Talking About the Fire: Theresa Muscat

Name: Theresa Muscat

Age: 73

Address: 1480 Claremont Drive, San Bruno

Where were you when the fire started? 

I had just gotten out of the shower.  It was the ugliest sound I ever heard.  We're in the flight route and that's what we thought, it was a plane crashing.  It was like the world was ending; it was a big ball of fire.  Thank God we're all right.

Whom did you call first?

I was on a phone call, and I started screaming.  As soon as we heard the explosion, we got out.  There was a big ball of fire, and we knew it would get to us in no time.  You don't think.  I didn't take anything: I don't have ID, my cell phone, my medication.

How were you affected emotionally and materially?

Our neighbor snuck up there, and he said our houses are still standing.  We've lived in the house since 1974.  It's a beautiful area, peaceful with the canyon behind it.