Adventures in fire fighting

So I was driving home from work this afternoon, and as I was approaching town I saw black smoke over near my house. As I got closer, I realized it was really near my house. Six foot high orange flames were shooting up at the corner of the street and the alley three feet from the back fence of a vacant house.

Called 911. The operator complained I was yelling at her. Sorry, the alley is on fire and it's really near a house. I was as calm as I can be in an emergency. Apparently, I yell.

The Boy, a woman in a white van, and I ran around banging on neighbors' doors, trying to get them into action. Within minutes pretty much everyone on the block was in the alley, bringing fire extinguishers, hoses, shovels, hoes. It was quite a testament to neighbors who are practically strangers banning together. 

The neighbors had most of the flames out. We fought it back from the houses, and got most of it out by the time the fire department arrived. Luckily, they were there to put out all the hot spots and kill the last few flames that were making their way up some trees.

Fire across the street from my house.

Fire fighters putting out the hot spots.

Fire truck at the end of the alley. That's the corner where the fire started.

Fire right by the road.