digamma
01-25-2007, 01:53 PM
Seriously.
Tuesday night.
I was driving home, and there was an abnormal amount of traffic on the main thoroughfare to get to my street. After fighting through the traffic, mainly through the use of back roads, I get to my street and notice that there are fire trucks blocking my street. I do see a gap in between them, though, so I start to pull in between them.
A fireman jumps out of his truck, hits the hood of my car and says, "Who gave you permission to come up here?"
***A little back story. I live on a fairly narrow street in a rather hilly neighborhood. In the last several years, we've had some troubles with mudslides during rains, and they've periodically blocked the areas around my house, except to locals. I thought, somewhat reasonably (I still think), that there might be something going on on the street, but that access to locals is permitted.***
I say, "I live here. Just trying to get home."
He says, "Can't you see the streets blocked?"
I say, "Yes, but I thought you might be allowing local access."
He says, "What would give you that idea? You need to back up."
I say, "Can you tell me what's going on?"
He says, "There's a fire [unsaid: DUMBASS]."
I say, "Can you tell me what house--it could be mine? I have a pet there, so I'd like to make sure everything is ok."
He gives me the address--obviously not my house. Then he threatens to cite me for violating a fire line, and yells a bit more about me needing to back up. By this time, there are three other cars behind me, also trying to get up our street. I tell him I can't back up with three cars behind me. I ask him how I can get home. He tells me, so helpfully, that I need to find another way. Thanks, Chief.
So, they stop traffic in the intersection, and let us fire line violators back up.
Luckily, I know of a side street that spits out really close to my house, so I was able to take that and get home.
So there, Chief!
(story on the fire: http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_023222807.html)
Tuesday night.
I was driving home, and there was an abnormal amount of traffic on the main thoroughfare to get to my street. After fighting through the traffic, mainly through the use of back roads, I get to my street and notice that there are fire trucks blocking my street. I do see a gap in between them, though, so I start to pull in between them.
A fireman jumps out of his truck, hits the hood of my car and says, "Who gave you permission to come up here?"
***A little back story. I live on a fairly narrow street in a rather hilly neighborhood. In the last several years, we've had some troubles with mudslides during rains, and they've periodically blocked the areas around my house, except to locals. I thought, somewhat reasonably (I still think), that there might be something going on on the street, but that access to locals is permitted.***
I say, "I live here. Just trying to get home."
He says, "Can't you see the streets blocked?"
I say, "Yes, but I thought you might be allowing local access."
He says, "What would give you that idea? You need to back up."
I say, "Can you tell me what's going on?"
He says, "There's a fire [unsaid: DUMBASS]."
I say, "Can you tell me what house--it could be mine? I have a pet there, so I'd like to make sure everything is ok."
He gives me the address--obviously not my house. Then he threatens to cite me for violating a fire line, and yells a bit more about me needing to back up. By this time, there are three other cars behind me, also trying to get up our street. I tell him I can't back up with three cars behind me. I ask him how I can get home. He tells me, so helpfully, that I need to find another way. Thanks, Chief.
So, they stop traffic in the intersection, and let us fire line violators back up.
Luckily, I know of a side street that spits out really close to my house, so I was able to take that and get home.
So there, Chief!
(story on the fire: http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_023222807.html)