I always knew we lived in a wonderful community, but that was never made clearer to me than on Monday evening. I arrived in Indianapolis for a work conference earlier that day. After FaceTiming with my family, I saw some concerning news come across our building's email list-serv. I alerted my husband since I knew he was doing bedtime routine with the kiddo. It turned out that there was a fire in our condo building. Because of the attention and quick actions of our neighbors, the fire department arrived quickly and was able to extinguish the fire without it spreading too far. (No one was hurt but the building is dealing with the aftermath and mitigation of the impacted area.) I called my husband as soon as they evacuated. While I knew my family was physically safe, my mind raced trying to figure out options of where they could stay and what they would need if they were not allowed back in the building. It was agony not to be there in person. I deal with tough situations by focusing on what I can do to resolve the situation. There was literally nothing I could do in this case. I couldn't even get a flight back home that night. My family had to remain outside for two hours while DC Fire ensured the fire was out and the building was safe to reoccupy. Our kiddo was nonplussed by the entire event. She got extra time on her tablet, was able to see lots of pets, and even enjoyed a snack. A woman who lives on the street behind us walked around offering pouches and other kid treats to those who wanted them. One of the firefighters talked to our kiddo about Daniel Tiger. Once my family was allowed back in the building, kiddo went to bed as if nothing happened. I am grateful to live among neighbors who watch out for each other. While I am, admittedly, still dealing with anxiety around this, I know that our community is there to help.
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