I've been in an apartment in which the unit above me was actively on fire and thick smoke was pouring into mine.

I grabbed my car keys, wallet and two pets. I left wearing my pajamas.

Turns out, no one even notices when you leave a burning building without proper clothes on. Your life is more important than objects, even symbolic ones (though I was hoping to avoid having to stand in line at the DMV again, if possible).

I agree RocketScientist -- when about 1/2 of my apt building was engulfed in flames, we grabbed our newborn son, and a bunch of blankets and ran outside in the snow barefoot in PJs. We gave the extra blankets to other families with young children who were standing in the cold. I didn't give a single thought to anything besides getting my son to safety.

We were blessed enough that no damage was done to our unit -- but even if we had lost all of our material possessions I'm pretty sure I would have been happy that we all were just safe and healthy.

Richard, the dogs, macbook, vodka.

That collection in photo #1 is beautiful. How could you not save it?

My list:

1. My boyfriend and his artwork
2. My baby boy, Otto Von Roland, he's actually a rabbit, but I consider him my kid.
3. Irreplaceable antique/vintage photos of family.
4. My camera equipment.
5. Anything I could get my hands on or toss out a window without breaking.
6. Myself.

I love my possessions. Instead of running from a fire, I'd be focusing my energy on trying to put it out! I know, I know, stupid.

This is not a "things I would grab in a fire" blog as much as it is another "look at the cool things I own" blog.

In a fire, I'd be grabbing my wife and our two dogs and getting the hell out. Sorry, grandfather's antique cigar box full of Polaroids.

(omg, AT's REALLY CLEVER. I LOVE the posts!! The ideas...and topics you guys come up with.)

I'm in the "I can survive with just my lungs and blood cells" state so actually... I dont really want anything. I used to think I'll grab my Bible but (hur hur...sorry extremist-Christians) I dont care about Rules anymore too! So...Im happy to just grab my Uni certs and run. Oh... are pets considered things? I dont consider my Long Ears a thing ..but if she needs help I'll def grab her.

I'm assuming I wouldn't have to grab my husband, as he is pretty spry.

We have an "plan" in case of fire: he grabs the cat, I grab either the cat carrier (if I can) or at least a pillowcase (so that we can maintain some control of a cat that is probably freaking out).

If there's any other time: shoes, cell phones, wallets, and the Time Capsule with back-ups of both of our hard drives.

+1@hyperRevue

me = the cat (assuming my wife is following, otherwise, her too). a good statefarm policy and a digital off-site backup can replace pretty much everything else.

Last September my building caught on fire. I looked out my door to a hall of smoke… and RAN. I just had on Pjs, flip flops and my cell phone. Looking back I wish I would have taken a few important documents, but when you see smoke you skedaddle. Now I have a bag of items that’s set to go in case it happens again. happens again.

My father barely survived a fire in his 20s, which left him hospitalized for months and covered in scars. Also, I watched my neighbor's house burn down last summer after a lightning strike blew up the fuse box in her basement and lit a stack of clutter on fire.

Anyone who would take the time to save anything besides themselves and their loved ones is an idiot, period. Get a fire safe or safety deposit box for the paperwork you fear for.

I would hope I would grab my passport and my portfolio. I think I would be too paniced and end up grabbing nothing. One of my friends has a trunk beside the door which has everything she would want to salvage in the event of a fire. I'm not that organized....

reading this post got me thinking that maybe it would be wise to take a stroll around our apartment, decide what would be most important, and get them in one centralized location if it were to happen.

we live in a very old building and i'm constantly worried about our reclusive neighbors accidentally starting a fire. a guy down the hall actually left his gas stove on (no pilot lit) for almost 24 hours before I could get the gas company to come over before our place blew up.

to make a long story short, from the top of my head, i would save:
- my husband
- my 3 cats, Clapton, Aeon & Lazarus (makes me think i should really get their cages out of the basement storage unit)
- a wall of family photos right by the front door of our grandparents and parents when they were younger
- wedding album (again, right by the front door)

I'm sure my husband would want to save his mac but it's not one of my priorities =)

Just like some other comments, I had a fire in my apartment (in my unit, not just the building--though we were VERY lucky in fire department response) just about a year ago. You always think "I would save X" but when you are actually facing flames and running out of a building, the only thing you grab is yourself and those you love. my boyfriend and I got the hell out there, and I was in a nightgown and no shoes. kind strangers gave me shoes and more clothes to wear. the whole time we were watching the flames, my thoughts were not on the things I didn't take, but on our cat that was hiding under the bed (and who was eventually rescued by a fireman). It's nice to think of what one would save, but really, even the most sentimental items mean nothing next to being safe and alive.

Disaster makes me unsentimental. I'd grab my husband, dogs, and important documents file, in that order. The file has to be prepared and maintained in advance just in case, like we keep a fire extinguisher. Losing the computers would be minimized by offsite file storage. Having a perpetual evac bag and our meds arranged to be grabbable would be smart, but I don't because there's some time to pack for hurricanes, more likely here than fires.

My dogs and my car keys. Then I could put the dogs in the car.

My daughter would want to save a cool carving of a pileated woodpecker and a bunch of other art but I would push her out the door if I had to.

Count me among the many others who have actually had to evacuate for a fire. In my case it was a smoldering electrical panel in my hot water heater that thankfully turned out to be nothing, and all I lost was hot water for a few days. Still, in the moment with smoke pouring out of the utility closet, I grabbed my cat, my keys, and my cell phone. I didn't even consider grabbing anything else - if the there were actual flames, the minute or two spent rounding up stuff would have given the flames plenty of time to spread and block the exit. No object, no matter how rare or sentimental, is worth your life.

I love the [sic] coming from a site notorious for misspelled and misused words. But, I guess if you haven't used it, someone would have corrected you. =P

I don't think I'd know what to save. Probably my pet rats (not the cage, though--I'd probably just stuff them down my shirt), laptop, my portfolio of paintings, and the stuffed dog I've had since I was an infant.

ditto to hyperRevue

If her Tom's shoes are seriously the first thing she would save, the girl in photo 3 has some out of whack priorities.

Dog, first. Hard drives, second. I can replace the computer, but our lives are on those hard drives. Thousands and thousands of irreplaceable photos!!

We once lived in the end house of three attached homes. The people in the house at the other end left their outdoor kiln going beside their gas bbq. Luckily it was early morning and we were all awake and getting ready for the day, but my four children were upstairs when the knock came on the door and people yelling fire.
As I went to yell up the stairs, our two oldest girls, then 13 and 10, came running down the stairs, each with one of our boys in their arms, then 3 and 1 1/2.
I was so proud of my girls for thinking of their brothers before all else, happy that we were safe, terrified that the cats wouldn't survive.
I did managed to grab a bunch of throw blankets that were on the couch and my purse, but really had no thoughts of any possessions.
For the record, luckily the fire never reached our house, but it had a lasting impact on all of us.

1. Olivia, my cat
2. My purse so I have some form of ID and cash on me, which houses my cell phone and often my my portable drives. (gotta save my photo archives!)
3. some practical shoes, who knows when I'll be able to shop for new ones.

...I say all that lovingly out of experience, my first apartment in San Francisco right out of the college dorms, was set on accidental fire.

Like so many others, I wouldn't really be thinking about items to save. I would grab my dog and get out of the house.

On a side note, I'm assuming the photo of Toms belongs to the person who stated she would save herself and not worry about her posessions.

Depending. Automatic: family members and purse (that has wallet and important docs), laptop. If I have a little more time or don't panic, then also my teddy bear that I've had since I was 2, that I've taken with me to every place I've moved.

Invisible gases produced by burning certain synthetics can kill long before flames can, so I wouldn't stay indoors to dress, not even to put in my partial bridge. If you have to grab clothes, then at least get outdoors before putting them on since survival > modesty. Others' idea to keep things that otherwise would slow your departure, whether documents or wraps, by the front door is useful, as is the safety deposit boxes idea. Thanks.

Years ago, there was a fire in my old building. It turned out to be minor and everyone was okay, but at the time, there was smoke everywhere, fire trucks, etc.

It happened around midnight when most folks were in bed so everyone was outside in our pjs, some had grabbed shoes or jackets, but that was about it.

My one neighbor however -- as it turns out, the one who had accidentally started the fire -- brought out:

1. An antique silk & velvet smoking jacket which he put on;
2. A rhinestrone-encrusted hand mirror; and
3. A VERY large bottle of vodka.

I was standing there with my panicked cat SHOVED into my shirt (I still have the scars!), and wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

Takes all kinds.

Saving cats sounds harder than saving dogs. My dogs' harnesses and leashes are next to the front door. I guess I'd grab them on my way out and, after we all were outdoors, harness and leash the dogs to keep them from getting lost, stolen, or killed by cars. It's handy that my dogs stick to me when scared yet, in case of fire, I'm sure they'd be out the front door as soon as I opened it, also good. I'm seeing why authorities recommend a home fire plan and drills.

Several years ago we had a wild fire approaching our house. We had time to figure out what to take. We took some clean clothes, especially underwear, and then pictures (this was before we had a laptop), insurance and tax papers, and then home made things that had sentimental value.

Fortunately, the wind changed, and our house did not burn. We thought we had made good decisions. As I said, we had time to pack some stuff.

When there is no time, grab your family, pets, and get the hell out!

Sidenote, the site was started by a guy named Foster, who I stalk through his blog "A Restless Transplant". I'm in love with him. I have a suspicion a lot of you would dig it too.

I love A Restless Transplant. I didn't know he started The Burning House.

@vykim - the cat goes in the pillowcase!?!?

Eons ago, I stayed at friend's flat and we woke to discover that his lunatic neighbour had attempted to start a fire next to the external stairwell. Fortunately my friend noticed it when he went into the kitchen, called the emergency services and then called me, instructing me to grab his cat. So, on that occasion, I fled the building, wearing a full-length vintage 1930's nightie, clutching a somewhat disgruntled moggie. Inevitably, the cat attempted to wriggle free but in those days I used to back-comb my long hair, so the poor thing got no further than my shoulder!

Yes, I've seen people at the vets' with their pet cats in pillow cases. I wondered about that since the cats always were very upset. I'd guess in an emergency you do your best to keep your pet alive and then soothe it after the danger passes.

If I could save my computer and all my electronics that'd be great, but I know I couldn't make that happen lol.

Under the nightstand next to my side of the bed I've got a file box filled with my important documents, pictures, etc. I also keep a backup of my most important digital files on a flashdrive that I update regularly. If it wasn't going to be a major inconvenience I'd grab that, my keys, girlfriend and our 2 cats and get out.

Another alternative would be getting a fire-safe and putting all that important stuff (cats lol) in there and not having to worry about it so much.

Back to the question though, excluding lives and if I didn't have to chance being harmed, then I would want to save my computer the most.

Everything depends on specifics, like where the fire is, how fast it's spreading, where *I* am, etc.

If possible, I'd grab my 2 cats and rabbit (obviously a true challenge), and my purse, which always contains my money, keys and cell phone, and which I keep near a door when I'm awake (not in case of fire, just dropped where I came in) and which I take to my bedroom at night. If I had time and the fire was located to permit it, I'd pack the pets in my car and get it out of the garage. (Second most expensive posession, after the house, after all.)

Our passports and other important documents are stored in a locked fire-safe in a closet upstairs, so we would probably trust it to protect the stuff and not rummage for it.

Having witnessed somebody else's fire aftermath, if I could I might try to take some my favorite art and put it face down on the floor with any available blankets covering it, assuming I had time. Soot and smoke damage can be horrible even if no flames touch things, this could minimize it.

That's probably about it. Everything else can be replaced or lived without, as long as you keep living!

Also, everyone with this concern needs to invest in house/apartment insurance.

So many mentions of grabbing keys reminds me of an acquaintance who locked his apartment while fleeing the burning building. The fire men didn't know no one was in there, so they had to smash open his door to check for injured. His home didn't burn, but he had no front door until it was replaced. According to the fire men he spoke to, standard protocol is to leave the front door closed and *unlocked*. Logical, but who would think to do it?

Pets, roommates, a ring from my mom, purse, my laptop and iphone.

I hate that I said my laptop and iphone but if I'm being serious, I have so much information in those electronics I would hate to lose!

I appreciate this as an art project, but it IS pretty ridiculous. If you pause getting out of a burning building to save a toy smoking monkey, you're an idiot.

I would grab my pets (well, just my bird. sorry, goldfish, you're stuck), my purse, passport, and MAYBE my little special memento box if I could even think that far. I love my stuff, but I would rather be safe than burn to death in the name of my adorable junk.

Laptop
iPhone
iPad
Wallet w/ Creditcards
Passport
Jewelry Box
Photo Albums

Everything else is heavily insured.

Agreed, I'd guess that burning to death would be one of the worse ways to go.

So many cats and so few children in these comments.

My whole childhood was spent thinking about "what ifs". My inherited traumas, based on real life. And my childish thoughts: An American passport is a ticket to life... What neighbors can you trust...
A good friend told me that her mother still keeps a small packed suitcase near the door, in case she has to flee. Now, 66 years after the Liberation.

bepsf- I'm glad someone chose their electronics like me. My Mac/Iphone are too expensive and have too much on them to leave them.

Nthing hyperRevue. I've looked at that blog and while the aesthetics are nice, but it's really just an exercise in materialism.

I was in a car fire some years ago and was pulled from my car by a good Samaritan. In the back seat was a sketchbook with drawings of my father right before he passed away. I could have gone back for the sketchbook, but instead I ran as far from the car as the freeway shoulder would allow.

Fire destroys lives. Reading all these comments, I'm glad that everyone got out safe and well, regardless of cat scratches or lost treasures. Many have not been so lucky.

My building has had quite a few middle of the night fire alarms (thankfully no actual fires yet). I grab my purse, my dog and my keys. If I could smell smoke or actually see flames, I would be grabbing my dog and that's it! Everything else is replaceable.

@Jason Yang: Yup. If we were awakened with an emergency, a pillowcase would be the first thing handy to put the cat in, at least temporarily until we could either get back in or make it to a pet store.

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Cat-Comfort-Bag

Years ago, my first job in New York was with an advertising photographer. I was barely making what you'd call a 'living wage.' One day, during what I remember as being the biggest shoot of this photographer's career, a fire broke out many floors below the studio.

As the lights went out and smoke filled the studio, my boss, the photographer, and a real jerk -- yelled for me to grab his large format lenses out of the safe. I yelled right back, telling him, "Screw the lenses! You're insured!" And somehow, I calmly led the clients down nine flights of stairs.

The photo shoot resumed a few days later, and the photographer never said a word to me about the incident. But that's when I learned, that nothing material is ever more important than your life.

My husband and my cats. The rest is, in the end, just stuff...even if it seems important to me now.

Having three kids under six, for me and my husband that would be our number one is getting everyone out quick, and our kitty as well. I doubt we would have any time to grab anything else. But that said, I would try to get my car keys so I could put my kids safely into the car, and if I was going to save anything else, it would be my great-grandmothers painting and my husband's laptop, since he uses it to support our family. But like I said, kids husband cat keys. Quickly.

Of course my #1 priority would be my family, but besides that - I would save my dog, a leash, and car keys first. Then my phone. After that, if possible, I'd get as much of my husbands music gear as possible.
There was a time when it would have been the photo albums, but I guess I've grown up a little bit and realize that we can lose it all - But as long as he can still make a living we'll be okay. (My work stuff is replaceable, so I'd be fine on that front)

When my apartment building caught fire, I managed to stuff the cat in to her carrier*. I grabbed my purse, with cellphone and car keys inside, and a jacket (it was February) on the way out the front door.

I'd always thought I'd grab the album of old family photos and my good jewelry, but they didn't even register.

My downstairs neighbor had her baby and her dog on a leash. She was barefoot and had no money, no phone, nothing. I gave her my jacket to wrap the baby in, and loaned her my phone to call her husband.

Never have I been so grateful for the idea of a landing strip. Everything I really needed to take with me was right there at the door.

*I am still not sure how I managed to stuff the cat into the carrier in a few seconds. Normally this is a battle that takes a quarter of an hour, as the wee beastie grows extra legs and claws when faced with incarceration. I have a clear memory of thinking, "If she puts up too much of a fight, I'm leaving her here." But fortunately, it didn't come to that.

Wow, these comments really make me think. Good post.

My violin, if there was any time at all. It's always close at hand anyway.

Ideally I'd grab my purse (that always has keys, wallet, camera, phone inside), my laptop, my passport, and my dog. In reality I think I'd be happy just to get myself and the dog out in one piece.

This is a very interesting post. But I'm with the "get the heck out, grab the pets" group. Unless you have time to plan (like an approaching forest fire) then it gets more complicated.

For those saying their computers, hard drives, and whatnot for fear of losing data, there are some good backup options that put your data to a secondary location that might be worth looking into. Then if your computer burns in a fire, your data is backed up and safe. Your computer itself will likely be covered by your insurance policy

I've never been faced with an actual fire, but in college, I was in my apartment when the fire alarms started blaring at 4 am. I made sure my roommates were awake and out, threw on flip flops, and got out. It turned out to be a false alarm, but it made me think about things, because none of us even thought about grabbing our phones or anything.

Now in my first adult apartment, I have a firesafe box that I keep my passport and important papers in.

All belongings are replaceable. Since I don't decorate or organize with my home burning down in mind, all of my photos and IRreplaceables are scattered throughout. The only thing I'd grab for sure is my cat, his meds and maybe my purse.