An American in Provence: Where there is smoke there is...

vendredi 13 juillet 2012

Where there is smoke there is...

FIRE!

On Thursday, I woke up at my usual time of 6:15 to go to work. There was a faint smell of smoke, but as we had the windows open, I figured it was coming from outside, perhaps someone burning leaves (in July?) or some sort of construction work.

There was some noise coming from the building entrance level, but it sounded like construction workers, yelling at each other and using power tools.

Oh great, another group of uncaring renovators who start work at 6 am, like the ones who blasted music and used power tools at 10 pm a few years ago.

I got ready for work, and took the elevator down to the street level. The smell of smoke was stronger, and when I opened the elevator door, found myself face to face with a fireman, in his gear. It was a bit hazy, but no flames or anything. I asked what him what was going on, and he said that the pizzeria on the street level beneath us caught fire, that they must not have extinguished the oven correctly. Oh fantastic.

I went outside, and there were quite a few firetrucks parked on the street and some smoke billowing out of the front of the pizzeria.

Mind you, this is the second time the pizzeria has caught on fire. Once before we moved in, and now this.

I am not in the mood to die in a fire during my sleep because some stupid pizzaiolos forgot that a "wood burning" oven is actually "burning wood".

Plus, we don't even get our pizzas from them.

In fact, all we get from them is loud music at 9 am on Sunday mornings and precious parking space taken up by their delivery boy scooters.

So, I am not too sad. Nobody was hurt, and I am not sure how extensive the damage is. It was closed for business yesterday, with just a stack of charred wood on the sidewalk. Perhaps they will find another location. Or the syndicate will order them to move out.

Time to install the smoke detectors in our apartment. Which reminds me that though the building has fire extinguishers, there is no general fire alarm system, even though I suggested one be installed at the general meeting a few years ago.

But no, what are dues spent on? A half-hearted entryway/stairwell cleaning every two weeks.

At least I saw some cute firemen on my way to work. That helped.

4 commentaires:

Starman a dit…: If you don't mind, how much do you pay in dues? Is it monthly?; vendredi, juillet 13, 2012
Michel a dit…: Glad the fire was extinguished before the fire moved up to the higher floors. Have a good weekend.; samedi, juillet 14, 2012
Sue a dit…: Be sure to get the smoke detectors installed---probably should have CO detectors too.
Mom; samedi, juillet 14, 2012
Sara Louise a dit…: I'm happy to know that you and your home are safe and that firemen in France are cute too :); lundi, juillet 16, 2012

Enregistrer un commentaire

An American in Provence

Where there is smoke there is...

4 commentaires:

About Me

Blog Archive

Libellés

Favorite Posts

Translate