Our volunteer firefighters do an exemplary job of keeping us safe in the event of a fire.
Even when people make it harder for them.
Some people seem to deliberately act in a boneheaded way, while others probably just don't know what they should do if there is a fire.
Apartment building fires can be particularly tough this way.
First, let's talk about the numbskulls who, while smoke is billowing down the hallways and infiltrating around their door frames seem to think that they don't really need to exit the building.
Somehow they seem to believe themselves invulnerable.
It's nuts.
Anyone who has lived in an apartment building knows that fire alarms can be quite frequent, and usually, there is no fire.
But for goodness sake, even if someone's just burned their toast and set off the alarm you're still required to leave the building.
Because you don't know that somebody has just burned their toast and set off the alarm.
Just because you can't see flames or smoke doesn't mean it's not on its way.
And even if nine times out of 10 it's the toast and not a fire, better safe than sorry. Consider the false alarms a fire drill and streamline your plan to get out.
We really don't know what to do about the folks who stick their heads out their doors, see smoke, then proceed to just go back to whatever it was they were doing. It's baffling.
The other thing that people are often leery to do but should is leave their apartments unlocked when they head outside.
We know folks are worried about someone taking advantage of the confusion and stealing their stuff, but the locked doors only make it difficult for the firefighters to do their job.
Firefighters must clear all of the apartments, and if they can't get into yours, guess what? They have no choice but to break down your door. Then your apartment is open anyway and your door is damaged.
Your landlord may not have the master key, as happened during Sunday's apartment blaze in Duncan.
So let's try to make things easier for those trying to save our lives and property.
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