Exciting day Saturday. There was a fire in my house.

I was in the room when it started, and as soon as I realized what was happening, I ran for the closest fire extinguisher. The smoke alarms sounded as I was getting the can (a 10-pound dry chemical commercial unit), and I resolved myself that if I was still seeing flames after hitting it with the can, I was leaving the house and letting the fire department and insurance company deal with it.

Thankfully, when I opened up with the dry chemicals, the flames were immediately knocked down. I did a quick inspection, and it was very clear that the fire had not spread. I turned around, and much to my delight my wife was standing behind me with the 20-pound can she had retrieved from the boiler room, ready to back me up. I really love that woman! The kids were waiting excitedly by the front door, ready to go.

The central station alarm company called, and I told them that we had indeed had a fire, but it was out, we were safe, and there was no need for the fire department. I grabbed an N-95 mask, opened the windows, and got to work cleaning up the copious amount of greenish powder that was all over the kitchen.

All in all, I think I handled the situation pretty well. Everyone knew what they needed to do, and did it. I did have a talk with my older son and told him that he was old enough now that if the fire alarms ever went off again, he should take his brother outside and meet me in the back yard, rather than waiting by the door.

While this was a good drill for a major fire, there's one problem: I set the fire through my own stupidity. I can clearly remember thinking that despite the precautions I was taking, if things got out of hand it could cause a bad fire really quickly (I was fiddling with a new-to-me white gas stove which I had placed in a sink. Said white gas was what was feeding this fire. Yikes!).

So, what do you think? Do I pat myself on the back for handling an emergency relatively well? Or do I smack myself across the face for nearly burning down my house through sheer stupidity? (I'm particularly interested in what Blast has to say on the matter. . .)

Stay safe everyone, and happy spring holidays to those who celebrate them!