CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
"Fire, fire, fire! Help!"
North Charleston apartment residents weren't dreaming when they heard Tech. Sgt. Michael Donaldson yell these words of distress from his third-floor apartment in the early morning of Jan. 5.
With thoughts of the cause, severity and how to escape the fire racing in his head at 1 a.m., the 437th Operations Support Squadron Airman said his first instinct was recalling everything he ever learned about fires and how to get to safety.
When Sergeant Donaldson realized that escaping through the front door would be risky and unsafe, he went to his window and yelled for help. He eventually caught the attention of neighbors below so they could alert the fire company and set the fire alarm off for the entire building. Sergeant Donaldson estimated that firefighters arrived within a couple minutes and were able to rescue him with an extension ladder.
"I want to let everyone know to have a backup plan," said Sergeant Donaldson. "My plan was to go out the front door, but that was blocked by the fire and I didn't have a backup plan ... I never thought I would be in a fire."
While none of the people involved in the fire were severely injured, Sergeant Donaldson said that practically everything in his apartment was destroyed and is unable to be refurbished.
"When I first moved into these apartments six months ago, I actually considered not getting renters insurance because I figured nothing would happen to me because I would live on the third floor," said Sergeant Donaldson. "However, the apartment complex required it before I could sign the contract and, now that I've lost so much because of this, I recommend renters insurance to anyone who rents because the insurance company has been so helpful."
As far as some off-base rental properties requiring renters insurance and others strongly recommending it, on-base residents should also keep a few things in mind when it comes to insurance.
The 437th Civil Engineer Squadron housing office officials said people living in military family housing are not required to have renters insurance or any other type of insurance to protect them from disasters such as fires. However, Troy Draughn, 437 CES housing office facility chief, said they do encourage all Airmen living on or off base to get renters insurance because "it's the most inexpensive way to protect themselves."
For individuals residing in base housing, renters insurance would help cover the cost of damage to the house and the member's damaged personal property. However, if the residents do not have insurance, the government will determine if the damage, whether intentional or accidental, was the fault of the government, e.g., original facility fault. If it is determined to not be the fault of the government, the resident will be subject to owe up to one month's pay and will be responsible for all damaged personal property.
Along with protecting the house or apartment and personal belongings, 437th Airlift Wing Law Center officials recommend keeping any important documents in a fire-safe box or in a safe location outside the house. These documents include, but are not limited to, social security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, living wills, powers of attorney and insurance documents.
"Though fires like this are statistically low in the Air Force, they still can happen and it's always important to plan," said Raymond West, 437 CES Fire and Emergency Services Flight assistant fire chief. "Planning a second escape route -- like out a window using a portable ladder -- is paramount for your survival because you never know what can happen with a fire. Practicing your escape plan regularly is equally as important. It's also important to take insurance and important documents into consideration because there is a chance that a fire could take everything you own."