Letters To The Editor

Think about a fire escape plan

Monday, July 21, 2008

I was pleased to find all the articles related to the Burien fire in your last issue. They really helped the reader get up close to the situation and clue us in on how we can support our neighbors during their time of crisis.

It also made me think about a fire escape plan for my own family. I have three girls, ages 7, 9 and 10.

They, like little Edgar, had recently visited the fire department's exhibit at the Strawberry Festival.

My 10-year-old had mentioned an escape plan the other day, but in the hustle and bustle of daily life the subject dropped at that time. After I read the articles, I asked my 10-year-old about it.

She produced three very detailed diagrams created by each of my girls when Mom was at work. They were all good plans with one of them specifying the dividing point in a room and which window or door they needed to exit from.

She said they learned all about it at the Strawberry Festival. Thank you, local fire department.

When I was in first grade, the North Highline & Burien Fire Departments put out a fire in my childhood home. The fire gutted the inside of our home and displaced our family of eight (six of us children).

The FD put out the fire before it could destroy the actual integrity of the structure. We moved out for six months while it was remodeled.

We were fortunate. We had fire insurance and there were no casualties. I was young and most of the memories I have at that time were good ones.

The community really stepped up in a generous outpouring of support.

A loving family we know let us stay in their big house, which was actually closer to our school, for six months. I remember lovely gifts received at Christmas time from members of St. Bernadette's Church. And so much more.

Thank you to every person in the community who is helping and showing everyone else how to reach out and treat our neighbors like brothers and sisters.

Thanks to the parents that pulled wagons through the Burien parade with donations cans for our local victims. Thank you, Highline Times, for giving this tragedy the coverage it needs to activate our community!

Also, I've never written the editor before, but wanted to say, I really enjoy Jerry Robinson's article on members of the community

Veronica Arrants

North Highline