Flames were leaping up inside the picture window, the glass exploded outward from the intense heat inside the house! Are there people inside?! This was the first thought that ripped into Mike Bouchat’s mind as he as parking his car and became aware of this horrific scene.
Leaping from his car, he sprinted onto the front porch of the house. Through the horror, his mind calculating information faster than IBM’s Big Blue computer, he determined the fire started inside the house on the sofa directly behind the blown out window. At the moment, flames were not burning behind the equally large picture window on the right side of the house. He picked up a section of pipe and smashed out the big window, preparing to go inside the house and pull out anyone in there.
By the time he had the glass cleared from the window frame, flames were shooting near this window too. Change of plan! He spotted a garden hose. Quickly, he turned it on full force and ran with the hose back onto the porch and started pouring water through the broken window onto the flaming sofa.
Within ten seconds, the flames were gone. Wow! That was easy. That thought had no more passed thru his head when the sofa suddenly exploded in flames again, bursting through the broken window and trying to catch the porch ceiling on fire. Scared but not panicking, Mike immediately turned the hose back onto the sofa. This time he realized that he should just keep pouring the water on because the super heated sofa and surroundings were not going to be put out easily.
Three minutes later, he heard sirens screaming. He kept pouring on the water. The sirens were getting closer. He wondered whether or not they were coming to his aid or heading somewhere else. He kept pouring on the water. Smoke was rolling out of the broken windows. Mike coughed and chocked on the thick, hot smoke. He kept pouring on the water.
“Get out from under the porch roof before it collapses on you!” screamed a fireman. With that command, Mike turned and saw fire trucks with fireman pouring out. He dropped the hose and ran out into the front yard. He turned for one more look; no more flames. He had put out the fire.
The people knowledgeable about house fires tell me that a complete house can burn to the ground in as little as three minutes. Apparently, the bigger the fire grows, the hotter it gets, and the faster it gets bigger and hotter. What happens then, is that parts of the structure that are not on fire, due to the super heated air, suddenly and all at once, burst into full flames. Any occupants are usually killed by breathing in the super heated smoke, which melts their lung tissues, making it impossible to breath.
During the entire time Mike was working to put out the fire, he did not hear or see anyone in the house. As the firemen were checking to make sure there were no more hidden hot spots, Mike was standing in the front yard. He heard a woman screaming. A fireman appeared from around the side of the house with a woman and a child. He told Mike they were sleeping in a back bedroom throughout the entire ordeal. The fireman had awoken them.
Mike most likely saved the lives of that woman and her child. I am surprised his story was not picked up by, at least, the local newspaper. No matter, we have him covered right here on the Mr. Fix It Plumbing web site. Congratulations Mike! You are a real hero. You put your life in danger to save a stranger’s life, not to mention a stranger’s property. Excellent job! From all of us at Mr. Fix It Plumbing, we tip our hats to you.
We are proud to have plumbers like Mike working at Mr. Fix It Plumbing. His bravery, quick thinking, and concern for others is a good example of how we run our plumbing business and provide outstanding service to our customers. With plumbers like Mike, you know you are getting the very best from Mr. Fix It Plumbing. Thanks for the real world demonstration of our ideals Mike.
Mr Fix It Plumbing and Heating, is reliable plumber in the Long Beach California area. Owner Mark Meng is an established plumbing contractor(CA Plumbing License 883839), and has a team of experienced plumbers to fix your plumbing problems fast and in the best manner possible. We use the latest techniques and tools so every job gets done right. Give us a call at (562) 988-2454
