Fire on Paine Road

The phone rang during the early morning hours and Dad answered.  It was a fire and the two of us rushed down to the Yurok Volunteer Fire Department at the head of our street.

Dad started up the white rescue rig as I went to the chalkboard and wrote down the information we had on the blaze. It was a home fire at the end of Paine Road, where least three families lived: The Bruhy’s, the Brown’s and the Paine’s.

We set up in front of Mrs. Paine’s home.  We could hear other fire engines coming with their sirens blaring.

Jus’ as I started for the door, I heard a swoosh from over head. It was followed by a smashing sound behind me, which happened over and over again in rapid secession.

As I pushed open the door, out of the smoke came a couple of sheep, a number of chickens, several cats and a horse. It was very surreal.

Then Dad yelled, saying he saw someone in the window above me. I raced up the stairs and through the smoke to find Mrs. Paine tossing stuff out of the window.

She refused to leave until I had helped her lift and throw three  extremely large and heavy suit cases to the ground below.  Later I would find out the suit cases were stuffed thousands of paper dollars, while the jars held coins.

I still don’t know what to think of her living arrangement or banking habits.