By: Daiyu Tang
Last week a fire was reported to the Observer occurring down at Batterie Beach which led to the full deployment of the FDH and as we understand an urgent response to prevent the fire spreading and to ensure that no life was lost.
When I arrived at the scene the fire was already well established and while the brave FDH members had hoses on, it appeared that there was already significant damage to the property which was confirmed when it collapsed in something akin to what at the time felt like an explosion, but according to the Fire Chief was really just a structural collapse (to someone not versed in fires, embers and sparks and loud sounds and all that all at once… it was kinda like an explosion!) shortly thereafter.
I don’t always get on with the FDH leader, Fire Chief Trevor Pentewyn but what one can say is that his crews work hard and risk their lives to deal with emergencies. Running into danger is a skill that many think they have, but often don’t.
At the scene, the HPD were also present with the senior staff comprising Vanora and Krystal getting into some form of debate (and later as I understand it a citation contest) with Noah Birdie, the one who was married to Officer ‘Rise from the Dead’ Oneul Lee.
It seemed to be the case that Noah claimed to have called 911 to report the fire, but the Hathian PD were already, probably because of her gang affiliations twitchy.
But What About the Wall?
As I was walking to the scene, I’d taken a photo of some new Reject graffit that I had not seen before. It was against the HPD, but I found it interesting that it was around the area of this fire, so I dug a little with a few people as to what had been burned and whether there was any Reject lens to it at all. Of course, I should first start with Noah herself.
Observer (via text): “I understand you wanted to say in your own words what that fire was about. I gather it wasn’t your house…”
Noah (via texts): “Not my house, no. I heard the fire alarms in the house beeping and went to see what it was, saw the fire and smoke and called 911. I was standing watching and the cops assaulted me for being there. All I did was try and save someone’s home and now I’m being cited and threatened.”
Observer (via text): “Makes sense and a good reason to call 911…. Vanora and Krystal huh?”
Noah (via texts): “Yeah, those two just saw a band and went wild. Deters me from wanting to call 911 for anyone if their house is on fire.”
Of course, one wouldn’t expect just anyone to admit a crime to a journalist, but I tend to find that most of the Rejects aren’t publicity shy and claim what they need to claim. Thus, it was time to reach out to those perhaps able to offer forensic or other comments, the FDH.
FDH Statement
The Observer wanted to understand what, if any, evidence existed as to the cause of the fire and what, if any, injuries had been recorded as I had a rather nasty suspicion that a few of the FDH got hurt.
From: FDH Chief Pentewyn
I wanted to clarify the situation regarding the recent fire. There was no explosion involved. The structural collapse occurred because the fire compromised the building’s integrity.
The fire originated in an adjacent property, where a candle was accidentally knocked over by a cat, igniting the blaze. The fire then spread to the neighbouring structure, leading to the incident in question.
This serves as a cautionary reminder about the importance of never leaving candles unattended, particularly in homes with pets.
Myself, Chief Trevor Pentewyn, Lt. Rog Messmer, Firefighter Corbin LaSalle, Probie Eleri Goldstein, Probie Serenity Artful, and Probie Ethan Thor responded to the incident. Fortunately, the buildings involved were unoccupied. However, Probie Goldstein sustained an injury during the response and was promptly retrieved and transported to Hathian General Hospital (HGH) for treatment.
This incident underscores the critical importance of fire safety in the home. Preventable accidents not only pose a risk to property and lives but also endanger the well-being of the firefighters who respond to these emergencies. Let this serve as a reminder to practice vigilance and prioritize fire prevention measures in our homes. – Chief Pentewyn
Well dear reader… there you have it, an almost gang linked, but not quite fire with the emergency services doing a great job putting it out before there was further damage. Well done to all those involved and best wishes for the recovery of Mrs. Goldstein.
