"The store, the store, the store is on fire..."

[dalesys]

I could be wrong, but I think that time delay on the emergency exit could be a fire code violation. If there were a fast moving fire in the building, those extra seconds could be CRITICAL.

I install card access systems, and by the codes we use, delayed exits are to be released / delay disabled when fire alarm is active.

However, some inspectors never get a round-tuit, don't care, are paid off...; some managers refuse to pay for the interconnection, many delayed exits are stand alone (without any external connection at all).

Also, the codes specify a unchangeable delay of 15 seconds (30 with approval of the (Fire) Authority Having Jurisdiction), so I suspect the mangle muncher saying "5 seconds" was running their mouth off/ too lazy to know how stuff really works.

[Midnight_Angel]

"B... but they are having such a HOT sale, right now!"

*runs for cover*

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

One person walked right past the fire truck parked infront of one of the doors, over the fire hoses and tried to get inside only to be stopped, much to her displeasure, by a fireman.

<blink><blink> Huh?

People were actually ARGUING with the cops and firemen at the doors. And others were lining up at the side doors on the entrance ways to get it. One after another trying to get into a door that was LOCKED!!

<twitch>

There was this one lady who stood at the cross walk to one of the entrances and stared at the cop car and police tape for about five minutes before walking across and trying to go inside.

Dude! Wait, what?

CS: If the store had a fire, why did you close the pharmacy??

Would someone do me a favor? If you see a brain running around and yelping like a puppy that had its tail under Granny's rocking chair, please give it a bag of ice and send it back to my head.

[Mr Hero]

If the idiots wanted to get into the store so badly, you should have let them. Who are you to argue with natural selection?

[Imprl59]

"The store, the store, the store is on fire!
We don't need no water let the mother f_cker burn,
Burn mother f_cker burn.."

Perhaps I'm just so tired that I'm a little loopy but I laughed so hard at this I had tears in my eyes.

We have a sub place here called FireHouse subs. They give away these nifty fabulous plastic fire hats (supposedly just to the kids) and I had to have one. I took it back in to work with me.

Several days later someone threw a lit cigarette in the bus stop garbage can outside our store causing a small fire. The owner of the store was trying to put the fire out so, in my very best effort to be of assitance, I grabbed my fire hat, put it on and ran around the parking lot waving my arms and making fire truck noises... Our UPS guy happened to drive by about that time and almost fell out of the truck looking to see what the heck I was up to. I guess it isnt every day you see a fat old guy who thinks he's a fire truck.

[StanFlouride]

I could be wrong, but I think that time delay on the emergency exit could be a fire code violation. If there were a fast moving fire in the building, those extra seconds could be CRITICAL.

ABSO-F--KING-LUTELY!!! I think an anonymous report to the local Fire Marshall is definitely in order.

[powerboy]

I could be wrong, but I think that time delay on the emergency exit could be a fire code violation. If there were a fast moving fire in the building, those extra seconds could be CRITICAL.

That is what I am thinking also.

[kdruboen]

Gypsies

Setting clothing on fire is a favorite distraction technique used by gypsies when they pull a robbery of a department store. Back in the 80's, when I was a lowly retail slave, we were warned of when to expect the gypsy travellers to be in our region. They would use hand signals to coordinate their movement and placement in the store. They'd place a few near the office "Cash cage", and at each register in the store. When everyone was in place, the fire would be set, and as employees were distracted, the gypsies would then rob the registers and try to get into the office cash room and get what they could. In addition to whatever cash they could grab, they'd also get out with as much merchandise as they could. I'm sure they're still out there doing this same scam.

[mattm04]

I could be wrong, but I think that time delay on the emergency exit could be a fire code violation. If there were a fast moving fire in the building, those extra seconds could be CRITICAL.

I know Airports have timed release doors. Imagine the level of suck in evacuating a airport terminal and the re-screening everyone, etc. *shudder* It may depend on the building (sprinklers, construction, etc)

[mattm04]

Once someone hit a sprinkle in the main freezer, yes it eventually creates a giant ice rink and some cool icicles. It also triggers a flow switch which sets off the fire alarm. And yes, those red things all over the store that say "FIRE" on them and making the loud noise with the flashing lights means FIRE, get out. Remember Elementary school.

Well, most customers got the hint quickly but a few wouldn't leave. They insisted that they were paying for their groceries despite the total lack of cashiers. One even said they would stand at a register until a cashier arrived. That SC was removed by Police and got chewed out by a few FF's. The MOD stood just inside the entrance and watched her until the cops arrived.

I got to guard one of the entrances until the Police and Fire arrived. Each entrance has a horn/strobe by it which was going off yet SC still tried to get by. A fire truck, FD SUV and Police car by one entrance with "FIRE LINE - DO NOT CROSS" tape strung up doesn't' stop SC's. Though the occasional "Hey, get the f**k out of here or you will be arrested" from officials to SC's was nice to hear.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I could be wrong, but I think that time delay on the emergency exit could be a fire code violation. If there were a fast moving fire in the building, those extra seconds could be CRITICAL.

[depechemodefan]

I am just flabbergasted. There's a fire and people won't leave? I see a fire, I will be the first one out the door. Granted, if I was on the 4th floor, where our offices, the childrens room and the teen room is also, I'll check with the childrens room. Teenagers can get their own ass into gear.

One time, in 2004, this guy ran his car into the library. He was from Egypt and was studying here in Houston. He wanted to go back home so he figured he would get deported if he does something like that. At the time, no one knew his reasoning so most people were thinking "AHHH!!!! Guy with car bomb!" So HPD shows up (heck, the mayor showed up too) and finally an hour latter, the librarian in charge says everyone goes home. Some dipshit who was always causing trouble for us librarians would not leave. Librarians were turning off the computer he was on and he kept on turning it back on. He got permabanned

[reirei]

The same thing happened in my store years ago, before I started there.

Also years ago (I remember the exact date--July 4, 1987) there was a fire in the strip mall attached to the store, a pretty bad one that destroyed about half the mall. There was an electrical problem in the ceiling, and no fire breaks in the ceiling, so it spread pretty quickly.

Then, as now with your store, people were reluctant to leave when ordered to evacuate. My mom was working there when it happened and dealt with some of those people. She wasn't even allowed to grab her purse before leaving.

As for the store itself, it wasn't damaged. There was a fire door between the mall and the store. Just a lot of stuff ruined by a smoke smell.

Hope nobody was hurt.

Despite the customer's best efforts no one was hurt, thank God.

I hope the store is OK.

Who the heck sets clothes on fire? A pyromaniac with a death wish?

Apparently, it was supposed to be a diversion so his friend could steal one of the big lcd tv's.

last September our power went out, like 3pm. and then it smelled like something was burning. we(I) pulled the fire alarm and had to explain to customers, esp at pharmacy, they had to get out. no power= registers not working.

power was out for 3 hours. we stayed outside due to the nasty smell inside (nothing burned, it was a power surge) and we had to tell each customer that pulled up that we were closed due to an outage.

surprisingly most took it fine and went to the nearby 24 hr store. but i remember one woman, asked if we were open. we say no, she asks again, we say no were closed, so she pulls into a space anyway and we tell her AGAIN we are closed, i think she finally understood

A co-worker i was talking to via IM told me about this middle aged lady that parked her car right up on the group of associates she was with and just stared at them for about ten minutes before she left. He has no idea what she could have possibly wanted.

I wonder if they'll find out who started the fire. I just can't believe how dumb some people would be not to leave when there's a freakin' fire in the store! To hell with getting my stuff checked out, I'll haul ass!

You and me both.

[Elspeth]

Glad you guys got out ok

Reminds me when I worked at the local community college. Had a gas leak and they evacuted the buildings. Some people would not leave. I had to threaten turning off their computers before some of them would go.

After our last earthquake up here, my Hubby still worked at the college and he had to go around to close up the labs. Some people had put the monitors back up on the tables and keep right on working. With the ceiling coming down around them.

[tropicsgoddess]

I wonder if they'll find out who started the fire. I just can't believe how dumb some people would be not to leave when there's a freakin' fire in the store! To hell with getting my stuff checked out, I'll haul ass!