Adventures in my life .. the fire

Luis leaves the house around 5:30 on Tuesdays to go to school and I get a ride home from work around 6:30.  My co-worker pulls into my apartment complex (sometimes the gate is closed and she leaves me off at the entrance, today it is open, thankfully).  We pull around the corner and I notice a fire truck basically in front of my apartment.  I then notice that my door is open, and I spot a dog on a leash.  On my, it is my dog, but he doesn't look his right color, he is dirty looking.  I get out and my friend waits to see what I need.  I find out from witnesses that about 10 minutes after hubby left the place was on fire.
I try to call him to let him know. 

The fire department let me in.  I go and look for the cats.  They are hiding in the bedroom, the firefighters closed the door to keep them in.  Belle is just sitting there waiting for me, looking like the princess.  Nala is wedged in the closet hiding upside down, she is terrified.  Neither of them give me a fight about getting in their carriers.  I give Jaxper to my friend to hold, while I figure out what is going on, now that I know where my animals are.

The fire chief asks if hubby was burning a candle.  The fire started in the kitchen.  We never burn candles in the kitchen, so I said no.  I believe it was electrical.  We had several problems already.  In that same area the power went out a few months back and the apartment had a friend fix it.  There have been times when the air conditioning turns on by itself and you cannot shut it off without unplugging it (because it is already in th off position).

The apartment is unlivable.  The fire was contained to the kitchen, but there is smoke everywhere.  The apartment complex gets us into a vacant apartment.  Hubby gets my message that I called and leaves school and a mid-term to see what is happening. 

With the help of neighbors, we move some of our bigger items that may be salvagable and some clothes so I can do laundry.  At this point everything still hasn't sunk in and I still think I need to go to work the next day.  My boss calls ( my co-worker called her to let her know) and says to take the day off to do what I need to do. 

After I get a load in the washer, I look at the animals, they are so filthy.  I decide I need to give them a bath.  Belle is first.  Her water is not that dirty and I relax a little.  Then comes Nala, her water is black and her white paws are all dingy.  Jaxper is last, we give him 2 baths as I think he was in the midst, I think the cats hid quicker than him.

I look at them and feel so bad, I can't imagine how scared they were, the fire, the smoke, the smoke alarm, the fireman breaking down the door.  Nala is still scared.  She is our rescue cat and is less trustful than the others.  She has been hiding in cupboards during the day and ony comes out at night.  She is getting a little better now and I see her some during he day.

There is still so much to clean, I cannot believe how smoke goes everywhere.  I have done like 30 loads of laundry and still need to wash a few more.

So many items need to be replaced.  Luckily, we have renters insurance.  That will help so much.

Now, we are in the process of slowly cleaning everything.  I still need to get back to the other apartment to get a few more items I have there, but I cannot wait to be done there.