Volunteer firefighter's quick action saved Clinton staff in Indiana

[Adelante]

Fire destroys Clinton Indiana office

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The quick action by a volunteer firefighter may have saved lives last night, as Hillary Clinton's local headquarters was completely gutted by a fire.

According to one official, a volunteer firefighter was driving past the office on South 3rd Street when he noticed flames coming from the roof of the headquarters. The firefighter alerted two staffers who were working inside of the situation.

"They didn't know at the time, they were just sitting at their desks there," said John Gardner, public information officer for the Terre Haute Fire Department. "About 20 seconds after they got out of the building, the ceiling collapsed right in the area where they were at. The whole roof went in."

The fire was called in at 12:18 am, and Gardner said the department was on scene moments after.

-snip

Joseph Tanoos, who owned the structure, said the Clinton campaign had just moved into the building three days ago. He said that the building had been inspected and he believed it to be safe.

"It's coincidence that all the activity with the candidates was in town," he said. "But I think that's all it is, a coincidence."

Tanoos said the campaign only had moved in some desks and chairs, and likely phone lines.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/11/877798.aspx


Firefighters are the BEST :yourock:

[leftofcool]

1. Way to go fire fighters!

[Adelante]

2. This seems to have been very close to a tragedy

I am so glad they got out in time.

[rinsd]

3. Thanks for the story WesDem

:hi:

[Adelante]

7. Hello, sweetie

:hi:

[PVnRT]

4. Tanoos?

if this is a member of the rest of the Tanoos clan, don't believe him for one second when he says that the building was safe.

[tammywammy]

5. Talk about luck

He just happened to be driving by and got them out just in time.

:yourock:

[Adelante]

6. Really an amazing story

Escaping possible death by 20 seconds and entirely by chance. Whew!

[PVnRT]

8. Bill stopped to see it

From the local paper: http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_story_102110638.html

[pansypoo53219]

9. my dad is a retired ff. also a returd.

but let me tell you. they are PYROMANIACS. they are alert to the smell of fire. look for smoke. if they did find any, they will go to it like a moth to a flame. of course i too am a pyro and will go to the smoke, big smoke and drove closer and closer and fully engulfed house. actually was gonna be used for ff training.
love playing with fire.

[Adelante]

10. I have several nephews who are NYC firefighters

I think it is true, there is a fascination with fire.

[okasha]

13. Can we be more careful with the word "pyromaniac?"

Pyromaniacs start fires; while firefighters may be fascinated with fire, ("pyrophiliacs," maybe?) the number of fires set by firefighters is vanishingly small.

[AllentownJake]

11. The offices for the candidates

Are generally in buildings where the space has been available for a long time and have had a lot of neglect. Mostly because they are cheap to rent for a few months. Nobody really wants a tenant that will only be there for 2-3 months and leave.

I hope everyone...all parties takes some time to check their offices in IN, NC, and PA today for danger.

[Coexist]

12. great story

thanks for sharing