Entry 44

The fire on the horizon has me a bit uneasy. This morning when I headed outside to see if 207 was any better I saw the smoke plume had widened and seemed a bit closer than yesterday. I have no idea if the fire could spread from building to building for more than a block. Can a fire cross a street? Even if it did get to my apartment buildings it would have to come across the parking lots and grass which surround the buildings on all sides. I really hope it does not get close, even if it did not burn down the apartment years of supplies could be burnt up.

The smell was still horrible but I did notice it seemed less horrible before the day warmed up. I wonder if it would not be so bad at six in the morning while it was still cool outside. I will have to get up earlier tomorrow and try it. The shotgun is something I need before I brave the ground level.

I have decided the best room to cut down from is the utility room. Below it is the room which houses all the washing machines and dryers. The door was always kept locked and was one of the auto-closing doors. Of all the rooms it is most likely to be empty. Also all the power connections and water come from the walls and the floor so if I cut down into the middle of the room I should not hit any pipes or wiring.

I moved around some of the stuff in the utility room to free up more floor space. I had random wood bits and other stuff which in the past I would have thrown away, but I am now keeping since every scrap of material might be useful at some point. I was able to stuff it under some of the shelving in the room so it is out of the way. I was tempted to begin cutting but I might as well wait until I am ready to go down. Instead I put together some wood in the room to make a three by three foot square of stronger plywood to cover the hole. I can move the heavy workbench on top of the wood and make it very hard for anything or anyone to get upstairs if they manage to get into the laundry room.

With what preparations I could finish, I headed back to my apartment for dinner. I was cooking some food in the microwave when the power cut out. It has come off and on quite a few times lately but this time it stayed off for quite awhile. I was just starting to panic when the power came back. I do not know what I will do the day it does not come back on.