there was quite the hullabaloo last night. around 7:30 i heard sirens and looked out the window to see fire trucks and firemen walking into mrs.r's house. i picked up audrey and we all went out side there was the smell smoke in the air. but the smell had been around since 6, we thought someone was bbq'ing. so there was a few seconds of shock, then i said to shawn that the burning smell had been in the air for so long. then L. the woman who rents the other side of our twin came out. to see what was going on. (at this point about everyone on the block was out). L. asked what was up. i said there seemed to be some sort of fire at the R's house but that they cant find the cause & the firefighters think its coming from the back of the house. now the firefighters, shawn & mrs.r & her daughter are looking around our yard and me & the kids are still on the porch. i say to L. that we had smelled smoke around 6 and it was so heavy we had to shut our door b/c shawn was weezing ( he's having really bad time with allergies) but i thought it was someone starting a bbq or some idiot burning leaves. then L's face drains of all color. she says 'that was me' ' i was burning paper in the backyard' 'i couldnt get the briquettes started'. around now the firefighters around back out front, saying it seems more like a cooking smell, and i told L. 'good god go tell them!'
there were trucks from multiple fire stations, police, neighbors out from 3 different blocks. my kids were teary, other kids were upset too (the r's are a very well know family) oh goodness all becuase some one was burning paper!
when all was said and done i had to take audrey back to show her the dogs were ok. i was shaken up too. i know i mentioned mr. r broke his hip 10 days ago. he'll be coming home from the hospital later this week. shawn was over earlier helping them move furniture. im grateful nothing else happened last night and it was just someone burning paper.