

[Saithis Bladewing]

The acid could be used to dissolve a hole in a water tank and then dissolve the casing around a wire, starting en electrical fire.

[Supagoof]

*Note to self...quit messing with Emerald Rose as Green Dragons are highly resistant to fire....*

Clearly Gary is smiling down from heaven at this. Obviously he thinks that you teaching the game to future generations = cosmic win. :smallbiggrin:

[Exachix]

It is horrible that the place went up in flames....

I'm gonna stop for a second and point out this silly bit about our language. Something can go Up in flames and then burn Down...

Actually, if you apply the idea behind gravity, that makes perfect sense. What goes up must come down and all..

Typically, flames go upward, if you watch them, so 'going up in flames' makes sort of sense. Making a flame bigger can be the flame going up!
Whereas burning down, when things burn, they usually go down, collapse, or the burning reduces the object's height.

It all makes sense.

Anyway, hope all's ok in there, and not all is lost =).

[Terumitsu]

Typically, flames go upward, if you watch them, so 'going up in flames' makes sort of sense. Making a flame bigger can be the flame going up!
Whereas burning down, when things burn, they usually go down, collapse, or the burning reduces the object's height.

It all makes sense.

Anyway, hope all's ok in there, and not all is lost =).

I know this but I just like pointing out the things I think are silly in the English language. Note the silly tone used when I started talking about gravity in reference to language...

But I had better not say more or this will be like the one penny on the train track....

The penny that didn't get flattened I mean.

[Moff Chumley]

Wow. That kinda sucks...

[SweetLikeLemons]

Does your employer's insurance cover people's personal property? I know when the place I worked burnt down, we were able to file separate claims for the stuff we'd had in our desks. I'm sorry that that happened, but I am glad that no one was injured and that your stuff was relatively unharmed.

[AslanCross]

That is awesome, Aslan. Err, not the destruction, the fact that the books survived. :smalltongue:

I do have one question, though. Have the police figured out what caused it? Arson, someone left the stove on, or what?

Faulty electrical wiring. It's an old, ill-maintained building.

[Icewalker]

Quite an impressive story. Sucks for the building and the people who lost work and all, but still, quite lucky.

[Pandaren]

That is very epic, bites for everybody else though.

[Nychta]

I don't actually have anything witty to say, but...

Wow. DnD is destined to survive.

Also, I vote you make that green dragon invincible to any kind of fire.

[Boo]

The books were probably dampened by the water, and thus making them unlikely to attract the fire.

Either that, or someone happened to have sprayed them with some Batman approved repellent.

[AslanCross]

Does your employer's insurance cover people's personal property? I know when the place I worked burnt down, we were able to file separate claims for the stuff we'd had in our desks. I'm sorry that that happened, but I am glad that no one was injured and that your stuff was relatively unharmed.

Well, we're a government school. We do have insurance, but the system's so bogged down in decay that in general we don't really bother. I think everyone's more worried about their records and memorabilia than anything. Someone left her laptop behind and we were amazed to find out it still works.


I don't actually have anything witty to say, but...

Wow. DnD is destined to survive.

Also, I vote you make that green dragon invincible to any kind of fire.

Well, all of the miniatures survived. There were two minis on my desk: the dragon and a guulvorg. Neither was damaged, and although I didn't look in the box where the rest of the minis were, I'm sure they'd be spotless.


The books were probably dampened by the water, and thus making them unlikely to attract the fire.

Either that, or someone happened to have sprayed them with some Batman approved repellent.

The entire row of cubicles by the windows was mostly spared from the fire. The fire started in the row closest to the hallway, where we assume the refrigerator started the fire. That section was the completely charred wooden structure in the pics. There's about a 15-foot gap between the burnt rows and our row, with a coffee table and sofas in between. I think the fire burned towards the hallway, since it had a lot more air there. (The windows on our side were closed, though they eventually shattered from the heat and pressure.)

[bosssmiley]

It's more like fire likes D&D...
...:smallconfused:
That made more sense in my head.

Of course it does! One inherently cool thing respects another. :smallwink:

[DigoDragon]

Glad no one was hurt, that's the important thing. But still-- pretty cool that your dragon mini survived. :smallsmile: Interesting story attached to it now!

[Allysian]

Well that stinks, what subject do you teach?
Fridge starting fire, teehee...

[Silence]

That is, at the exact same time, the most awesome thing, and the most un-awesome thing I've seen today.

[Pyrian]

One inherently cool...Fire is inherently hot, silly. :smallamused:

[AslanCross]

Well that stinks, what subject do you teach?
Fridge starting fire, teehee...

English, specifically Asian literature and creative writing.


Anyway, an update.
The fire bureau finally let us contaminate the scene retrieve our belongings that survived.

My co-teacher's Darth Potatohead (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/20/DSC03238.JPG?et=qFmHn0x0N0Qe%2BwKyLTfedA&nmid=117885747) is seen on the desk right of center. It looks untouched, but its helmet is fused to the body. The owner is glad that it hadn't been left in the upside-down and messed up configuration that his students usually leave it in.

This prop bastard sword (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/21/DSC03243.JPG?et=a9TOXPD%2CJ71RVskMWrD%2CKw&nmid=117885747) from one of my students' plays survived despite being wooden.

This prop spear (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/2/photos/18/600x600/29/DSC03244.JPG?et=JUdHEsMh2p5R9VF6904fEw&nmid=117885747), however, didn't fare so well. The shaft was a PVC pipe and since the prop was over 7 feet long, it was very close to the hot gases at the ceiling.

The only book here I'd wanted to catch fire (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/26/DSC03245.JPG?et=aEqXJDO205oeTnO1%2CBUdjg&nmid=117885747) was Oliver Twist. None of them did, though.

I was able to retrieve the box of minis. (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/25/DSC03246.JPG?et=eV8s291PoNxRTjNAizfbGw&nmid=117885747) It kind of fell apart because of the water, but even the character sheet inside is fine. The minis are completely unharmed.

All of the books (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/23/DSC03247.JPG?et=xxWu8IAJTlIQeihg%2BsTk4g&nmid=117885747) now have a stripe of water damage on the top of the page, but each of them is being dried as I type this. (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/15/DSC03248.JPG?et=bur2cJEdZW4T1zCUjiSseA&nmid=117885747)

[Silence]

Wow. Again, you are one lucky bastard. And unlucky one.

Now, if only that could happen to my school...

[Crispy Dave]

Wow. Again, you are one lucky bastard. And unlucky one.

Now, if only that could happen to my school...

my school is a a friends home and we already had smoke damage here once this year and trust me it sucks. Because of it I have toi work through the summers for the rest of high school.

[Collin152]

My co-teacher's Darth Potatohead (http://images.aslancross.multiply.com/image/1/photos/18/600x600/20/DSC03238.JPG?et=qFmHn0x0N0Qe%2BwKyLTfedA&nmid=117885747) is seen on the desk right of center. It looks untouched, but its helmet is fused to the body. The owner is glad that it hadn't been left in the upside-down and messed up configuration that his students usually leave it in.


Just like the real Vader.