Going downtown for lunch on Saturday proved to be exciting for a moment. I noticed a large plume of smoke coming from the area that I was travelling to, so walked over to see if I could safely take some photos. I am always concerned that I take photos 1) safely and 2) that I am not in the way. I do this every time I shoot photos but I pay much more attention when I find myself near a disaster or other dangerous areas. So I walk closer and realize that I was early enough to watch the Policemen tape the area off. I reach for my camera to find that I left my memory card. Luckily, the iPhone has a pretty good zoom lens so I can shoot from a distance.
Apparently, the fire started in a second floor room and at one point I watch water shoot up into the corner of the building as the Fire Department was getting control of the fire. Meanwhile there was some movement around the trucks as the checked various gauges and instruments.
I do not know if anyone was injured or if they brought medical personnel in case they were needed. The medical personnel wheeled in a stretcher and stood by, along with many others, and watched what was going on in the building. By this time, there was little or no smoke seeping from the building.
Soon, as I stood farther back, one of trucks left the scene. The firetruck had to back out of the crowded street into and even more crowded intersection.
Then I watched as the ground guide, walked to climb back into the truck and return to their station.