Bunny’s kitchen fire

I forgot to tell you about Bunny’s kitchen fire a couple of weeks ago! Bunny is Laura’s next door neighbor. Their houses are the same layout except mirror images, so their kitchen windows face each other, and so do their back doors, which lead to their patios from their kitchens.

Laura was in her kitchen, looked up, and could see flames in Bunny’s kitchen and smoke pouring out her back door! She ran outside and called 911. Meanwhile, some nearby construction workers saw the smoke and they ran down the block to alert the fire station, which is literally less than a block away. The construction workers then ran back to Bunny’s house and broke in through her front door with a crowbar and put the fire out.

As soon as the front door was open, Daisy, one of Bunny’s two dogs, ran outside. Luckily Laura was able to grab her before she got into the street, because it’s a busy street. Laura knew there should be a second dog, and told the fire fighters there was a second dog. But they secured the house and assured her that no people or pets remained inside.

Turns out Bunny had gone to take the other dog, Luna, to the groomers, which is why only one dog was in the house.

Afterwards, Bunny initially assumed she must have forgotten to turn her stove off, because she’s done that before (and, ironically, she had a sticky note taped up by the stove to remind herself). But it’s not actually clear what happened. There were no pots left on the stove, and there is other evidence to suggest that the fire might have started at the outlet in the wall where the stove was plugged in.

Everyone is safe, but what a mess. The fire fighters had to cut into some walls to make sure the fire was fully out, and the whole house has smoke damage.

I guess poor Bunny is getting a new kitchen for Christmas. Probably not what she asked Santa for. And unfortunately, she won’t have it in time for Christmas, either.

Bunny is staying in a hotel, and will probably have to be there for another 3-4 months. Her elderly aunt, who has dementia, and one of her dogs, are now living with her daughter in a nearby town. She has her other dog with her at the hotel, but the second dog will probably be going to San Diego to stay with her son.

Bunny says she is comfortable in the hotel and feels safe, because the hotel is careful and doesn’t allow visitors in and out. But still, to have to spend Christmas in a hotel! And probably all of this spring as well.

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