Post Fire Scare Behaviour - and the reason....

[Catty1]

I read a report that a smoldering cigarette in a flowerpot started the whole thing.

What was in the flower pot that could have lit up like that! But - it WAS windy.

[pomtzu]

I read a report that a smoldering cigarette in a flowerpot started the whole thing.

What was in the flower pot that could have lit up like that! But - it WAS windy.

Yeah - that does sound strange to me.

But IMO, grills should be banned from balconies in apartment and condo complexes - it's just not safe for them to be there and cause a potential disaster. I have my own place, but my grill is a good 50' back from the house and garage. I've seen the damage that an unattended grill can do to a house when it is too close, or on a deck. I just don't have a warm and fuzzy feeling about them - I even make my son light it for the first time each season!

[katladyd]

My boyfriend has a propane grill on the patio, it's one of those great big ones that all the guys love. Now, he never leaves it unattended while he's grilling, but I get nervous every time he lights the thing. He's grilled for years and years and never had a mishap, but he has a house and the grill is a good 30 feet from the back door. I'm glad about that!
I would move as soon as possible. You don't need to live with something like that in the back of your mind all the time.

[Queen of Poop]

I read a report that a smoldering cigarette in a flowerpot started the whole thing.

What was in the flower pot that could have lit up like that! But - it WAS windy.

I hadn't heard that one. But the photos that Andrew Jackson took from his balcony before he had to run for his life clearly show a bbq where the fire is. Speculation by the fire/police that I talked to at the evac centre was that it was left on overnight and the wind took the flame up to the roof.

If it was a cigarette in a flower pot then I'd have to assume the flower pot was filled entirely with peat moss.

Until the investigators announce the cause of the fire I'm inclined to go with the bbq theory. I'd truly like to see all bbq's removed from all the balconies. The potential for another fire is just too great. There are no sprinklers on the balconies as they weren't mandatory when the building was built.

My kitties and I do not need a repeat of what happened Thursday. The possibility of dire consequences is just too great.

[pomtzu]

Gayle - maybe if the management isn't going to do anything about banning grills, then you could get a petition going. I can't imagine anyone that wouldn't sign it after what happened, (even if it wasn't started because of a grill), other than the people that have grills. Everyone there just has too much to lose - possessions, pets, and maybe their own life.

[katladyd]

Is there a designated community area that could be used for grilling? Many condos have that. I lived in a townhouse years ago, and there was a public area where you could have your grill or bbq. You were not allowed to have them on your balcony at all! A public area or areas for grilling would be a nice compromise.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Is there a designated community area that could be used for grilling? Many condos have that. I lived in a townhouse years ago, and there was a public area where you could have your grill or bbq. You were not allowed to have them on your balcony at all! A public area or areas for grilling would be a nice compromise.

This is exactly what we have so the people that like to grill can do so. The people above me are renters and they had a grill for a while which they weren't supposed to but now it's gone. Now when the board does external building inspections, if they even see a grill they will remove it. They used to just warn the people before and if they still didn't remove it then they would be fined.

I hope that your kitties will start calming down soon and that you can maybe get a few people together to organize a petition to have all grills removed from balconies. I'd hate for you to experience this again and you should feel safe where you live. Good luck.

[Queen of Poop]

Have seen 2 local news reports speculating on the cigarette in the planter theory. The official cause of the fire will be released in the next couple of days.

With the set up here there is no common area for bbq's or anything else.

Every balcony comes with an outside natural gas line that is supposed to be used for the bbq, so getting them removed will be difficult.

I will be interested to see what the actual cause is.

Diego is still a momma's boy today. He's napped on me most of the afternoon. Whenever I get up he looks at me with that come here mom look. So I oblige and pet him up and give him loads of kisses. I've told him that I was here to get them out, but that the cops wouldn't let me come in. I tell him I'm sorry and that he's safe now. Going to work tomorrow is going to be very hard.

[pomtzu]

Every balcony comes with an outside natural gas line that is supposed to be used for the bbq, so getting them removed will be difficult.

I will be interested to see what the actual cause is.

Yikes - that sounds like an accident just waiting to happen - but I'm sure it had to pass building codes in place at the time of construction. I'd be willing to bet that no one with a grill used that tho, and they just used the propane tanks. If they hoked up to the natural gas line, they would have had to have the grill converted from propane to natural, since there are different regulators and cut offs involved.

Yes - it will be interesting to see what they determine as the cause, and if it was a grill, if they intend to put any restrictions on them. It's just so unfortunate that this happened, no matter what the cause.

[Laura's Babies]

I would expect some separation anxiety when you go to work.. Don't be surprised at what you find when you come home... then again, they may be alright and settle right down. Lets hope they do!

[Anikaca77]

My prays are with you and your kitties.

I hope Diego starts acting back to normal soon.

Take care,
Melissa