Well that was interesting...

wbarnhill

wbarnhill

Final Approach
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
7,901
Location
Greenwood, SC
Display Name
Display name:
iEXTERMINATE
So I'm driving home from visiting family tonight, and I'm on one of the backroads to get to Greenwood when I come upon a car with an engine fire. I turn around and stop to ask if the guy needs any help or if anyone is injured. He's the only one there, and he's saying he just needs to get the fire out. I ask if he's called 911, and he says no, don't call 911, in a kind of "I don't want to deal with that" voice. I tell him that the fire isn't going to go out on its own at this point, and go ahead and dial. In the middle of talking to the dispatcher, the guy walks away from the scene. I give a description and wait for the fire trucks to arrive, which at that point the car was engulfed in flames.

After making sure they didn't need me, I left the scene, and called my girlfriend to check in so she'd know I'd be running a few minutes later than expected. I recount the story, and she brings up a lot of what-ifs about this odd character and how I could've been stabbed/shot/beaten and my car stolen. In retrospect I get her point, but at the time I really didn't feel any type of threat. I am glad I called though, as I'm fairly sure the fire would have spread into the woods next to the road. I'm trying to think of any valid reason why someone wouldn't want 911 called if their car was on fire, and I don't think that list is very long...
 
The whole time I'm wondering when you're gonna' pull out your fire extinguisher. Oh, you didn't have one? :nono:

He could've had moonshine in the trunk for all anyone knows. But the first order of business is to extinguish the fire.

BTW: one rainy night I came upon a p/u truck in a ditch. No way was I able to pull him out. So I was gonna' go to a pay phone to call it in. The driver said not to do that. He explained he had been drinking a bit but was more concerned his wife would hear it on the scanner at home and she would know where he'd been.
 
Last edited:
If the guy didn't want to call 911 there is probably a good reason. Not knowing what that reason is should be enough for you to just move on and make the call with a little distance between you and him.
 
It can be tougher, IMO as a girl. I see lots of people off the side of the road and you feel compelled to help. But we have a longer "what ifs" list and less power to defend yourself.
 
On my way to work a coupla' months ago, I saw a nice late model Caddy in the woods, off the road about 20 feet. It's 5 in the morning, and I figured somebody swerved to avoid a deer. I stopped my truck and got out to see if I could help. As I helped the guy out of his car, I noticed all sorts of empty beer bottles. I talked to him a minute and it was quite apparent he was loaded.

His car was hung up for good. No way to get it out without a wrecker. Another person stopped and said they were gonna go down the road and call the cops. ( No cell phone coverage at the accident.)\

I figure " OK, cops are on the way, nobody hurt, I'll just go to work." All the sudden, the guys says let me sit in your truck while I wait. I said " Sorry Ace, I'm going to work." Now the guy gets a little beligerant and acts like I owe him something. I said " Look, you got your dumb arse here without my help, get your dumb arse out without my help."

Now the cops can't be more than ten minutes away. Just then this idiot takes a swing at me. Considering I had 3 inches, 60 pounds, and about 100 IQ points on him, I was liking my odds. I just grabbed him, put him face-first on my hood and asked how far he'd like to go. He changed his mind and thought we could be friends. Just then I saw the cops coming up the road. I let him go, and he ran back to his car.

I gave the cop my name in case this guy brought up the whole physical altercation thing later. I never heard a ord about it.

I guess there's no real moral to the story, except that you should leave for work early enough to smack some drunk around, pick up a dozen doughnuts, and still be on time. My guess is William's car fire guy was drunk.

Mike
 
wbarnhill said:
So I'm driving home from visiting family tonight, and I'm on one of the backroads to get to Greenwood when I come upon a car with an engine fire. I turn around and stop to ask if the guy needs any help or if anyone is injured. He's the only one there, and he's saying he just needs to get the fire out. I ask if he's called 911, and he says no, don't call 911, in a kind of "I don't want to deal with that" voice. I tell him that the fire isn't going to go out on its own at this point, and go ahead and dial. In the middle of talking to the dispatcher, the guy walks away from the scene. I give a description and wait for the fire trucks to arrive, which at that point the car was engulfed in flames.

After making sure they didn't need me, I left the scene, and called my girlfriend to check in so she'd know I'd be running a few minutes later than expected. I recount the story, and she brings up a lot of what-ifs about this odd character and how I could've been stabbed/shot/beaten and my car stolen. In retrospect I get her point, but at the time I really didn't feel any type of threat. I am glad I called though, as I'm fairly sure the fire would have spread into the woods next to the road. I'm trying to think of any valid reason why someone wouldn't want 911 called if their car was on fire, and I don't think that list is very long...
Click to expand...

Could have been a hot car, maybe the guy was trying to dispose of criminal evidence (or a body).

You did the right thing by calling 911. He could have been trying to defraud the insurance company, and you might have successfully stopped it.
 
Only reason I can think is that something is illegal about the car and/or driver.
 
Richard said:
The whole time I'm wondering when you're gonna' pull out your fire extinguisher. Oh, you didn't have one? :nono:
Click to expand...

Trust me, I plan on buying one now. Considering how large it grew between me showing up and the fire dept getting there, I definitely wish I'd had one.
 
wbarnhill said:
I'm trying to think of any valid reason why someone wouldn't want 911 called if their car was on fire, and I don't think that list is very long...
Click to expand...

Well, my uncle was in a coffee shop one morning, having his coffee, cigarette, and crossword puzzle when somebody came in a told him his car was on fire. He looked in the mirror behind the counter so he could see his car in the reflection, thought about all the problems and money that car had cost him over the last couple years and said "Let it burn" and went back to his coffee.
 
Matthew said:
Well, my uncle was in a coffee shop one morning, having his coffee, cigarette, and crossword puzzle when somebody came in a told him his car was on fire. He looked in the mirror behind the counter so he could see his car in the reflection, thought about all the problems and money that car had cost him over the last couple years and said "Let it burn" and went back to his coffee.
Click to expand...

I've had a few cars that I felt that way about, but I still would put it out simply because of the potential safety hazard to others.
 
Tristar said:
It can be tougher, IMO as a girl. I see lots of people off the side of the road and you feel compelled to help. But we have a longer "what ifs" list and less power to defend yourself.
Click to expand...

Thats why cell phones are good. Call 911 and drive a mile down the road.
 
wbarnhill said:
Trust me, I plan on buying one now. Considering how large it grew between me showing up and the fire dept getting there, I definitely wish I'd had one.
Click to expand...
Good to hear! Twice I happened upon an engine fire and both times I was the ONLY one with an extinguisher. Yes, a fire can grow very quickly.

At one scene the driver was busy scooping dirt to throw onto the carb. :frown2: His long sleeve shirt caught fire and about 10 onlookers could only stand there. Afterwards I told him it would've been better if he took off his shirt to snuff the fire.

This all brings up the point that you can't count on the general population to administer even 1st aid let alone arrest your cardiac or put out an engine fire.
 
wbarnhill said:
Trust me, I plan on buying one now. Considering how large it grew between me showing up and the fire dept getting there, I definitely wish I'd had one.
Click to expand...

Last engine fire I had I was able to put it out with some handy snow...

But another time, I was cutting a hole through a plaster wall with a rotozip and the bit broke (as they tend to do) and the hot bit started a fire in the wall. I tried to just splash in a few glasses of water - no good. So I go get the fire extinguisher and find out that it is dead (no pressure). Finally, the garden hose did the trick. The wife made me go out and buy three new extinguishers that afternoon. Sometimes she gets all ****ed off at me. I have no idea why.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
But another time, I was cutting a hole through a plaster wall with a rotozip and the bit broke (as they tend to do) and the hot bit started a fire in the wall. I tried to just splash in a few glasses of water - no good. So I go get the fire extinguisher and find out that it is dead (no pressure). Finally, the garden hose did the trick. The wife made me go out and buy three new extinguishers that afternoon. Sometimes she gets all ****ed off at me. I have no idea why.
Click to expand...

And you'll probably never know why. And speaking of p***ed off, you did leave me wondering why you didn't use the male's handy built in extinguisher on the wall fire. Such use is not recommended for electrical fires but it ought to be able to douse a little bit of burning wood.
 
It's very unlikely a car would be set on fire for this purpose, but a common "carjacking" method is to pretend to be broken down, and when a Good Samaritan arrives, swipe their car (usually with the assistance of a gun).

Beware of breakdowns, especially if you see more than one person in or near the car. There may be a female accomplice who's standing or sitting by the car, and a male inside... this is apparently a typical setup.
 
rottydaddy said:
It's very unlikely a car would be set on fire for this purpose, but a common "carjacking" method is to pretend to be broken down, and when a Good Samaritan arrives, swipe their car (usually with the assistance of a gun).

Beware of breakdowns, especially if you see more than one person in or near the car. There may be a female accomplice who's standing or sitting by the car, and a male inside... this is apparently a typical setup.
Click to expand...

One of the reasons I parked my car on the other side of the road and kept my distance while asking if everything was alright. But definitely a good thing to remember.
 
lancefisher said:
And you'll probably never know why. And speaking of p***ed off, you did leave me wondering why you didn't use the male's handy built in extinguisher on the wall fire. Such use is not recommended for electrical fires but it ought to be able to douse a little bit of burning wood.
Click to expand...

Hey!!! I get in enough trouble on my own! I don't need any help!!! (LOL)
 
I think that sometimes in a real emergency situation a person doesn't have time to go though the what ifs. One time when I was in college, my wife and family was water skiing on the Snake River near the town of Nyssa, OR. We were taking a break and were next to the boat ramp eating a bite, and getting another tank of gas for our ski boat. 4 big guys and a couple of black lab dogs loaded into a boat and started down river. I heard some yelling and looked just in time to see the boat do a slow roll over under the bridge. There was one guy seated on the very front tip of the boat. It looked like the boat driver must of turned to short and it rolled. They were all out in the water. Then I heard a yell for help and I immediately ran for our boat. When I got to the upturned boat I couldn't see anyone. Then this one comes up out of the water with his arms stretched upward. I threw him a life vest and it hit him right in the chest, but he didn't grab it and down he went. I didn't stop to think of the what ifs. I dove out of my boat and went down until I felt him. The water was too muddy to see. I went back to the top with him and I grabbed the life jacket I had thrown at him and put them both under the same arm and headed for the shore. I heard a noise and turned my head and saw a second mans face about 10 feet away I had all I could handle and I watched him sink below the water. I was almost to the bank when the 185 lb. guy I was swimming with started to cough and I finally got him up on the bank. I could have been pulled under and drowned, I am not a good swimmer, I was alone in our boat, I thought later I should have taken my wife with me, and maybe I could of got them both.
One man swam out, the one I got was ok after he went to the hospital, and two drowned. As I said you don't have time to go over the what ifs.
 
I was gonna start a thread on this, but it's sorta related...

I went into my office Friday and misjudged how slow I am now when leaving late for the 8:30PM train (I always have a few minutes worth of ritual to do on the way.) I was maybe a minute from the train door when "ding, ding, ding" the train left. Next Train is 9:45PM so I had to kill more than an hour in Union Station.

As I walked in I saw that the only thing open in the food court was the McDonalds. Along the way, a 20-something kid starts with "Is this the Metra station? I'm thinking the guy wants to know how to get to the train and I'm happy to help out, when, "Can I ask you something?" and I went with my current "NO!" "Thanks." "YOU'RE WELCOME!" :mad3:

I got a salad at McD's and took a table. I look at a nearby table and see a young couple. The guy is handling dipping into his caramel topping in slow motion like he was cracking a safe. He was blitzed out of his mind. So was she.

An old guy sits next at the table next to me with some empty coffee cups. He says, "Is that a McDonalds sandwich?" Yes. :rolleyes:

A large, loud, group of high school age kids comes in and argues about who has to pay.

I see a Mennonite couple in full Amish dress. I never have figured out why they often show up on Amtrak and visit the Sears Tower. It must all of the modern world they're allowed to use or it's their standard vacation.

A couple of dudes at the same table that the high couple had hand the old guy a few bucks and he buys a sandwich.

Another teen girl wobbles by and is barely capable of keeping her eyes open and navigating between tables as she slurs out asking if I have any spare change.

These kids are all on meth or something. :yikes:

Duh Mare would be so proud, except the city cops don't work Union Station. Metra and Amtrak have their own police.

The cool thing is my new laptop latched right on to the AT&T Wifi and worked a treat. I checked POA. I even managed to keep the laptop and take it with me when I went for my train. (I kept my backpack strap tight around my arm to foil any grab and runners.)
 
Last edited:
mikea said:
I was gonna start athread on this, but it's sorta related...

I went into my office Friday and misjudged how slow I am now when leaving late for the 8:30PM train (I always have a few minutes worth of ritual to do on the way.) I was maybe a minute from the train door when "ding, ding, ding" the train left. Next Train is 9:45PM so I had to kill more than an hour in Union Station.

As I walked in I saw that the only thing open in the food court was the McDonalds. Along the way, a 20-something kid starts with "Is this the Metra station? I'm thinking the guy wants to know how to get to the train and I'm happy to help out, when, "Can I ask you something?" and I went with my current "NO!" "Thanks." "YOU'RE WELCOME!" :mad3:

I got a salad at McD's and took a table. I look at a nearby and see a young couple. The guy is handling his caramel topping in slow motion like he was cracking a safe. He was blizted out of his mind. So was she.

An old guy sits next at the table next to me with some empty coffee cups. He says, "Is that a McDonalds sandwich?" Yes. :rolleyes:

A large, loud, group of high school age kids comes in and argues about who has to pay.

I see a Mennonite couple in full Amish dress. I never have figured out why they often show up on Amtrak and visit the Sears Tower. It must all of the modern world they're allowed to use or it's their standard vacation.

A couple of dudes at the same table that the high couple had hand the old guy a few bucks and he buys a sandwich.

Another teen girl wobbles by and is barely capable of keeping her eyes open and navigating between tables as she slurs out asking if I have any spare change.

These kids are all on meth or something. :yikes:

Duh Mare would be so proud, except the city cops dont' work Union Station. Metra and Amtrack have their own police.

The cool thing is my new laptop latched right on to the AT&T Wifi and worked a treat. I checked POA. I even managed to keep the laptop and take it with me when I went for my train. (I kept my backpack strap tight around my arm to foil any grab and runners.)
Click to expand...

On a completely unrelated related note, I'll be traveling to NYC in two weeks. I wonder what kind of interesting encounters I'll have...
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Last engine fire I had I was able to put it out with some handy snow...

But another time, I was cutting a hole through a plaster wall with a rotozip and the bit broke (as they tend to do) and the hot bit started a fire in the wall. I tried to just splash in a few glasses of water - no good. So I go get the fire extinguisher and find out that it is dead (no pressure). Finally, the garden hose did the trick. The wife made me go out and buy three new extinguishers that afternoon. Sometimes she gets all ****ed off at me. I have no idea why.
Click to expand...
The bit broke because you were using too high a rate of feed on a very durable material and/or side loading the bit. Why does Tim "Toolman" Taylor come to mind? :rofl:

I would've loved to be there when you put on this circus. I'd have split my sides laughing when you dragged the hose in. Sorry, but that's just too funny.
 
Last edited:
lancefisher said:
And you'll probably never know why. And speaking of p***ed off, you did leave me wondering why you didn't use the male's handy built in extinguisher on the wall fire. Such use is not recommended for electrical fires but it ought to be able to douse a little bit of burning wood.
Click to expand...
LOL I can see it now; the wife walks around the corner to check in...sees hubby peeing on the wall. Rolls eyes and leaves to go shopping with a few choice words over her shoulder.
 
mikea said:
I was gonna start a thread on this, but it's sorta related...

I went into my office Friday and misjudged how slow I am now when leaving late for the 8:30PM train (I always have a few minutes worth of ritual to do on the way.) I was maybe a minute from the train door when "ding, ding, ding" the train left. Next Train is 9:45PM so I had to kill more than an hour in Union Station.

As I walked in I saw that the only thing open in the food court was the McDonalds. Along the way, a 20-something kid starts with "Is this the Metra station? I'm thinking the guy wants to know how to get to the train and I'm happy to help out, when, "Can I ask you something?" and I went with my current "NO!" "Thanks." "YOU'RE WELCOME!" :mad3:

I got a salad at McD's and took a table. I look at a nearby table and see a young couple. The guy is handling dipping into his caramel topping in slow motion like he was cracking a safe. He was blitzed out of his mind. So was she.

An old guy sits next at the table next to me with some empty coffee cups. He says, "Is that a McDonalds sandwich?" Yes. :rolleyes:

A large, loud, group of high school age kids comes in and argues about who has to pay.

I see a Mennonite couple in full Amish dress. I never have figured out why they often show up on Amtrak and visit the Sears Tower. It must all of the modern world they're allowed to use or it's their standard vacation.

A couple of dudes at the same table that the high couple had hand the old guy a few bucks and he buys a sandwich.

Another teen girl wobbles by and is barely capable of keeping her eyes open and navigating between tables as she slurs out asking if I have any spare change.

These kids are all on meth or something. :yikes:

Duh Mare would be so proud, except the city cops don't work Union Station. Metra and Amtrak have their own police.

The cool thing is my new laptop latched right on to the AT&T Wifi and worked a treat. I checked POA. I even managed to keep the laptop and take it with me when I went for my train. (I kept my backpack strap tight around my arm to foil any grab and runners.)
Click to expand...
Did YOU have a fire extinguisher? :rolleyes:
 
Richard said:
The bit broke because you were using too high a rate of feed on a very durable material and/or side loading the bit. Why does Tim "Toolman" Taylor come to mind? :rofl:
Click to expand...

It was real dull, but I figgered it had a few more inches left in it. Think Red Green.

I would've loved to be there when you put on this circus. I'd have split my sides laughing when you dragged the hose in. Sorry, but that's just too funny.
Click to expand...
No prob.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
No prob.
Click to expand...
I was a remodeling contractor for many years. The things I've seen....:rolleyes:

Your story reminds me of this gem:

Me and another guy were doing some selective demo in a bathroom. To protect the expensive plumbing fixtures I told him to wrap them in foam packing material and secure with duct tape. His bright idea was to feed tape off the roll going round and round and round. We didn't realize until too late what this caused.

His actions unscrewed the valve (of course it was the hot water side) which let a torrent of water into the room. I stuck my finger in the opening while I told him to go outside to shut off the water main. He got in a panic and instead of running left out the door he ran right and into a wall. He bounced off and lay unconscious for a few seconds.

If that wasn't enough when he came to I told him to hand me a towel or something because my finger was burning. In a panic looking for a towel, a sponge, anything, he ran into the same wall and knocked himself out.

I was laughing so hard I let the hot water gush and went out to shut off the main myself.

The housewife saw me run down the stairs and through the kitchen. She thought she had hired the Two Stooges.
 
Last edited:
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Then you know a sawzall will cut through a copper water pipe inside a wall like it's not even there...:rofl:
Click to expand...
I've heard that....:rolleyes: I was always careful to avoid said copper pipe. As far as I know, my sawzalls never cut anything but what was intended. Sometimes I had to snap a blade to make it even shorter than what they offer...or space the platen further from the material.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top