h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

An interesting experience on Monday night - woken up in the flat at about 4-30am by the fire alarm. Initially assumed it was another false alarm. but it quickly became clear that the kitchen of the first floor flat above was ablaze, with plenty of smoke. Everyone got out OK, and the fire engines arrived after a few minutes (nice that it wasn't the rush hour). After a few more minutes the fire was pretty much out, but everyone had to wait in the street for an hour or so until the smoke had cleared, and everything was checked out and declared safe.
Fortunately, given the early warning from the alarm, and being safely on the ground floor, I had time to get properly dressed before leaving, as it was very cold outside.
The kitchen upstairs was pretty much destroyed, and the flat it was attached to must have been well smoked, but without the alarms, I think the occupants of that flat may well have been killed, and the flat above it could easily have gone up as well.
I got a few pints of smoky water through my ceiling, but it didn't dampen anything important, and I've had far worse from leaking pipes in the past.
All in all, a very big thank-you to the alarms and the fire brigade.