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EliStar
member
NBR: House Fire - Long
EliStar
member
So, as the title of the post suggests, I had a pretty terrible weekend.
I went to a baby shower with my mom and grandmother on Saturday afternoon. It was beautiful, we had a great time, and when we were about ten minutes from my parent's house on our way home, we got a call from my little brother. When I saw my mom's reaction to what he was telling her, I knew it was bad. She was hysterical and I couldn't even make out half of what she was saying. In the meantime, firetrucks were whizzing by us - when my mom got off the phone, she said "Those fire trucks are going to our house."
Those ten minutes from when she hung up the phone to when we got to the house were probably the most nerve wracking, heart wrenching moments we have ever felt. When we got to the house and saw black smoke billowing out of the front door, all of our hearts sank. But when we saw my brother and dad standing outside (shirtless and covered with black soot) and holding Elmo we were all just crying with relief that they were all ok.
I just cannot believe how easy it was for a simple mistake to nearly destroy our lives. My dad had put some oil in a pan on the stove and set it to heat up to make my little brother some mozzarella sticks. He took the dog outside, sat on the couch to wait, and in a matter of minutes had fallen asleep. Thank GOD the smoke alarm woke him up. It was five minutes, AT MOST that he had fallen asleep. When he woke up, all he could see was black smoke and flames consuming the stove. He screamed for my brother, who ran out with the dog and ran outside to call 911. He tried to put out the fire, but our fire extinguishers were expired and he couldn't use water because it was an oil fire and that would have made it worse.
The firemen told us if we'd have waited only a minute later to call 911, we probably would have lost the house. The roof was already cracking and once the fire hits the attic, that's it .They can rarely save the house after that. Luckily, only the kitchen was lost and my parents have insurance.
I am so, so incredibly thankful that my family is ok. We spent most of the weekend trying to get our bearings and overcome the shock. They are staying with us, and we are actually enjoying all of the extra time together, trying to make the best of it.
Girls - be SO careful. Things like this can happen to anyone, in the blink of an eye. We were so lucky, but it could have ended much, much worse.
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Re: NBR: House Fire - Long
hugs to you and your family
My blog
OMG, I am so sorry, but more important, thank God everyone is ok.
A word of advice regarding your parents insurance claim, hire a Public Adjuster. I deal with this everyday and know first hand the the insurance company will try to screw you. Take pictures of everything and don't clean up until the insurance company has gone out there. Good luck and I will send prayers your way for your entire family.
Thanks for the advice. My law firm actually represents insurance companies, so I know this firsthand too. My dad's cousin is a public adjuster and he already went by the house yesterday and will be there with my mom today when the insurance adjuster goes by to inspect the house.
GOOD! I tell everyone, hire someone!
Good luck, its a long process but you should be ok having someone who knows what they are doing.
That is so scary. Thankfully your family is OK. I never even thought of checking if our fire extinguishers are expired. I will do this as soon as I get home. I hope the whole insurance claim process goes smoothly for your parents.
OMG Eli! My heart was racing reading this. I'm so happy that they made it out ok. It could have been really ugly.
wow, I am so glad that your family is safe. That is very scary! You are right, we all make mistakes sometimes, and I feel for your dad. I left a pizza box in the oven on "warm" overnight before, and I woke up wondering why the house smelled like burned pizza. Then I realized how lucky we were that I didn't kill us. This is a good reminder to all of us! It's great that you are able to host your family while they recover from the fire. I'm breathing a sigh of relief for you all!!
Tania
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
Oh Eli
I'm so sorry...I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been!
I'm so happy to hear you're all ok and the damage was contained.
Just yesterday I forgot I was steaming green beans for the boys and the pan got ruined all burnt! Thankfully DH smelled it and took care of it!. It's just a simple mistake that can happen to anyone. How scary!
Hugs!
What a frightening experience. Thank goodness everyone is safe.
I am so glad everyone is okay!!!!! Sending you some big hugs. That is quite a scare!
I mentioned on FB, we got a similar scare in November when the exact same thing happened to my SIL. She was going to heat up some hotdogs for the kids (she was home with her 3 little ones age 4, 2, and 5 months) when she turned on the wrong burner. It was scary. Luckily no one was hurt and now we can joke about the new appliances they got and how...
I hope everything works out and that your parent's house can get back to the way it was but the important thing is that everyone is safe and healthy.
All of your stories about fires and how you nearly started fires are too familiar. I've left the oven on several times after finishing cupcakes without even thinking about it and woke up the next morning amazed that I hadn't killed us,
I am so glad a lot of you are going to check your fire extinguishers and smoke alarms! I am convinced that the smoke alarm saved my parent's house and possibly my dad and brother's lives and if his fire extinguisher had been working, so much damage could have been prevented.
I am glad everyone is ok
very scary
BFP #3: 01/28/12, EDD: 09/23/12, MMC (BO), D&C 2/16/12 at 6.5 wks
BFP #4: 05/23/12, EDD: 01/31/12, Early MC at 5 wks
RPL Workup: + LPD (7DPO Prog = 7.8, Endometrial Bx = out of phase)
Elevated Alpha 2-glycoprotein IgA and antiphosphatidylserine IgM -->
Hematologist said not to worry and no need for treatment!
Dx: LPD
Cycle #1(08/2012): Clomid 50 mg CD3-7, Ovidrel CD13 + Progesterone = It worked!
BFP #5 on 09/10/12 (11 DPO). HCG #1 @ 14DPO = 131.6 HCG #2 @ 16DPO = 509
EDD: 05/23/2013
Jason & Patricia 5/28/06
Oh no Eli, i'm sorry i'm getting to this late... I'm SO glad everything is ok and no one was hurt! Let me know if you guys need anything...
::::hugs!::::