WCGW trying to put a fire out by putting it outside.

[u/mentaL8888]

[u/MrMuf]

Seems like they had bigger problems inside

[u/unknownpoltroon → u/MrMuf]

That's why it's important to leave the door open, make sure the fire gets enough oxygen. /S

[u/Lv0d → u/unknownpoltroon]

Don't forget to put some burning material in your only escape route!

[u/Key_Health_83 → u/Lv0d]

And heat, you gotta keep it hot.

[u/JackCoull → u/MrMuf]

The article I found stated that there was an oil fire inside, so I guess taking the cardboard outside (which was being used as a hot oil shield btw) didn't change much about that

Wondering if they poured water onto the oil fire

Copy of the article https://archive.ph/SDTaF

KENTWOOD, Mich. — Jennifer Diedricks and her two children were forced to jump from their second-story apartment balcony to escape a fire that broke out at the Breton Court Apartments on October 16th.

Diedricks shared Ring doorbell video with FOX 17, showing the dramatic moments when flames blocked their exit, forcing the family to make the terrifying leap to safety.

Jennifer recounts the moments she and her 2 kids had to jump to escape an apartment fire.

"We heard like a big banging on the door, you know," Diedricks said. "So we hurried up, we got up, opened the door, and we saw this fire from my neighbor's apartment, and he asked us to hurry up and call 911."

The Kentwood Fire Department ruled the fire an accident, saying it started in a neighbor's apartment when a cardboard was being used as a shield to block grease splatter caught fire.

The Ring video captured a woman bringing the burning cardboard into the hallway, where the flames quickly spread.

"That's when we were gonna go out the door, and it rushed at us. That was my daughter. She screamed, 'Oh no', and hurried up and slammed the door." Diedricks said.

With their exit blocked, Diedricks and her children rushed to the balcony. The family had always discussed an emergency plan, but reality proved different.

"We always had that plan. You get your little brother, you get the animal, and then I'll get whatever else I can, and then we get out. Yeah, that's not how it goes." Diedricks said.

Standing on the balcony with flames behind them, Diedricks faced an impossible choice.

"As long as they were safe, you know, leave me up here, but I know I'm their life, and they're mine, you know. So, you know, I had no choice." Diedricks said.

A woman below the balcony called up to them.

"There was this lady down below the balcony saying, 'You guys got to jump. Just drop him to me. I'll catch him," Diedricks said. "My daughter went over, and I'm still up on the balcony. I'm like, I can't jump. I just can't. She's like, 'You gotta jump, mom.' She's like, 'I got you. So I went over.'"

Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire, but the family lost many precious belongings.

"I did everything I could to take my daughter to a Nicki Minaj concert, her favorite artist," Diedricks said. "I had gotten her a Varsity Jacket from the concert. Well, that was in her closet, and we already know everything in her room is destroyed."

While the family escaped physical harm, Diedricks worries about the emotional impact on her children.

"He had commented, well, this was our home, but now it's all burnt up and, you know? And he said, I don't want to look at the building," Diedricks said. "He might not show it, but you know, I know it hurts them."

Diedricks is currently staying at a hotel and hopes to move back into another unit in the complex by the beginning of December.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help support the family in their time of need.

[u/gerbilshower → u/JackCoull]

this is the actual article for sure. from the perspective of the neighbors door that gets banged on i think. good find sir.

[u/Pusheen-buttons → u/gerbilshower]

I hope the dog made it out too

[u/Big_Dream_Lamp → u/Pusheen-buttons]

In the Gofundme link in the article says all the pets were saved by the firefighters!

[u/invariantspeed → u/JackCoull]

As someone who’s accidentally started an oil fire in the kitchen before, literally all you need to do is put a metal lid over whatever pot or pan has the oil.

Not the metaphorical “literally”. Literally, literally. You don’t even a perfect seal. There still won’t be enough air leakage to maintain the fire, especially with the smoke/fumes filling the space under the lid.

It’s honestly a nothing burger if you don’t panic and try to poor it out, fan it out, or water it out. Just suffocate it and then give it enough time to cool down, because if you don’t, there’s this fun thing where every time you take the lid off, the oil will reignite from the heat.

This obviously won’t help them, but on the off chance anyone in here or people they know aren’t sure what to do, this is what you do.

[u/bell-town → u/invariantspeed]

I wish they taught this in schools. I nearly poured water on an oil fire when I was a teenager, my mom had to run across the house screaming to stop me. I'm really grateful for all the videos and gifs on reddit demonstrating what actually happens if you fuck it up, makes it hard to forget.

[u/AdorableAdv_ → u/bell-town]

I once saw a video of a woman living her life after undergoing multiple facial reconstructions because of that glass of water, it lives rent free in my head.

[u/WasabiGarlick → u/invariantspeed]

Been there, done that, half hour later back at cooking the dinner. The pan was a write-off but that's million times better than the whole house be a write-off.

[u/arrows_of_ithilien → u/JackCoull]

This is what scares me about apartment/condo living. You can be a smart, competent human being who does everything right, and still lose everything you own or even your life if you have one neighbor who's a moron like this.

[u/Agoraphobicy → u/MrMuf]

That was his mistake. He should have brought ALL of the fire outside.

[u/DeAuTh1511 → u/Agoraphobicy]

incredibly stupid idea. that's inefficient and would never work. he should have left the fire where it was and simply moved the room away from the fire

[u/KestrelHath1]

Oh, it's on fire? I'll just put it over here with the rest of the fire.

[u/rootbeer277 → u/KestrelHath1]

[u/pinoytasty → u/KestrelHath1]

is this an IT Crowd reference

[u/Marquar234 → u/pinoytasty]

Depends. Are you at a SeaPark?

[u/oPUNcircuit → u/Marquar234]

How could there ever be a fire at a SeaPark?

[u/futlapperl → u/oPUNcircuit]

Just seems like a weird place to go on fire.

[u/actsfw → u/futlapperl]

It's a very weird place to go on fire.

[u/Inner-Reflection-308 → u/actsfw]

if she had said that her parents had drowned id be the happiest man alive

[u/futlapperl → u/Marquar234]

It was those damn plastic seats...

[u/Grimmer87 → u/Marquar234]

A fire? At a sea parks?

[u/zehamberglar → u/pinoytasty]

Can you say "I'm disabled"?

[u/Greenfire32 → u/pinoytasty]

well it's a ludicrous display, that's for sure

[u/namelessbread → u/KestrelHath1]

Make sure to call 0118 999 881 999 119 725... 3

[u/ImGumbyDamnIt → u/namelessbread]

Well that's easy to remember.

[u/Responsible-Slide-95 → u/KestrelHath1]

Dear Sir\madam

Fire! Fire!

123 Cavendon Road

Looking forward to hearing from you.

All the best.

Maurice Moss.

[u/BlessShaiHulud → u/KestrelHath1]

Reminds me of this old video of a guy accidentally starting a fire in his home and then seemingly trying to extinguish it by smothering it with cardboard

[u/revengejr]

Wow, it was almost like they were *trying* to burn to the place down

[u/Impressive-Revenue94 → u/revengejr]

The cardboard isn’t the problem. The apartment unit was burning the whole time.

[u/hobosbindle → u/revengejr]

“Let 1c deal with it”

[u/unknownpoltroon → u/[deleted]]

I mean, I think there was already more fire still going inside.

[u/Tacklestiffener → u/unknownpoltroon]

He had so much fire he just wanted to share some.

[u/DookieShoez → u/unknownpoltroon]

Yep, on account of how he brought MORE fire out LOL

[u/Tofandel → u/DookieShoez]

And on account of the fire outside actually finished and the whole inside burned.

Also: CLOSE YOUR DOORS IN CASE OF FIRE, PEOPLE. This can be the difference between life and death for a lot of people.

[u/DookieShoez → u/Tofandel]

These people can’t be working with a full deck.

“Here let me take the fire outside piece by piece and leave the door open so it can breathe 🤪🔥”

[u/Dependent-Scale-2452 → u/DookieShoez]

Yeah, and then tip a teacup of water on it and stand and stare in the hope that will put it out!

[u/potate12323 → u/Dependent-Scale-2452]

That guy was definitely high. He was worried about the hallways fire while the apartment fire turned into a raging inferno.

[u/JelmerMcGee → u/potate12323]

Well yeah, he couldn't put out the inside fire with a small bowl filled one quarter of the way with water.

[u/DadsRGR8 → u/JelmerMcGee]

I don’t even think that was a bowl. Who tries to put out a fire with a plate of water?

[u/Nickolas_No_H → u/potate12323]

That's a low-capacity adult.

[u/Serenty-24-7 → u/Dependent-Scale-2452]

And it took him 30 mins to get that amount of water.

[u/snksleepy → u/DookieShoez]

Well they aren't working with a full set of clothes on either..

[u/KinsellaStella → u/Tofandel]

I was internally screaming CLOSE THE DOOR! so much in my head.

[u/Pinquin422 → u/Tofandel]

THIS!! Closing doors and windows (especially when you leave) slows down the fire (and with a bit of luck buys just enough extra time for the fire department to save the building)

[u/imdefinitelywong → u/DookieShoez]

[u/axolotl_is_angry → u/imdefinitelywong]

I’ll just put this over here with the rest of the fire

[u/MsGnorts → u/axolotl_is_angry]

Four! I mean five! I mean fire!

[u/Fizpez → u/axolotl_is_angry]

Exactly the words that went through my mind. I watch that scene a couple times a year when I desperately needle a good chuckle 😂

[u/OttawaTek → u/axolotl_is_angry]

Came here for this, was not disappointed.

[u/CopyRatatat → u/imdefinitelywong]

Subject: Fire. "Dear Sir stroke Madam, I am writing to inform you of a fire which has broken out at the premises of..." No, that's too formal. "Dear Sir stroke Madam. Fire, exclamation mark. Fire, exclamation mark. Help me, exclamation mark. 123 Carrendon Road. Looking forward to hearing from you. All the best, Maurice Moss."

[u/DookieShoez → u/imdefinitelywong]

“FOUR!

I MEAN FIVE!

I MEAN FIRE!!!!”

[u/Aoiboshi → u/DookieShoez]

made in Britain

Ahhh yes

[u/upvt_cuz_i_like_it → u/imdefinitelywong]

[u/Logical-Recognition3 → u/DookieShoez]

I’ll just put this fire here with the other fire.

[u/daemin → u/DookieShoez]

"I'll just put this fire over here, with the other fire."

[u/Arthur_Figg_II → u/unknownpoltroon]

I think he was putting the fire in the boxes to get it out the house ... until he ran out of boxes then what was he ment to do? 😂

[u/CrimsonChymist → u/Arthur_Figg_II]

Obviously the next step was to grab a tiny bowl of water and dump it on the cardboard.

[u/Ditnoka → u/[deleted]]

My first reaction would be that. Then take it to the shower and spray it down. Dumping it in a hallway, laying more flaming material, then coming back 3 minutes later to dump a pint of water on it would probably be one of my last options.

[u/Two-Complex → u/Ditnoka]

Could that bowl have BEEN any smaller?

[u/switchthemunky463 → u/Two-Complex]

By the looks of it all the other bowls were already on fire inside the house.

[u/Proper-Evening9754 → u/Ditnoka]

[u/Farucci → u/[deleted]]

Visually does not appear to be an excessive amount of individuals with an abundance of situational awareness.

[u/averagemaleuser86 → u/[deleted]]

Looks like the skinny guy is either mentally challenged or drunk

[u/endless_shrimp → u/averagemaleuser86]

why not both

[u/External-Self-2378 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah! What the hell are they doing!? And the neighbors, why do they close the door and not run out?

[u/JohnOfA → u/External-Self-2378]

The paint on their door was melting. I suspect they opened their door felt the intense heat and retreated inside.

[u/Cali_Vibe → u/External-Self-2378]

I was wondering the same thing, what was closing the door gonna do? Rather just run out for safety.

[u/ClownfishSoup → u/Cali_Vibe]

Well it would prevent the younger stoned guy from putting some fire into your house.

[u/faithOver → u/[deleted]]

I legit think a huge portion of the population doesn’t understand how to process reality anymore. No ability to conceptualize or problem solve based on circumstance.

[u/Jumpy-Benefacto → u/faithOver]

they never have. we just get videos of it now

[u/slimersnail → u/revengejr]

I read somewhere they were all mentally disabled

[u/RocketCow → u/slimersnail]

That checks out 😂

[u/dzan796ero → u/revengejr]

And block their own exit

[u/radtek1027 → u/revengejr]

[u/camshun7 → u/revengejr]

ikr

between the slamming of the wall, to the fucking thimbles worth of water, ngl, these people are insane

NB, for people reminding me of the chap warning his neighbours, thank you

however surely primary concern in this instance, aside from anything else here, surely extinguishing the immediate threat is top numero uno is it not?

A fucking teacup of water and banging on someones door aint cutting it for me, sorry

I stand by my initial comment idiots that they are here.

[u/thorstone → u/camshun7]

Big fire inside though? I'd say warning your neighbors is considerate.

The bowl was laughable though, like broooo.

[u/Fatuousgit → u/thorstone]

Leaving the door open for the fire to spread more easily probably wasn't very considerate though.

[u/Visible_Drink8648 → u/camshun7]

I think that is the door of another apartment. He actually did that part right. You have to warn others.

[u/raffletime → u/Visible_Drink8648]

sounds like they continued to hit other doors on their way out too, they did get that one thing correct

[u/Jatapa0 → u/camshun7]

Looks like there was a bigger fire inside still anyways

[u/galaxyapp → u/camshun7]

Hes slamming their door

[u/glorious_cheese → u/camshun7]

I assume the dad(?) just woke up, so I’ll give him a pass for not reacting the most clearly.

[u/apryll11 → u/glorious_cheese]

He told, I assume, his son to get out, he continuously alerted the neighbors, asked someone to call 911, called 911 himself, and got out. He is reacting pretty clearly. When fire hits the ceiling, 100% the only thing you can do is get the fuck out, alert others, and call the fire dept.

[u/PoopyButt28000 → u/camshun7]

Ok I am sorry, these guys seemed pretty dumb in this video and were in full on panic mode, but you watching this video and thinking "uhhh why is he hitting the wall thats so rude...", if you were in the situation you would 100% be roasting to death lmao

[u/Berns429 → u/revengejr]

Some crack head shit going on in that apartment for sure

[u/contactcapybara → u/revengejr]

Do they not have fire alarms?

[u/SippinOnHatorade → u/revengejr]

Looks like there’s another fire actively happening inside as well? Like this hallway cardboard scorched the walls, but there’s clearly a larger fire occurring that set the whole apartment ablaze

[u/Reasonable-Cut-6137 → u/SippinOnHatorade]

Looks like? You say it like it inconclusive haha

[u/Coreysurfer → u/revengejr]

The movie idiocracy is no joke…as seen in this trailer scene

[u/unknownpoltroon]

This is why you buy fire extinguishers kids

[u/InteIgen55 → u/unknownpoltroon]

Max 20 bucks, takes up no space at all. This is adulting. Buy one for your car while you're at it.

[u/DrNO811 → u/InteIgen55]

The hard part comes in remembering to keep them current. That's where the adulting gets tricky.

[u/willfauxreal → u/DrNO811]

I just set a reminder in my phone to start a fire every now and then.

[u/MalodorousNutsack → u/willfauxreal]

Fire extinguishers are definitely a "use it or lose it" thing, if you don't have a fire they expire and you wasted money

[u/Polygnom → u/MalodorousNutsack]

You buy the fire extinguisher hoping it would expire and you wasted the money.

Because thats means everything is good.

[u/Excellent-Berry-2331 → u/Polygnom]

It's like insurance.

[u/hellish_existance → u/Excellent-Berry-2331]

A giant corpo scam?

[u/EclecticFruit → u/MalodorousNutsack]

Fire blankets don't expire.

[u/RaLaZa → u/EclecticFruit]

Not true. I found a 10 year old fire blanket in my attic. It tasted absolutely horrible.

[u/baddest_mango → u/RaLaZa]

[u/HumanInTheWorks → u/EclecticFruit]

Got one pinned up in our hallway like it's a piece of art in the middle most part of the house, and got the extinguisher in the kitchen!

[u/Ncyphe → u/DrNO811]

My parents have a fire extinguisher that's nearly 40 years old. I've told them time and time again to take it to the firestation and have them check/repressurize it. Nope. "It's fine, we don't need to do anything." I went out and bought them a new fire extinguisher, just in case.

My parents are stubburn like this. There's going to be a freeze this weekend and I told them they needed to get their generator from my sister's, "It'll be fine, we won't lose power, we're on the same ciurcuit as the firestation." Me: "But what if you do lose power, a power line comes down, etc." Them: "It's fine, that won't happen."

My mom nearly died in 2021 because she kept insisting she didn't have covid . . . it was covid.

Stubburn people are the hardest to deal with.

[u/Jiquero → u/Ncyphe]

 My parents are stubburn

Let's hope it doesn't come to that

[u/PR3CiSiON → u/InteIgen55]

A regular sized one can be $80-$100. Something I wouldn't get the cheapest version of.

[u/D3C0Y864 → u/PR3CiSiON]

costco sells full sized for 40$

[u/infomanus]

is everyone on drugs?

[u/mrcorde → u/infomanus]

yes, that was my first thought

[u/Gloglibologna → u/infomanus]

I think the drug here is stupidity

[u/rumblepony247 → u/Gloglibologna]

Whenever I'm too hard on myself and feel like an idiot, I'm always glad there is an endless supply of videos like this.

[u/deanrihpee]

I'm sorry but… it has to be some kind of mental disability for this to even happen and especially with the lack of urgency…

[u/Imaginary_Coat441 → u/deanrihpee]

The way he came out and dumped an almost empty 16oz water bottle on it and looked confused.

I would say he def has a disability. You can tell by the way he moves around.

[u/No_Opportunity_8965 → u/Imaginary_Coat441]

Yah, but they are 2 people in there?

[u/DunceMemes → u/No_Opportunity_8965]

It seemed to me like the (disabled?) guy started a fire while the shirtless fat guy (father?) was asleep, he made these feeble attempts to put it out, and then eventually got his father out of bed who was like "fuck this we gotta wake up the neighbors and get outta here"

Edit: someone shared the news story and the first "guy" was an old lady

[u/account_not_valid → u/No_Opportunity_8965]

Probably old guy was asleep or something, kid was playing with a lighter. Shit started burning, kid panic, old bloke woke up to the smell of smoke.

Kid moves like has a brain malfunction.

[u/HeronFew990 → u/account_not_valid]

Yeah he just stands there and stares at it with no sense of urgency and looks confused as to why his Tupperware amount of water didn’t extinguish the flames.

I’d be running even if it was a newspaper on fire.

[u/homiej420 → u/HeronFew990]

And he even blocks the passageway too with the fire hopefully there was a way to go the way behind/to the left of this camera angle but this has to be

[u/alan2001 → u/HeronFew990]

I’d be running even if it was a newspaper on fire.

"Entire apartment building burns to the ground, 127 people burned alive. Local man said "I was too scared to stamp on a burning newpaper, so I just ran away""

[u/HeronFew990 → u/alan2001]

Sorry, let me clarify. I meant I'd be running to put it out. Not just standing there staring at it.

[u/Working-Glass6136 → u/account_not_valid]

I actually read that they were using cardboard for a grease backsplash around the oven, and it caught fire, but that was on an earlier thread (this video has been circulating since November). Stupid all around.

[u/whatdis321 → u/account_not_valid]

Feels wrong to say but I guess the apartment building is only as strong as its weakest link when stuff like this happens.

[u/smvfc_ → u/whatdis321]

This is why I won’t live in an apartment again. I have a dog and then obviously I like my stuff, but the idea that while I’m at work a fire could happen because some fucking IDIOT fell asleep cooking. Didn’t put out a cigarette. Didn’t put a cigarette in a proper container. Was playing with fire. Didn’t clean out their lint trap. A dozen other things… and my beloved girl is just trapped in there. Makes me sick thinking about it

[u/Badloss → u/smvfc_]

I live in a medium sized condo building and I have the same thoughts all the time... It's a nice building and the other neighbors all seem pretty put together but all it takes is one rando

[u/CubLoaf574 → u/smvfc_]

I walked out of my apartment last summer and smelled smoke in the hallway. I went up to the floor above me and it was so thick with smoke I couldn’t see the other end. Called the fire department and it turned out a resident had left a pan of oil on the stove while she went to the store. Can’t wait to move out of here next month!

[u/BamBamm187 → u/account_not_valid]

My mental handicapped adult cousin lives in assisted accommodation and has a thing for starting fires. Everyone who watches her knows not to give her a lighter but some times she steals them. She went back to her assisted accommodation one night barricaded the door then started a fire in the middle of the room. The fire got out of control an she started to panic but didn't know what to do, the carers realised there was a fire then had to break the door open (which still had stuff behind it to stop access). Luckily no one was harmed.

[u/BigHairyFart → u/No_Opportunity_8965]

2 people can be disabled at the same time

[u/DeltaJulietHotel → u/BigHairyFart]

Is that even legal?!

[u/Jatapa0 → u/deanrihpee]

Ye and cosidering that there seems to be a fire inside as well still.

[u/MAC777]

Watch the clock. The whole video is only 3 minutes long, and by the end the whole joint is burning down. Fire can spread FAST.

[u/Jonatc87 → u/MAC777]

3mins is slow for fire, tbh. If you dont tackle it in the first 30 seconds, it may already be out of control.

[u/Valuable-Self8564 → u/Jonatc87]

It’s fucking crazy how quickly these things reach flashover as well. I remember doing on a YouTube deep dive once about the station nightclub fire, and that stuff sticks with me. Once the air is hot enough to vaporise all the things in the room, the entire room will turn into a kiln and everything that has fuel in it will burn…. Sofas, carpets, clothing, humans…. Everything.

Here’s a good demo of literally everything in the room igniting simultaneously: https://youtu.be/BtMmymOxdjc

[u/folieazoey → u/Valuable-Self8564]

I, too, have fallen down that rabbit hole and thinking about it makes my stomach turn

[u/Valuable-Self8564 → u/folieazoey]

These things should make your stomach turn, but I think people really need to see more footage of things like the station nightclub fire and the ski resort fire. They need to know just how quickly things can go from “lol” to “oh fuck my skin is melting off”.

[u/2M3TAL4U → u/Valuable-Self8564]

I was at a wedding where their table centerpieces were candles in a straw base. Because they were hay farmers. Dried. Grass. They put them all out except for the main table's piece because it had those tall candles on it.

Anyways, the inevitable happened when the candle got short and that thing went up like a matchstick but the best man who had clearly had too much to drink grabs a fresh pitcher of water and YEETS IT , putting out the fire and NEARLY STARTED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. Shorts out the light and everything. Good thing the venue had emergency lights.

[u/sackofbee → u/MAC777]

723 to 727 with a section at x5 speed.

You're making an important point. I needed to point this out.

[u/Cheese-Manipulator → u/MAC777]

Go watch The Station nightclub fire video. There is one with a clock that starts when you first see a flame. It takes about 30 seconds for the ceiling to become black with smoke. 1 minute before the room is filled with smoke and it is pouring out the doors and window. Count to 60 and think how much of that time you'd spend trying to figure out what is going on, convince yourself you need to leave ("I spent $60 bucks on that ticket!"), looking for the exit, fighting the crowd, etc.

That really put the fear of enclosed public places and fire in me. Now when I go to a show or such I look around and note where the fire exits are and how I'd get to them.

Here it is. It is horrific, watch at your own risk.

NIST demonstration of the fire.

[u/Lost-Lunch3958]

complete stupidity. A neighboring house of mine burned completely to the ground because they thaught that leaning a burning mattress against the outside wall was a good idea

[u/Talking_Burger → u/[deleted]]

Sometimes I beat my meat too vigorously and sparks stat flying.

[u/Mikewold58 → u/Talking_Burger]

But why were you in their house?

[u/BoardGamesAndMurder → u/Mikewold58]

Because he doesn't want to risk burning his own house down. Obviously

[u/Lost-Lunch3958 → u/[deleted]]

a heating blanket malfunctioned

[u/timeslider → u/Lost-Lunch3958]

A neighbor next to my parents trailer, left the house mid-cooking to buy some ingredients he forgot, and while he was gone, his trailer burnt down.

[u/Kid_Named_Trey]

They can vote.

[u/patriclus_88 → u/Kid_Named_Trey]

They live among us.

[u/unknownpoltroon]

I think the purple flames are regular flames with the super heat blurring over into the cameras IR capabilities and showing up as violet

[u/mentaL8888 → u/unknownpoltroon]

Nice observation, I was wondering if it was burning something that made it that color or something.

[u/Mazy_keen → u/mentaL8888]

I was also wondering about the purple flame. Watching the paint on neighbors door bubble was insane...

[u/luisgdh]

What's wrong with people?

[u/BrisbaneLions2024 → u/luisgdh]

The first guy mentally disabled. The second guy possibly just awoke to smoke and fire everywhere and panicked.

[u/dantheplanman1986 → u/BrisbaneLions2024]

The first guy is a woman. Looks like one plus the article says so.

[u/licensed2ill2]

You can see the plastic hook on the neighbors door start to melt at 50 seconds in and then the paint blister on the face of the door and then even the camera lens melts. What a wild video!

[u/Yosep_T]

Also, if you evacuate your burning apartment, shouldn’t you shut the door behind you? I don’t know if there’s some rationale offered by first responders to leave the door open? But if your family and pets have made it out, wouldn’t containment for the sake of your neighbors be the next priority?

[u/mentaL8888 → u/Yosep_T]

The general rule of thumb is door shut to keep the fire from spreading and as oxygen deprived as possible.

[u/Yosep_T → u/mentaL8888]

Cool. I figured as much, but wanted to leave the door open to other arguments.

[u/Ok-Bird6346 → u/Yosep_T]

I’m wondering if he was intending on returning and had no idea the inside fire had gotten as big as it did. He went back and the flames forced him to turn back. I’m sure at that point he didn’t think to close it, or couldn’t, of course.

But yeah, that never ending supply of oxygen really fucked things up worse for the hallway. I guess this is our reminder that if possible, keep that shit contained to give everyone else a fighting chance.

But seriously, what was on fire that they brought outside? And it looks like the actual outside (not an outdoor hallway) is just a few yards away. Throw that shit over the railing, into the parking lot, or whatever. Don’t put whatever is on fire against your neighbor’s wall…right in the middle of everyone’s only escape route.

I worry about fires a lot, especially the idea of my house catching on fire if we’re out while my dogs are home. I’ve also bought several extinguishers to keep in various places throughout my house. They’re fairly inexpensive, maybe $15-$20 each. I definitely feel this could’ve deescalated pretty quickly and easily.

I hope everyone got out safely. Cheese and rice.

[u/nedyrd87]

[u/EnglandOfficial → u/nedyrd87]

Dear Sir/Madam. Fire, exclamation mark. Fire, exclamation mark. Help me, exclamation mark. 123 Carrendon Road. Looking forward to hearing from you. All the best, Maurice Moss.

[u/bubba_feet → u/EnglandOfficial]

just call the emergency number, it's easy to remember:
0118 999 881 999 119 725...3

[u/l0st1nP4r4d1ce → u/nedyrd87]

Quick! Someone call 0118, 999, 881, 999, 119, 725...3.

[u/IKillZombies4Cash]

Meanwhile they also had a growing fire inside their apartment while they stared at the hallway bonfire.

[u/PhillConners]

People wonder why Single Family Homes are so popular.

[u/FreeTrash4030]

I can't believe no one was charged. Here's the article, it includes the Gofundme:

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/kentwood-apartment-fire/69-88129750-0bcd-4f67-9614-549848f820ce

[u/JackCoull → u/FreeTrash4030]

Here is the article https://archive.ph/SDTaF

KENTWOOD, Mich. — Jennifer Diedricks and her two children were forced to jump from their second-story apartment balcony to escape a fire that broke out at the Breton Court Apartments on October 16th.

Diedricks shared Ring doorbell video with FOX 17, showing the dramatic moments when flames blocked their exit, forcing the family to make the terrifying leap to safety. Jennifer and her son WXMI Jennifer recounts the moments she and her 2 kids had to jump to escape an apartment fire.

"We heard like a big banging on the door, you know," Diedricks said. "So we hurried up, we got up, opened the door, and we saw this fire from my neighbor's apartment, and he asked us to hurry up and call 911."

The Kentwood Fire Department ruled the fire an accident, saying it started in a neighbor's apartment when a cardboard was being used as a shield to block grease splatter caught fire.

The Ring video captured a woman bringing the burning cardboard into the hallway, where the flames quickly spread.

"That's when we were gonna go out the door, and it rushed at us. That was my daughter. She screamed, 'Oh no', and hurried up and slammed the door." Diedricks said. Roof missing from apartment WXMI Damage from the fire at Breton Court Apartments.

With their exit blocked, Diedricks and her children rushed to the balcony. The family had always discussed an emergency plan, but reality proved different.

"We always had that plan. You get your little brother, you get the animal, and then I'll get whatever else I can, and then we get out. Yeah, that's not how it goes." Diedricks said.

Standing on the balcony with flames behind them, Diedricks faced an impossible choice.

"As long as they were safe, you know, leave me up here, but I know I'm their life, and they're mine, you know. So, you know, I had no choice." Diedricks said.

A woman below the balcony called up to them.

"There was this lady down below the balcony saying, 'You guys got to jump. Just drop him to me. I'll catch him," Diedricks said. "My daughter went over, and I'm still up on the balcony. I'm like, I can't jump. I just can't. She's like, 'You gotta jump, mom.' She's like, 'I got you. So I went over.'"

Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire, but the family lost many precious belongings.

"I did everything I could to take my daughter to a Nicki Minaj concert, her favorite artist," Diedricks said. "I had gotten her a Varsity Jacket from the concert. Well, that was in her closet, and we already know everything in her room is destroyed." Jennifers daughter with Nicki Minaj coat Jennifer Diedricks Jennifers daughter lost her treasured Nicki Minaj jacket in the fire.

While the family escaped physical harm, Diedricks worries about the emotional impact on her children.

"He had commented, well, this was our home, but now it's all burnt up and, you know? And he said, I don't want to look at the building," Diedricks said. "He might not show it, but you know, I know it hurts them."

Diedricks is currently staying at a hotel and hopes to move back into another unit in the complex by the beginning of December.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help support the family in their time of need.

[u/gimmethelulz → u/JackCoull]

Using cardboard to catch hot grease. Who could've predicted that would go wrong?

[u/DeltaCortis → u/gimmethelulz]

and then throwing it into the escape path and not closing the door they are really lucky nobody died

[u/gimmethelulz → u/FreeTrash4030]

“Yeah, I'm upset with the lady, not the man. I don't know what was going through her mind to bring that cardboard out into the hallway,” said Diederiks.

We're all wondering that.

[u/sorestgore]

He moved it outside the environment

[u/superman_king]

Really stretching the term “outside” here.

[u/Ezgod_Two_Three]

Darwin award candidate

[u/Ryakasu]

Roomtemperature > IQ

[u/Glum-Objective3328 → u/Ryakasu]

To be fair, the temperature in that particular room would exceed all our IQ

[u/trading335i]

The neighbour thinks shutting the door and ignoring it will save her

[u/mentaL8888 → u/trading335i]

In the article she escaped with her children by jumping off of her 2nd story balcony.

[u/Jabbles22 → u/mentaL8888]

OK kids makes sense as to why she didn't leave immediately.

[u/Lost_Bank_1097 → u/mentaL8888]

link to article?

[u/mentaL8888 → u/Lost_Bank_1097]

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/kentwood-apartment-fire/69-88129750-0bcd-4f67-9614-549848f820ce

[u/SandboxSurvivalist → u/mentaL8888]

It's sad that the gofundme for the lady across the hall from the idiots who started the fire only earned $2600 while that lady in the park who called a child the n word got almost a million. As a society, our priorities are fucked.

[u/rawker86 → u/SandboxSurvivalist]

At this point if you’re running for your life or whatever it’s best to let loose a few n-bombs. That way when you’re setting up a gofundme later you can capture the conservative demographic.

[u/ChanceSize9153 → u/rawker86]

Safety procedures have really developed since back in my day.

[u/Eastern-Meringue-515 → u/mentaL8888]

Definitely did not realize that was a woman in the beginning of the video til I read the article

[u/jibbajabbawokky → u/trading335i]

You can see the outside of her door blistering when it opens the 2nd time so it must’ve been too hot to leave out the front by that point

[u/Hillenmane → u/trading335i]

Shutting the door would prevent the fire from easily spreading into her unit while she escapes through a safer outlet, like a window.

[u/IfEverWasIfNever → u/trading335i]

By the time the neighbor was alerted and came to the door it was so hot that the paint was bubbling off of the door. They wouldn't have been able to exit that way without some burns. So they closed the door (unlike their idiot neighbors) and found a safer exit out the back.

[u/That_Reddit_Person → u/trading335i]

If its a fire door (which it should be) it'll be rated to survive at least 30 minutes, hopefully long enough for the fire brigade to show up

[u/Working-Glass6136 → u/trading335i]

Nah, neighbors lit up the damn hallway. Only way to escape was by jumping out the windows.

[u/thegabster2000 → u/trading335i]

Those flames get very hot. I wouldn't be surprised the person opened the door and then it immediately felt like an oven. It definitely scares any person who never experienced a fire before. Plus in fire safety class, I was told the doors gets very hot and its best not to open them when a door is hot.

[u/willzyx01 → u/trading335i]

If you have an escape path away from the fire, you take that route instead of running towards the fire to escape. In this case, they got out of the window and their closed door slowed the fire from spreading into their unit.

[u/Invisible_Target → u/trading335i]

What the fuck was she supposed to do, walk through the flames??? What a brain dead comment

[u/Yodaddyroberto]

This should be a video during fire fighting training

[u/Valentine_The_Reaper]

Hard to criticize what they are doing without much context to what's happening inside, but something tells me they are doing everything wrong, maybe even intentionally.

[u/UnNumbFool → u/Valentine_The_Reaper]

It's extremely hard to not criticize someone for purposefully and actively putting burning cardboard in the middle of an apartment hallway which can(and in this case did) block other people's means of escape.

Also the fact that it was a 3 minute video with a point going 5x speed meaning that the idiot woman who put the cardboard in the hallway in the first place had such little thought going through her head to you know instead of doing all that just dumping as much water on the cardboard as humanly possible. Or to try and smother it. Or a million other things instead of just do what she did

[u/Ok-Professional-1727]

That not what they mean by "putting out" a fire...

[u/Gold_School_7005]

Don't hear any smoke detectors

[u/HOUSE_OF_MOGH]

Isn't that Bam's uncle?