While we were in California, there was some excitement in the neighborhood. Around the corner, a neighbor’s garage burned. The family was having a bar-b-que. They used a chimney charcoal starter to light the fire. Somehow this starter started more than just the intended charcoal. Their garage burned along with the two cars that were in it. The fire department was called, and all of the neighbors came out to gawk at the spectacle.

Not exactly late breaking news, but we were out-of-town. I am reminded of another garage fire that happened on our block years ago. It was a quiet weeknight; two teenagers had been smoking in their garage, when the fire started. The fire department came and then another one and another and one more. Four fire engines for one garage and they still could not save it. Being boys with their toys, the firemen decided to daisy chain the fire engines together and get some valuable training out of what otherwise a lackluster event.

Unfortunately, when the pumps were shutoff, the backpressure ruptured the old and brittle cast iron water main. This formed a sinkhole, that sucked another neighbor’s car into it. What a disaster! Since then, the neighborhood has gotten new PVC water mains, so at least that aspect of a garage fire is not a factor.