I’m not sure how many people have been to places which have burnt down or caught on fire. Admittedly, having lived in Australia for two years made the chances of that higher as bushfires are common there. Still, I think it’s a little unusual to have been to a number of places that have been ravaged by fire.
The kitchen in my house, Bishan, Singapore
On fire: Ash Wednesday (the irony) early to mid 90s.
Cause: Stove fire.
Remarks: My grandmother left cooking unattended while she was on the phone. I was the only other person who was at home. I was supposed to be at church when the fire happened, but I had decided to go for a later mass. I managed to put out the fire before it got really big. The kitchen had to be renovated as the fire destroyed the hob, stove and part of the cabinets.
Mount Stromlo Observatory, Canberra, Australia | article
Visited: July 2001.
On fire: 18 January 2003.
Cause: Bushfire.
Remarks: Not many people visit Mount Stromlo (or Canberra, for that matter), so I was shocked to find out one morning that the observatory fell victim to a massive bush fire.
Victoria Ranges Indoor Rock Climbing Centre and Pistol Range, Melbourne, Australia | article
Visited: Various occasions in 2002 and 2003.
On fire: 12 November 2004.
Cause: I believe it was an accident. Can’t seem to find an article which confirms the cause.
Remarks: This place, next to a paper warehouse, was entirely gutted.
Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia | article
On fire: 1 April 2005.
Visited: Just a week or two before the fire.
Cause: Out of control back-burning
Remarks: I went to Melbourne for a short break in 2005. Not long after my first-ever visit to Wilsons Prom, a major fire (apparently due to back-burning gone wrong) wiped out a lot of the vegetation.
Universal Studios, Los Angeles, USA | article
Visited: December 1995.
On fire: 2 June 2008.
Cause: Apparently, an accident.
Remarks: The animatronic King Kong that scared my brother is now no more.
So, beware if I’ve ever been to your house…
Teutoburg
/ Thursday, 5 June 2008Fires seem to follow you? Your alias should have been pyro-matic!
Yes, forest fires are a bane to Australian rural communities and some have taken matters into their own hands.
They equip themselves with pressure hoses that connect to extensive pipelines that ring the town. They also clear a de-forested buffer around the town and clear their surroundings and roofs of anything that is flammable.
They conduct drills with the local fire service and deploy the neighborhood watch when the state government issues the fire ban.
In recent years, there have been cases of pyromaniacs lighting forest fires, causing wanton acts of destruction. These criminals should be hung by the neck until dead.
hobart
/ Thursday, 5 June 2008You forgot one ! If i recall correctly , December 2003 – Wild West Falls ride at Dreamworld , Gold Coast , caught on fire very shortly after we were there .
acroamatic
/ Thursday, 5 June 2008Ah! I knew I was missing a fire. I just recalled it as some theme park. Couldn’t remember where or when. Thanks for filling that gap.
Lam Chun See
/ Thursday, 5 June 2008Oh dear; you’ve been to my hourse twice!! :)
Ee Wei
/ Thursday, 5 June 2008Hmm so far it this is only true if it was a public place and your own house. Lets keep it this way shall we? :P
acroamatic
/ Friday, 6 June 2008@ Chun See Heheh. I think my friend who commented after you has more to worry about in that case… =P Then again, I’ve only visited some of these places once. Number or length of visits doesn’t seem to be a factor…
@ Ee Wei So far… But there was also a small fire during a gathering (either Christmas or a birthday) at my Godfather’s place. A very minor incident, so I didn’t write about it. Looks like other people’s houses not immune…