Tragic

Had a tangential brush with the gas explosion that was heard around the world.  Maybe that is stretching it a bit.  Hitting the 101 just out from SFO on Thursday, on the opposite side of the highway, we saw at least three firetrucks, sirens blazing, rushing North.  Limousine driver told Holly and I there was some kind of explosion and fire.  He knew nothing beyond that.  Reaching home, all news channels were broadcasting the huge fire still raging and devastating the homes of San Bruno.  Regular programming were all but neglected.

It was heartbreaking to see the balls of fire reaching some 70 feet into the early evening sky, flames licking everywhere and gutting out the homes.  As the evening wore on, CBS was the first to announce over 50 homes were destroyed and another 100 or so houses damaged.  We now know that these initial numbers were too high.  Still the devastation was terrible.  A whole neighborhood now mourns for the loss of lives, houses burned out to the ground and people unable to return to their homes till 3 days later.

In the midst of the devastation and tragedy, it was heartwarming to see people turning out to help their fellow humans.  As the fires raged and people stream into emergency centers with just the clothes on them, others were carrying bundles and bundles of everyday essentials - an unending stream carting in cases of water, blankets, toilet paper, food, ...  There was so much stuff that the Red Cross the next day asked that people stop bringing things.  Just give a check or cash, there was no more room for more things.

It was wrenching to hear the story of a young man suffering third degree burns barely conscious, weeping that he could not save his girlfriend who was in flames.  All he could say, over and over, was that he could not save her.  She was one of the four who perished.

And I asked on Facebook if blood from an anaemic person would be accepted.  Likely not, they may give me blood instead.  Sigh!