I had to digest what really happened to me before I could post about my stressful not so green catastrophe. No, not the news that people are burning down their houses to keep from paying their mortgage. Yes, it’s true. Can’t pay your mortgage, hey, why not? Lets just torch the darn thing.

That seems to be the way things are going in some cities. According to MSNBC, there has been a spike in arson cases involving folks facing financial (mortgage payment) difficulties. I don’t know how this makes any sense to anybody, but people are doing it all across the nation and these are desperate times in some places.

Some recent cases:

• In Woodland Park, Colo., a homeowner was accused of burning his home just before he was evicted in a foreclosure action.
• In Houston, a man was charged with faking a racial hate crime to cover arson at his home.
• In Russellville, Ind., a woman was accused of trying to cash in on an insurance policy by offering her neighbor $5,000 to help torch her home and cover up the crime.

Those working in the field hear their own stories. “I have heard of builders torching incomplete homes that can’t be sold,” says Vince Brannigan, who teaches in the University of Maryland’s department of fire-protection engineering.

Disclaimer: This blog does not encourage arson. The author is simply reporting what has been reported elsewhere and not in any way condoning or encouraging such behavior.

I’m only responsible to help you prepare for a fire you did not set intentionally, just like me last Friday night

You heard it right….my house almost burnt down.

I was about to walk Kahlua, my dog, around 10 PM when that smell smacked me right in the face with a whif of smoke and fear. As I walked down my stairs I looked up and 50 feet away was my backyard, a 5 acre brush area with a creek that was blazing like you see on TV. You know, the fires that look like they will explode, jump houses in seconds, flames shooting 40 feet high, so intense , holding a stare would have been impossible.

Rather than give you small talk about all the drama, like people getting there cars out of my townhouse complex, dodging the fire engine trucks and brave fighters scrambled to get hoses hooked up. Police officers were yelling at drivers to turn on their lights and slow down.

What I wanted you to know was that instant that I had to make a choice and furthermore, it was the first time I was introduced to that awful question.

“What are you going to take with you, NOW!?”

I honestly answered, nothing. I was surprised too. You’d think I’d want to grab at least my hard drive of my computer or my favorite underwear that is no where near new. C’mon …. I’m a guy. We guys all have some strange clothing item that drives you nuts that you couldn’t pay us to throw out.

What that told me was I’m truly detached from my external THINGS. We hear all these cliche motivational tag lines that are supposed to identify our detachment from the THINGS in life, for example, “you’re not your things”. Evidentally, this is very true in the most sacred way now that I’ve faced the back draft dilemma of having your home wiped out within minutes of answering that dreaded question.

Fire was extinguished and now the green planning to keep red hot fires from placing a black cloud over my life ensues.

I usually think websites with tips are just too basic and approach patronizing me. Not this one. www.dosomething.org How to prepare and be safe in a fire. I learned so much about what I can do to protect my home and family.

You never know when fire will strike, so it’s always good to be prepared. You want your family to be safe in the event that a fire strikes your home.