...at what they do!

When I returned home to my apartment at Stratford Square Apartments last Sunday night, this is what greeted me:

My apartment building was on fire, seriously on fire. This picture is of the top of the building on the end closest to Route 1. There were firetrucks and firefighters everywhere or so it seemed including units from Stafford and Spotsylvania counties going about their business of saving lives and property in a fashion that minimized damage in what could have been a much more serious incident. Chief Eddie Allen and his most professional organization did an outstanding job that night as I am sure they do on all their calls. I appreciated this one in particular of course because my home was threatened as it's in the same building that was on fire.  The damage was contained quickly enough that I didn't even have to sleep elsewhere that night. There was absolutely no damage to my place at all and no smoke smell in my apartment.

The next time you see news coverage of city or county budget issues, contact your representative and encourage them to pay particular attention to the needs of the fire department. The next time it could be your home that's saved.

As for me, a big fat thank you to the Fredericksburg Fire Department for a fast response and fine job. And a special thanks as well to the owner of Stratford Square for their care for all the residents of my building who were displaced by the fire.