It started Friday morning.
I roused from my sleep, turned over and looked at my phone. It was earlier then I was expecting. I still decided to check Facebook.
What I saw made me sit up, it was a video of the Art Gallery building on Cathedral Green on fire.
As the morning progressed, it looked like the fire was being sorted… Then it spread.
The rooftop of The Royal Clarence Hotel caught on fire, and the fire held on.
We went up to Devon for the day, and even though we were glued to the social media updates about the fire, nothing prepared us for the smell and sight of smoke rising over the city like that.
Over the following days, this city has been coming to terms with losing one part of its historic heart, while also massively coming together.
There are a number of companies that kept the emergency services fed and watered.
The people who saw their water pressure dwindle, as the fire was fought.
South West Water for dishing out water.
Exeter Council, and Exeter Cathedral for showing how to engage with the public on Twitter and Facebook.
Exeter Cathedral for not shying away from showing its heart for the city.
People for sharing as much as information as possible about who’s open where.
Most of all, the emergency services have simply been amazing, and the fact they stopped the fire taking any other buildings has been a testament to their good work.
To those who run in, while others run out.
Thank you.
The Bishop of Exeter has shared a few thoughts over on his blog.
A Version of this post first appeared over at dadssofa.co.uk
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