If your house was on fire and you had 60 seconds, what would you take?
Asked by
Tbag (
3549
)
August 11th, 2011
I saw a great movie recently and it inspired me to ask this question. Out of all the valuable stuff you own, what would you take in those sixty seconds?
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65 Answers
Photo albums and external hd containing photos. I’d be happy to let the rest burn.
The parrot, the safe contents, and some sausages from the fridge to grill on a stick over my flaming house.
Were you watching Leap Year?
The wallet and a box of photos that haven’t been converted to digital images yet. No one else, human or pet, lives in this house, so it’s just a matter of saving my own skin.
The home videos. Then the bottle of wine. Then the signed batman drawing by Bob Kane.
(cough cough) Then the pictures. Then the family tree files (aaaahhhh!!!!!! Toooo lonnnngg!!!)
The unused matches.
and of course the car keys and new identity papers
Either I deleted the last part or got side-tracked. It’s pre-caffeine time here. “No one else, human or pet, lives in the house, or they would take first priority.”
@Tbag Leap Year was a cute chick-flick. I liked the underlying message.
I’d go to the drawer where we keep all the deeds and documents and the last few receipts. But first I’d ensure the family is safe though when it’s a fire and someone yells fire I doubt anyone can be sleeping or doing anything else enjoying the smoke.
Sorry, 60 seconds is not enough time for me to save anything but my purse and ring as I’m running out the door. Those two valuable items are usually closest to the exit and I would hope I’m not to panicky to leave them.
My kid and my purse (car keys in it)
If i was feeling particularly strong id grab my stand mixer too <3
My battered old briefcase, since it has virtually every important paper I own. My medications, since I depend on them. My pistol, since I sometimes depend upon it. My three animals, since they depend on me. : )
Pictures and some video because it will be one hell of a fire and I would want something to show my friends.
I’d grab my baby, the dog, and my bird
I would watch CNN Breaking News to see if I am gonna make it in out in that minute.
Pictures/photo albums.
Most physical items can be replaced. However, photos of long dead friends and family can’t.
I’ve got 130 gbs of music on an external hard drive. That would be the most difficult thing I own to replace. Probably also holds the most value to me too. Other than that, I’d grab any family photos I could.
My dogs, maybe some photos.
Yeah, I guess I’d grab the dog too. I just assumed she’s figure out the problem. Like Mitch Hedberg said, “If you’re flammable and have legs, you’ll never be blocking a fire exit.”
@cockswain
Don’t be too sure of that. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been on a busy / crowded escalator, for example, and run into a blockage at the bottom because someone just got off… and stopped where they stood. My daughter’s high school graduation ended with people strolling down stairs… and then stopping in doorways to chat (when the weather outside was perfectly delightful, but it just wasn’t where their heads were at). Also, horses are known to panic by running back into the burning barn, because “the barn’s a safe place” so that’s where they go. Some people display that level of rationality, too.)
I already thought of this and I think I’d like to grab a few photos…unless there is a pet in the house.
@CWOTUS Point taken. I guess if there is ever a fire and I’m blocking a fire exit, it won’t be for more than a couple seconds.
The thingie Alex installed that backs up all the photos.
First, my kids, then if I have time and oxygen, the pets, but for sure I’ll grab my keys and phone on my way out.
wait a minute, why is the deaf one the first one to mention a phone? haha!
My writings and my acoustic guitar.
My file of papers labeled “save this in case of fire” and my laptop. Everything else is replaceable or on my remote digital backup.
My children. My wife. The external hard drives.
It will take more than 60 secs to get all living beings out of my home. We have discussed our plan of action a few times as a family. No joke!
There have been a few scary house fires near us recently. One caused by lightening, one a wood stove, the next a tool in the basement. All three of the homes were almost totaled or totaled. Luckily, our fire department is fast, as were the home owners. All family members (one home has 13 kids) and pets were accounted for.
That would most likely not be the case with our home. We have more pets than people. 60 secs would allow us to get out ourselves, our child and hopefully the four-legged animals. If we ran, we might be able to get out our tortoise and our birds. It would take swift action though.
@CaptainHarley Careful you don’t shoot yourself with that thing. I have put all my most important papers in a black folder so I would try to take that and also an external hard drive with photos and personal stuff on it.
Assuming family members and pets have already escaped, I’d go for the files of important documents like house deeds, passports etc. My computer has a lot of personal stuff on it that I’d hate to lose but there’s no way I can unplug it and carry it outside in 60 seconds. Guess it’s time to do a data-backup to the “cloud”...
My wallet, my cat and my trainers.
Pocket knife and mobile always stay in my pocket.
I would take my phone, blanket , clothes , my phone charger , and my family , wait also my hamsters . !
After obvious things like family and dog…I have a bag behind the sofa that has all my photo albums and photo cds in, that would be grabbed asap!! If I could get in the loft I would try to get my wedding dress and a few of my daughters baby clothes/hospital tags and.my pen drive. Apart from that most things are replacable…phones tvs etc…
@flutherother
If I shoot myself with my own pistol, it will definitely be intentional, and since I love life too much to let go easily, the chances of my shooting myself at all approach zero as a limit! : ))
My dog. I didn’t read the others, but I’m sure most of them said their pets. Material things can be replaced, my dog can’t. No one else lives with me so I wouldn’t have another human to have to worry about saving.
My cats. Assuming I could get a hold of them in that time. Important papers are in a fireproof safe, everything else can go up in smoke. I’m assuming that my husband can get himself out!
My cats, if they’re still in the place. Otherwise, money and beer.
@Symbeline Ohhh, I almost forgot the beer. I’d run back in for that.
@chyna Yeah. I’d sure need a beer if my place burned down lol.
Husband, kids, photos, computer, iPhone.
Hard drives, box o’ personal papers, purse (because my purse has all my day-to-day stuff in it).
Anything living and the box of important papers/cds with photos etc. that I really am going to get ready in case of just such an event.
My pets, my laptop, my purse, my jewelry.
My dog, my keys and my photo album, my purse. If time permits, My birthcertificate, and marriage license and passports (they are all in one file in the front of my cabinet where my purse usually lays)
Damit now I have to put them all in the same spot so I can grab it all for sure.
@Pandora, you need to get one of those important paper boxes too. We should both put it on our list for when the ‘fire’ happens.
I think about this constantly. I have a lot of cats though, so I’m sure I would act instinctively and get them out before anything material, regardless of the item’s significance.
As far as objects, though? I’m not really sure. I should put together an emergency box. There are a lot of photo albums I’d want and boxes of random sentimental things, but they’re not all in the same room so I’m not sure it would be practical.
Perhaps scan those important photos and put them on a disc and put them in your box? That’s on my ten year plan for the emergency box anyway.
…my ass outta there! xD
(+ keys, wallet, phone etc. – they’re always in one particular place)
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