Jack Briggs

As I post this, I am in my apartment without LAPD's knowledge, and I intend to keep it that way and stay here.

At just before 4 p.m. PDT, I was making my way to the bedroom, listening to my cat Attila munching on his food in the kitchen and smiling to myself. I hear a wooshing noise and, suddenly, all the shutter windows in my apartment blow open. A rocking sensation occurs and then I hear a loud—and I mean loud—explosion. Through my bedroom window, I see people running in both directions. Looking out, I first notice the heat. The entire top floor of the apartment building directly across the street from me is in flames.

You know the time-dilation effect when you're going through an automobile accident?

It was sort of like that. In my confusion, I looked around for Attila but couldn't see him anywhere.

Next, I walked out the apartment and into the hallway. Two of my neighbors were in a frenzy. With them, I walked out the back door and marveled over the conflagration. The heat is what I noticed the most.

People were screaming, "Is anybody in there?"

Turns out there was.

A rescue worker asked me if I could get a blanket, that she had a man in shock on the ground. So I went back inside to grab a blanket and to look for Attila.

Fire engines started arriving at this time, and I began to panic about Attila. Then a loud rap on my door brings me face to face with two LAPD officers. The building is to be evacuated.

"But I can't find my cat!" I told the taller officer. His companion—get this—asked if he could use my bathroom. Once done, he emerged and told me I could have two minutes and they'd be back. Still couldn't find Attila.

Eventually, I was hustled a block south of my apartment building. Thing is, I didn't even know it was an aircraft until I saw a television report. Funny. I live across the street from the carnage, and it was thanks to KABC that I learned exactly what happened.

The sky was festooned with helicopters—at least twelve that I could count. And the entire neighborhood was behind yellow police tape as far as I could see.

So, here I am, an editor with a newspaper, and I find myself being interviewed by an AP wire reporter and two television crews. Humiliating.

But what about my cat?

Well, folks, how's this for chutpah: An upstairs neighbor of mine had managed to fool the police into believing that he was actually a reporter. I ran into him, about three hours after the accident, and he said I could get back to the apartment if I tagged along with him. (This occurred after I was interviewed by the KNBC reporter. I was embarrassed that I was wearing a T-shirt given to me by a friend—a Queensryche T-shirt. I appeared on TV wearing that stupid T-shirt.)

Only the fire department was around as I stood there outside my building, gazing on the burnt-out husk of a building across from me. My neighbor suggested I take advantage of the LAPD's absence.

And so here I am.

I found Attila, too. As I write, he is still inside the living room closet. He's there for the night. All I can feel is relief.

And what I know is this: The pilot of the aircraft, a single-engine Cessna, is dead. His plane was completely obliterated. Worse, at least one resident in the apartment building is dead.

Tune into the news. This, I understand, has made the national feed. I can hear the Toshiba in my bedroom right now, though. Nothing this late is on the commercial network outlets.

But I'm keeping all the lights off in the apartment. Only the illumination from the Toshiba and my iMac are lighting my way here. Don't want to be told to leave the apartment.

Still a bit shaken. And the thing that still gets me, after all this time, is the heat from the fire across the street.

Eyewitnesses said they could see the airplane trying to make its way toward Fairfax High School, apparently in an attempt to land on the football field. Instead the plane spiraled into that ugly green building across the street. Others heard the engine; I only heard the sound of rushing air, followed by the explosion.

The 1992 civil unrest. The 1994 Northridge 'quake. And now this.

I'll probably sleep on the floor next to where Attila is in the closet.

I love L.A. I really do.

Pamela

Gosh Jack, when I heard the news, I figured it was near you. But not that close! What a horrible thing to happen.

Michael*K

Pretty terrifying, Jack. Just saw the story on the news. Glad you're safe.

Peter Kim

Take care.

And stand guard (don't think you'll get much sleep tonight) - hate to sound pessimistic, but in a situation like this, often the worst of human character rears its ugly head.

my girls rock Balenciaga & smoke mad marijuana - M.O.B.

Michael Reuben

I just watched the story on the local NYC broadcast. Never imagined that anyone I knew lived nearby. I'm glad you and Attila are all right. The footage of that building in flames was pretty spectacular (and not in a good way).

M.

"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown

"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert

HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ

Malcolm R

Glad to hear you and Attila are OK.

As Peter says, be careful. If everyone thinks the surrounding buildings have been evacuated, there could be some shady characters roaming around.

Philip_G

just think, statistically the chances of it happening again are extremely low?
I'll check the NTSB reports next week for the prelim to see what happened.

ThomasC

Wow. Good to know you're safe.

The man I loved - the man who vanished - he never came back at all. But maybe he's still out there, somewhere. Maybe some day, when Gotham no longer needs Batman, I'll see him again.

Jack Briggs

Thanks, people!

With all the personnel out there, I'm more concerned about them seeing me than any unsavory visitors taking advantage of the situation. I have seen FAA, FBI, LAFD, LAPD (they're back), and who knows what other people with who knows what agencies.

Glad I have food and—better—beer in the 'fridge. I also coaxed Attila out of his hideout. He won't venture more than three feet from me. Right now, he's underneath my chair (he always goes there when there are loud noises).

And the noise of the generators is pretty darn loud. The emergency floodlights outside my window pretty much make navigating my kitchen a non-issue. Can't hear anybody in the apartment building, so I'm sure no one has been allowed back in his or her apartment on this block. A command post was set up at Fairfax High School for the displaced; food, drink, and shelter are being provided, I understand.

No thanks. I'll break the law and stay in my place tonight.

What a freaking weird day. I was so happy to wrangle getting Friday off. Was looking forward to a leisurely three-day weekend. In this town, one doesn't take anything for granted.

Ryan Wright

I don't blame you. I'd do the same.

Glad to hear you and Attila are OK. I assume this was an accident?

imported_BrianW

I saw this on the news. Thanks for taking the time to let us know that you're safe.

RobertR

Glad to hear that you're ok, Jack. I had no idea it was so close to you!