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When Mountain View residents Jessica Koehler and Briana McDowell first heard the fire alarm go off in their apartment building on May 5, they thought they would have enough time to grab their most important belongings, harness their dogs and get out safely.
But this plan was quickly shattered as glass exploded in the apartment above them, leading to a harrowing fire evacuation that, since then, has left them reflecting on what they could have done to better prepare for emergency situations.
“We didn’t have an evacuation plan and that was one of the scariest moments, just screaming for your partner and not knowing where they are,” McDowell said, describing what happened as they fled the burning building with their two dogs.
The two-alarm fire broke out in a three-story apartment complex on the 2600 block of Fayette Drive. The blaze tore through an apartment on the third floor and caused severe water damage to the unit directly below, inhabited by Koehler and McDowell. By the time fire crews extinguished the blaze, it had caused an estimated $1 million in damage and displaced nine residents in seven apartment units.
Since the fire, the building’s property management has undertaken extensive restoration efforts to address the smoke damage and most tenants have returned to their apartments, according to Koehler and McDowell. But they were unable to reinhabit their waterlogged unit.
Instead, Koehler and McDowell scrambled to find a new apartment, while also pulling together basic household necessities. The recovery has taken a financial toll on them, as both are afterschool educators and have not returned to work since the fire. Koehler is also a student at San José State University, finishing her studies in the teacher preparation program.
To help them get back on their feet, Koehler’s mother set up a GoFundMe account with the goal of raising $10,000, as renter’s insurance did not compensate for most of what they lost in the fire. The liability coverage was great, but the property damage coverage was not even close to adequate, Koehler said, adding that she has doubled it since moving into their new apartment.
The community has since stepped in, contributing generously to the GoFundMe account, which has nearly reached the original $10,000 goal as of this week. The response has made a big impact, Koehler said, noting that this kind of support for many people is the difference between having housing and not having it.
They also have felt more connected to the community since the fire, Koehler said. During the evacuation, neighbors banged on doors, alerting people of the danger and making sure they got out safely. Afterwards, residents in the apartment building helped Koehler and McDowell recover some of their most treasured items. The sense of community has prompted Koehler and McDowell to ask for the phone numbers of their new neighbors so they can reach out to them and offer assistance if ever needed.
The fire also has pushed Koehler and McDowell to think more intentionally about how to best prepare for emergencies. Koehler described the importance of having a “go-to” bag with packed essentials, while McDowell stressed the importance of an evacuation plan, with explicit communication about where to meet people after an emergency event.
“Once the alarms are going and you become separated and your anxiety is going, your adrenaline is going, you’re entering a different state of mind and smoke starts to enter your apartment, it’s difficult to start thinking about what to do,” McDowell said. “So, really having that solid plan beforehand is the difference between getting out and not.”
Robert Maitland, spokesperson for the Mountain View Fire Department, also offered some tips to help people prepare for a fire emergency.
Sticking to the basics is key, he said. This means having smoke detectors on every floor and inside and outside of every bedroom as well as testing them every month. Batteries also should be changed regularly, Maitland said, noting that this could be done when clocks are changed during daylight saving time.
A fire evacuation plan also is essential, he said, adding that this needs to be practiced to develop muscle memory. Closing doors to living areas and bedrooms when sleeping can help prevent the spread of a fire and smoke too, he said.
In the event of an actual fire, it’s important to stay low to the ground since smoke and heat rises, and to hug walls to stay oriented to find the quickest exit. Once outside, stay outside, Maitland said, adding that pets would be fine and to not go back inside a burning building for them. “Don’t panic, keep a cool head,” he added.
To help the community better prepare for these kinds of emergency events, the Mountain View Fire Department is holding a 150th Anniversary Parade on Sunday, May 19 that will have educational booths, including an inflatable house for kids to practice fire safety techniques. The event is free to the public and will be held in downtown Mountain View at City Hall and Castro Street, starting at 12:30 p.m.