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I chose to share this story here so other gear heads might learn something from my situation.
Cliff Notes
My house burned down on 1/7/2014. As currently known no other houses were harmed that night. The sparks and glowing embers were floating all over in the heavy wind.
All living breathing creatures are safe and accounted for. The wife and I and our 2 German Shepherd dogs are staying at a hotel till a rental house can be located. The cat was sent to a relatives house for the time.
Home owners insurance is a blessing. Be smart and keep it up to date. Make a list (and/or video) of your items. Make a list of accounts numbers (bank accounts, stocks, utility accounts, etc..) to keep offsite at a relatives house or in a safe deposit box.
Check your smoke alarm batteries often. I used a checklist every month to log the HVAC air filter changes and smoke alarm battery test. No matter how paranoid you might be it can all be gone in minutes. I had 5 smoke alarms and 2 ABC fire extinguishers in the house.
I don't want anything from anyone here (Dfwmustangs). In the coming weeks depending on salvageable conditions I might have some slightly barbequed smelling tools or items to sell cheaply or give to someone that can put these items to use. It will take a few weekends to shovel through the rubble of whats salvageable. We (the wife and I) live comfortably somewhere in between above paycheck to paycheck and below baller status.
Cliff Notes end
My house burned down on 1/7/2014
On Tuesday after work I arrived home and started a fire in the fireplace just as I had done before in the past 10 years in this house. About 6 PM the wife arrived home and cooked dinner. Shortly after we were sitting in the back room eating.
About 7:15 PM I stood up to refill my glass and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a bright flash through the curtain along the back wall of our house. I stepped outside to find the the back corner wall glowing behind the vinyl siding. I grabbed a fire extinguisher from inside located on the mantle and attempted to extinguish the wall. Then I grabbed the water hose and attempted to put out the fire from the roof line.
In seconds I realized the fire was within the wall behind the vinyl siding where nothing could reach it from the exterior yet and quickly moving up into the attic. My wife called 911 for the Fire Dept and got the two dogs and cat out front. I rushed to move our daily driver vehicles from the driveway twenty feet away to the front cul-de-sac.
Before you know it I'm standing in my neighbors front yard wearing only pj pants and a wife beater watching my house contents of the last 10 years go down in flames. While trying to comfort my wife who is now frantic and in tears.
It took two fire trucks and one ladder truck with a water snorkel. When the Fire Dept finished there was 4+ inches of water and foam flowing out my front door.
I had 5 working smoke alarms located throughout in the house. One alarm was located 8 feet away between the fireplace and the kitchen. Not one of the smoke alarms ever made a sound to alert us. The fireplace flue was working and no smoke backed up into the house to signal trouble. That night the FD Captain said since the fire started inside the wall and traveled upward that the smoke alarms were useless in the beginning moments till the fire broke through the sheet rock ceilings. He said afterward he heard an alarm sounding from the bedroom hallway.
1/8/2014
The next day - initial after fire discovery... I have no roof left from 5 foot inside the front door toward the complete rear of the house. I was able to salvage my gun safe, firearms, 2 file cabinet fire safes, most of my clothes. My wife lost all clothes and kitchen utensils. Our family and friends have been donating clothes for her to attend work this week.
View of house from alley inside privacy fence. My wife is standing in the kitchen.
Last weekend We moved any non melted items to an offsite storage unit to dry out for a few weeks. My 66 Chevy II project car and all LS1 swap parts I had in the garage are barbequed. An air compressor, 5 foot tall toolbox, welder, chain saw, power washer, beer fridge, grinders, power tools, hammers, etc... are gone.
Since last Wednesday our home owners insurance put us in a hotel while looking for a rental house till our house can be assessed and/or rebuilt.
1/13/2014
Monday our home owners insurance had a 'creation and origin' inspector out. My house which was built in 1982 had a fireplace constructed with a brick mantle surrounding a square metal insert. Attached to that insert a galvanized tube chimney up through the roof. The inspector determined there was a crack along a corner of the square insert that allowed flames to travel inside the wall and catch the surrounding wall studs on fire within the wall.
Home owners insurance declared it a total loss. We had the policy valued above cost and contents so it should workout in our favor.
We spent 10 years building it to suit us. 12 foot privacy fence, kitchen and counter top remodel, vinyl siding, boat pad, storage shed, etc.. We are determined to rebuild it if we can find a competent home builder.
If you know of a competent house builder that works in the Plano area please share details thru a PM...
Cliff Notes
My house burned down on 1/7/2014. As currently known no other houses were harmed that night. The sparks and glowing embers were floating all over in the heavy wind.
All living breathing creatures are safe and accounted for. The wife and I and our 2 German Shepherd dogs are staying at a hotel till a rental house can be located. The cat was sent to a relatives house for the time.
Home owners insurance is a blessing. Be smart and keep it up to date. Make a list (and/or video) of your items. Make a list of accounts numbers (bank accounts, stocks, utility accounts, etc..) to keep offsite at a relatives house or in a safe deposit box.
Check your smoke alarm batteries often. I used a checklist every month to log the HVAC air filter changes and smoke alarm battery test. No matter how paranoid you might be it can all be gone in minutes. I had 5 smoke alarms and 2 ABC fire extinguishers in the house.
I don't want anything from anyone here (Dfwmustangs). In the coming weeks depending on salvageable conditions I might have some slightly barbequed smelling tools or items to sell cheaply or give to someone that can put these items to use. It will take a few weekends to shovel through the rubble of whats salvageable. We (the wife and I) live comfortably somewhere in between above paycheck to paycheck and below baller status.
Cliff Notes end
My house burned down on 1/7/2014
On Tuesday after work I arrived home and started a fire in the fireplace just as I had done before in the past 10 years in this house. About 6 PM the wife arrived home and cooked dinner. Shortly after we were sitting in the back room eating.
About 7:15 PM I stood up to refill my glass and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a bright flash through the curtain along the back wall of our house. I stepped outside to find the the back corner wall glowing behind the vinyl siding. I grabbed a fire extinguisher from inside located on the mantle and attempted to extinguish the wall. Then I grabbed the water hose and attempted to put out the fire from the roof line.
In seconds I realized the fire was within the wall behind the vinyl siding where nothing could reach it from the exterior yet and quickly moving up into the attic. My wife called 911 for the Fire Dept and got the two dogs and cat out front. I rushed to move our daily driver vehicles from the driveway twenty feet away to the front cul-de-sac.
Before you know it I'm standing in my neighbors front yard wearing only pj pants and a wife beater watching my house contents of the last 10 years go down in flames. While trying to comfort my wife who is now frantic and in tears.
It took two fire trucks and one ladder truck with a water snorkel. When the Fire Dept finished there was 4+ inches of water and foam flowing out my front door.
I had 5 working smoke alarms located throughout in the house. One alarm was located 8 feet away between the fireplace and the kitchen. Not one of the smoke alarms ever made a sound to alert us. The fireplace flue was working and no smoke backed up into the house to signal trouble. That night the FD Captain said since the fire started inside the wall and traveled upward that the smoke alarms were useless in the beginning moments till the fire broke through the sheet rock ceilings. He said afterward he heard an alarm sounding from the bedroom hallway.
1/8/2014
The next day - initial after fire discovery... I have no roof left from 5 foot inside the front door toward the complete rear of the house. I was able to salvage my gun safe, firearms, 2 file cabinet fire safes, most of my clothes. My wife lost all clothes and kitchen utensils. Our family and friends have been donating clothes for her to attend work this week.
View of house from alley inside privacy fence. My wife is standing in the kitchen.
Last weekend We moved any non melted items to an offsite storage unit to dry out for a few weeks. My 66 Chevy II project car and all LS1 swap parts I had in the garage are barbequed. An air compressor, 5 foot tall toolbox, welder, chain saw, power washer, beer fridge, grinders, power tools, hammers, etc... are gone.
Since last Wednesday our home owners insurance put us in a hotel while looking for a rental house till our house can be assessed and/or rebuilt.
1/13/2014
Monday our home owners insurance had a 'creation and origin' inspector out. My house which was built in 1982 had a fireplace constructed with a brick mantle surrounding a square metal insert. Attached to that insert a galvanized tube chimney up through the roof. The inspector determined there was a crack along a corner of the square insert that allowed flames to travel inside the wall and catch the surrounding wall studs on fire within the wall.
Home owners insurance declared it a total loss. We had the policy valued above cost and contents so it should workout in our favor.
We spent 10 years building it to suit us. 12 foot privacy fence, kitchen and counter top remodel, vinyl siding, boat pad, storage shed, etc.. We are determined to rebuild it if we can find a competent home builder.
If you know of a competent house builder that works in the Plano area please share details thru a PM...
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