[JR Boucicaut]

I just got home and I'm still rattled, so bear with me...

We were closing up the shop til we heard the fire alarms going off. All of a sudden, I see people running down the hallways - then I hear something I have never heard before - "The Zamboni's on fire!"

I look out the door and I see the Zamboni sitting there in the middle of the crease, burning.

I get my phone and my bag and me and my employees run out. By that time almost everyone is out of the building, and we're just waiting for it to explode.

One propane tank blows and the doors of the rink open and the ground shakes. I did something stupid, by running back into the building, and I lock the shop. I run out again, and a minute goes and the second tank blows up. I did it because since I was closing, the money was out in the open, so I made sure to lock the shop.

At this point I've called my boss and told him what happened - he didn't really believe it. I went to the back where the rink doors were open and the fire rescue is trying to put out the machine. I then go to the front of the building and they open the doors to vent the smoke out, and then I realize right then and there that we've lost our inventory.

I call the owner to tell him that he's going to have to come down and file a claim.

My heart rate is going nuts right now. I don't know what's going to happen to me, because I don't have a shop to work in, and everything that I've worked on is all gone. Not to mention that I had a pretty good autographed hockey jersey collection that is most likely gone as well.

[zingbergeur]

At least you're ok! I hope nobody else was injured as well. I had my eye on that Preds jersey you had in there with all the autographs. What a shame!

[indaslot]

That is terrible, but at least noone was hurt. I don't know what to say. I guess, have a drink, try to relax and take stock of the situation in the morning.Maybe some of the inventory survived? Keep us posted!

[JR Boucicaut]

I imagine anything that isn't a hockey stick is gone.

[Netminder32]

C'mon, it's not the first of April... :o

Are you for real or are you pulling our legs here... <_<

[Lufria]

Glad to hear you're ok. I hope everything works out for you with the shop and the job.

Hearing that propane tank must have scared the hell out of you. I'm x-military, and basic training had some stuff that made the ground shake. Hell of a brave man to run back into the building. Stay safe man.

Again, i hope everything works out for you!

[MissConduct]

holy shit, glad you're ok JR..

[fatwabbit]

SHite... hope it works out with the insurance, and hope that the inventory is not torched.

At least you and all your employees are ok, thats the important thing.



Reminds me of the time when I was the Duty Officer, and the freakin cookhouse burnt down. One of the cooks left the burners on, and it just burnt everything. No chance to fight the fire, cause the cook who discovered the fire ran to his bunk to hide, instead of calling everyone to help. Next time I knew, I had the Brigade (higher HQ) officers in my camp. Lucky that I already knew those guys, and didnt have any issues.

Had combat rations for a week after that, the cook really got a flogging too....

[Oberon]

Glad you're ok JR, and that everyone made it out safely. Everything else is just stuff.

[RadioGaGa]

Holy shit. Hopefully everyone is okay. Inventory can be replaced. Any idea what happened to set the Zamboni on fire?

On a positive note...I can't think of a better guy to have on staff when you need to re-build a shop.

[JR Boucicaut]

Spark caused by a leaky transmission is what we are hearing.

[DarkStar50]

That must have been a pure adrenaline rush when everything was happening so quickly. Don't worry about the inventory as it will be replaced. The important thing is no one got hurt. I am sorry to hear about your jersey collection taking a hit. I have some personal collectibles in the shop and this incident is making me think twice about what I keep there.

Again, you're ok and the staff is ok. The rest is just gear that can be replaced. It sounds to me like things could have been a lot worse. Were there any mens league guys getting ready to play or was the entire building just about quiet for the night? My building would have a lot of people in it at 9 PM if something like this ever happened.

Drink a few beers, buddy.

[JR Boucicaut]

8 pm - Novi HS and 96 travel on the other sheet (the one that the fire occurred on)

I'd say there were at least 250-300 people there.

[Doctor Hook]

That sucks, man. I'm glad you're OK and nobody got hurt. You'll bounce back, man.

[pantherfan]

Keep your head up and try to relax, things are out of your hands for now so don't dwell on it, go in tommorow or whenever they let you and assess the damage.

Ussually/hopfully it's not as bad as you think.