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At least none of us were hurt.....
- Thread starter jwstewar
- Start date
OhioTC18
Gone But Not Forgotten
Bob,
Once they get somewhere stable, like an apartment or a rental house, I'm sure there will be things they will need to live "normally" until they can get back to their property again. It can't be much fun living at Mom and Dad's, except they seem like good people.
There was not much of anything salvageable from their house. That is except for a bunch of pictures. They were thankful for that.
Between what my wife has already done and the shopping trip on Wednesday, along with an anonymous donor from here and NTT, the kids immediate clothing needs should be taken care of.
I'll try to keep everyone here informed.
Deadly Sushi
The One, The Only, Sushi
Holy crap! Thats horrible. But like you said, at least everyone is alright. Please keep us up to speed on what happens.
How much of the house was damaged??
How much of the house was damaged??
OhioTC18
Gone But Not Forgotten
Holy crap! Thats horrible. But like you said, at least everyone is alright. Please keep us up to speed on what happens.
How much of the house was damaged??
Sushi, it looks like it was totally destroyed according to the pics Jim posted.
JayC
Huh?
Wow. I'm sorry for your loss but at least everyone was ok. I know it is hard to go through. Earlier this year at the end of June my sister and her husband's house caught fire. It was a total loss. What made it eery was listening to the scanner as the fire departments we dispatched. There were two full departments and a third for tanker support. An ambulance was on scene for standby and treatment of heat exhaustion. It was very hot and humid that day. Everything was a loss but they are currently building a better house. Her husband is a carpenter and they did a LOT of renovations to this house. They got it pretty cheap because it was a fixer-upper. It was practically completely remodeled. I've got photos of the fire, too, but I'm not gonna hijack your thread. It's tough to go through but things do get better.
jwstewar
Active member
Thanks everyone for you thoughts and prayers. It has been rough the last few days, but our family and friends (including the great people here at FF) and in our community have made getting through this possible.
I'm just so grateful that our family wasn't hurt or....... I'm also so grateful and thankful to what everyone has offered. You never hear about all of the good left in the world, but it is still there. You just have to search a little to find it.
I met with the adjuster yesterday (sorry for cutting you off Jerry - still haven't gotten that sink & water heater hooked up though). Looks like we are progressing. They have given us an advance to buy our necessities. We got here at Mom & Dads yesterday afternoon. Mom had one extra bed, Keagan and I are sleeping in it. The insurance said they would pay for an air mattress, so we got a really nice Simmons queen size one last night from Wal-Mart. Monica and Ally are sleeping on it.
As far as temporary housing goes, we are looking at the insurance company renting a trailer and setting it on our property. This will allow us to "keep an eye" on things let there as well as on the rebuilding process. Just spoke with the guy coordinating this. It will be a new or almost brand new trailer. It will come completely furnished including all beds, TVs, furniture, and linens. That should keep us pretty good until the house is finished.
Monica have been trying to do an inventory of items lost. I've made it through the office. She is in Ally's room.
After the adjuster left yesterday, we went into our bedroom and closet. Monica got a couple pair of jeans and found her wedding dress. It has a couple of burn marks in it, but for the most part intact, how I don't know because everything else around it was gone. Maybe when we had it preserved the cardboard box is somewhat fire resistant. The other thing that was neat. She had a Crystal Cross sitting on our dresser. It was out in the middle of the room (I won't say floor because you can't see the floor), we don't know how it got to where it was halfway across the room, but it wasn't hurt. Not even so much as a chip.
I'm just so grateful that our family wasn't hurt or....... I'm also so grateful and thankful to what everyone has offered. You never hear about all of the good left in the world, but it is still there. You just have to search a little to find it.
I met with the adjuster yesterday (sorry for cutting you off Jerry - still haven't gotten that sink & water heater hooked up though). Looks like we are progressing. They have given us an advance to buy our necessities. We got here at Mom & Dads yesterday afternoon. Mom had one extra bed, Keagan and I are sleeping in it. The insurance said they would pay for an air mattress, so we got a really nice Simmons queen size one last night from Wal-Mart. Monica and Ally are sleeping on it.
As far as temporary housing goes, we are looking at the insurance company renting a trailer and setting it on our property. This will allow us to "keep an eye" on things let there as well as on the rebuilding process. Just spoke with the guy coordinating this. It will be a new or almost brand new trailer. It will come completely furnished including all beds, TVs, furniture, and linens. That should keep us pretty good until the house is finished.
Monica have been trying to do an inventory of items lost. I've made it through the office. She is in Ally's room.
After the adjuster left yesterday, we went into our bedroom and closet. Monica got a couple pair of jeans and found her wedding dress. It has a couple of burn marks in it, but for the most part intact, how I don't know because everything else around it was gone. Maybe when we had it preserved the cardboard box is somewhat fire resistant. The other thing that was neat. She had a Crystal Cross sitting on our dresser. It was out in the middle of the room (I won't say floor because you can't see the floor), we don't know how it got to where it was halfway across the room, but it wasn't hurt. Not even so much as a chip.
Snowcat Operations
Active member
Keep us posted.
jwstewar
Active member
Thanks Greg, I appreciate the offer. I think all of our current needs are being met. One of the great things about living close to your family is you can go back home. Mom has enjoyed being a "Mom" again. Mom and Dad are having a ball have us here with them, though certainly not under these circumstances. I had to tell the kids a few minutes to pick their toys so they didn't get stepped on as we have twice as many people and half the amount of space we had before so we are a little cozy. Sure beats the hotel room though.
Sure sounds like you are handling it all very well. The kids will remember the loss for sure, but they will remember the good times about staying at Granma's. You sure are making the best of a bad situation. Your kids will learn a lot by seeing how you and your wife handle the whole ordeal. I'm sure they'll remember and be very proud of their parents.
Snowcat Operations
Active member
DITTO. Doc said it best. God Bless. Keep us posted.
OhioTC18
Gone But Not Forgotten
That's quite alright Jim. Meeting with him was much more important. I'll see you tomorrow evening if everything's still a go. I'll probably have to meet up with you this weekend or early next week too.
jwstewar
Active member
We are still a go Jerry. Monica and I were just talking about our schedule for tomorrow. Might have to get me a day planner.
I forgot to mention a bit of good news that we've had. Monica has been looking for an office type job now for quite a while - probably almost 3 years. We met with a buddy of mine last night for some items him and his wife were giving us. His wife and Monica had met once before, but not ever really talked. They hit it off pretty well. She knows of a job (actually the job she held prior for 21 years - left to go to a job with benefits) that she thinks Monica would be a perfect fit for. Her former boss isn't happy with the lady that he hired to replace Vickie and he just called Vickie asking if she knew of anyone. Basically Vickie is going to call him back and tell him she found someone, but she needs a little bit of time. We are sitting here with fingers crossed hoping that will work out. Again, just amazing how things work out.
I forgot to mention a bit of good news that we've had. Monica has been looking for an office type job now for quite a while - probably almost 3 years. We met with a buddy of mine last night for some items him and his wife were giving us. His wife and Monica had met once before, but not ever really talked. They hit it off pretty well. She knows of a job (actually the job she held prior for 21 years - left to go to a job with benefits) that she thinks Monica would be a perfect fit for. Her former boss isn't happy with the lady that he hired to replace Vickie and he just called Vickie asking if she knew of anyone. Basically Vickie is going to call him back and tell him she found someone, but she needs a little bit of time. We are sitting here with fingers crossed hoping that will work out. Again, just amazing how things work out.
P
Pigtails
Guest
Jim,
So, sorry about your home.. Our prayers are with you and your family..
So, sorry about your home.. Our prayers are with you and your family..
terbear1963
New member
Sorry for your loss, but very glad to hear of the good things that may be coming out of this tradgy.
Galvatron
Spock and Galvatron < one and the same
jim this as touched me in many ways....first the loss of your family home and the stress it involves dealing with it...as stated many times god bless no one was hurt.
secondly it brings back memory's of when this happened to my parents home many years ago when i was still a lad...i was about 12 at the time and it was a shocking experience.
i can remember as a child feeling unsafe for some time in our new home with the fear of the same happening again and it scared the life out of me...and i remember the pain my parents had to deal with trying to rebuild our lives and trying to put on a brave face at the same time.
i know im on the other side of the big pond (uk) but if there is anything you feel i could do to help feel free to ask.
will being praying your family get sorted sooner than later and keep an eye on the kids as they may be hiding some fears that they are scared of sharing.
all my best wishes.
secondly it brings back memory's of when this happened to my parents home many years ago when i was still a lad...i was about 12 at the time and it was a shocking experience.
i can remember as a child feeling unsafe for some time in our new home with the fear of the same happening again and it scared the life out of me...and i remember the pain my parents had to deal with trying to rebuild our lives and trying to put on a brave face at the same time.
i know im on the other side of the big pond (uk) but if there is anything you feel i could do to help feel free to ask.
will being praying your family get sorted sooner than later and keep an eye on the kids as they may be hiding some fears that they are scared of sharing.
all my best wishes.
DAP
New member
Jim ... if its any consolation, I have also lived through what you went through though it was a loft in the middle of a large city. Everything, litterally everything I owned was lost except for a pair of dungarees I was wearing after my escape.
Silver Linings:
1. You and yours are now the very easiest people to holiday shop for. Period. And will continue to be so for a while.
2. The odds of loss of life or severe property loss in a fire related incident have skyrocketed dramatically. Probably can cross it of your list of worries permanently.
By far and away, the most difficult part was losing personal effects with no intrinsic value except for sentiment. For instance, in my situation, all my baby photographs were lost. Images of me as a baby and youngster are basically lost for all time (with a couple of exceptions). All my identification pieces were also lost. For a number of months, I walked around feeling very much like a ghost. Everything will return to normal in time though, I promise.
And tell Monica that it will be years before she completes the list of things lost. To this day, some 10 years later, I will be some place and suddenly something will remind me (or it will simply fall into my head) of something that I no longer have because of that fateful evening.
I was actually asleep when the fire engulfed my loft, and am extraordinarily lucky to be typing this. I did lose a pet - particularly horrible me thinks.
Enjoy all the new stuff!!!!!
Let this be also be a wakeup ... I would venture to guess that t least 75% of all homeowers or renters are UNDERINSURED. I certainly was.
....
Silver Linings:
1. You and yours are now the very easiest people to holiday shop for. Period. And will continue to be so for a while.
2. The odds of loss of life or severe property loss in a fire related incident have skyrocketed dramatically. Probably can cross it of your list of worries permanently.
By far and away, the most difficult part was losing personal effects with no intrinsic value except for sentiment. For instance, in my situation, all my baby photographs were lost. Images of me as a baby and youngster are basically lost for all time (with a couple of exceptions). All my identification pieces were also lost. For a number of months, I walked around feeling very much like a ghost. Everything will return to normal in time though, I promise.
And tell Monica that it will be years before she completes the list of things lost. To this day, some 10 years later, I will be some place and suddenly something will remind me (or it will simply fall into my head) of something that I no longer have because of that fateful evening.
I was actually asleep when the fire engulfed my loft, and am extraordinarily lucky to be typing this. I did lose a pet - particularly horrible me thinks.
Enjoy all the new stuff!!!!!
Let this be also be a wakeup ... I would venture to guess that t least 75% of all homeowers or renters are UNDERINSURED. I certainly was.
....
jwstewar
Active member
Thanks Doug. Those are some points I hadn't thought about
Quick update. Met Jerry the other night. Just wanted to say thanks to Jerry and whomever else may have donated. We greatly appreciate it.
We had moved to Mom & Dad's for awhile. We got there Monday, but it was awful crowded. 7 (5 adults) of us in probably 900 SF house w/ lots of furniture was pretty crowded. Saturday night my second cousin got married, while we were there one of my cousins offered to loan us his new Fifth Wheel Camper. Sunday we took him up on the offer. It is a 35 ft w/ floor slideouts. We have some room to move now. It is a 4 seasons camper so it has heated holding tanks and everything on it. It is really nice.
On a more permanent basis, we are still in talks with the insurance company to see what we can come up with there. We have also talked with a couple of builders. OK, we talked with one and the other 2 I left before talking to them after looking at their model homes.
Quick update. Met Jerry the other night. Just wanted to say thanks to Jerry and whomever else may have donated. We greatly appreciate it.
We had moved to Mom & Dad's for awhile. We got there Monday, but it was awful crowded. 7 (5 adults) of us in probably 900 SF house w/ lots of furniture was pretty crowded. Saturday night my second cousin got married, while we were there one of my cousins offered to loan us his new Fifth Wheel Camper. Sunday we took him up on the offer. It is a 35 ft w/ floor slideouts. We have some room to move now. It is a 4 seasons camper so it has heated holding tanks and everything on it. It is really nice.
On a more permanent basis, we are still in talks with the insurance company to see what we can come up with there. We have also talked with a couple of builders. OK, we talked with one and the other 2 I left before talking to them after looking at their model homes.
OhioTC18
Gone But Not Forgotten
On a more permanent basis, we are still in talks with the insurance company to see what we can come up with there. We have also talked with a couple of builders. OK, we talked with one and the other 2 I left before talking to them after looking at their model homes.
Jim, any update lately?
jwstewar
Active member
Still waiting on the company to deliver the mobile home the insurance company is renting for us. It was supposed to be delivered last Thursday. They called me and said it was in a field and they had to get a dozer to pull it out. OK, fine. They finally told me it was on its way, but wouldn't be there until 11:00 on Friday. OK, fine. 1:00 Friday they tell me they bent the axle(s) pulling it out and they could tow it
I then started 
because they told me the day before it was on its way. Anyway, they said it wouldn't be there until Monday. After arguing again with them about missing work, they were supposed to give me 1 1/2 hour lead time so I could get home. About 3:30 yesterday they call me. Not only did they bend the axle(s) they also broke the frame.
They couldn't bring us that trailer they would have to get us another one from somewhere else. This required the whole permit process to start over. It is now supposed to be there tomorrow. We'll see, I'm not holding my breath. I just want to know what the hell they hit with the trailer to do that much damage.
Monica and I are still working on our inventory. The kids' rooms are taking awhile because of all of the toys. Try to get prices on toys from a couple of years ago. You can't buy them anymore. The one that is really driving me nuts is Keagan's Geo Trax setup. He had tons of them, I can't remember what he had and I can't find a good list of them anywhere.
House wise, Monica and I are still up in the air on that one. She wants a house - which I like, but I'm trying to rein her in a bit on costs. So that is where some ....um.....dicussions....yeah, discussions are occurring.
I then started because they told me the day before it was on its way. Anyway, they said it wouldn't be there until Monday. After arguing again with them about missing work, they were supposed to give me 1 1/2 hour lead time so I could get home. About 3:30 yesterday they call me. Not only did they bend the axle(s) they also broke the frame. They couldn't bring us that trailer they would have to get us another one from somewhere else. This required the whole permit process to start over. It is now supposed to be there tomorrow. We'll see, I'm not holding my breath. I just want to know what the hell they hit with the trailer to do that much damage.Monica and I are still working on our inventory. The kids' rooms are taking awhile because of all of the toys. Try to get prices on toys from a couple of years ago. You can't buy them anymore. The one that is really driving me nuts is Keagan's Geo Trax setup. He had tons of them, I can't remember what he had and I can't find a good list of them anywhere.
House wise, Monica and I are still up in the air on that one. She wants a house - which I like, but I'm trying to rein her in a bit on costs. So that is where some ....um.....dicussions....yeah, discussions are occurring.
Galvatron
Spock and Galvatron < one and the same
cheers for the update.....feel a little useless on the other side of the pond but i hope this can help....some links on geo trax with prices.
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search.php?form_keyword=geo trax&mode=ink_kwfeed_8&skd=1
http://www.amazon.com/Geo-Trax-Rail-Road-System/dp/B000A7ZOWC
http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-toys-games-Geo-Trax-Train-set-W0QQAdIdZ26074636
http://www.allaboardtoys.com/geotrax/
the last link is most likely the best....and dont forget to try ebay for some older replacement prices....hope this helps and if you need any running around online finding prices just post up the items and i will be happy to look for you.
chin up and good luck.
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search.php?form_keyword=geo trax&mode=ink_kwfeed_8&skd=1
http://www.amazon.com/Geo-Trax-Rail-Road-System/dp/B000A7ZOWC
http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-toys-games-Geo-Trax-Train-set-W0QQAdIdZ26074636
http://www.allaboardtoys.com/geotrax/
the last link is most likely the best....and dont forget to try ebay for some older replacement prices....hope this helps and if you need any running around online finding prices just post up the items and i will be happy to look for you.
chin up and good luck.
jwstewar
Active member
Quick update....
We've got the house trailer in place. We've been in it for a week now. It is amazing how much stuff we had accumulated in a period of about 3 weeks. Took awhile to move everything - mainly just clothes and some toys for the kids. Monica was so happy to get a washer and dryer.
Because of the rain we had trouble getting the trailer backed in. They had to pull it in. That made hooking it up a bit more difficult - everything had to be run farther than we had planned. While they were trying to back the trailer in the sunk down beside my culvert and crushed it sideways. I'm going to have to dig the end of it out and cut the end off now. A little bit of seat time on the NH.
The excavator came on Saturday and demoed the house. Only took him about an hour and a half. Keagan got to have fun, he rode in the excavator driver for about 15 minutes. He loved it. They hauled it away Tuesday and Wednesday. It was amazing how thick the footer was that it was sitting on. It was a good 8 - 10" thick. I was thinking it was only 4". He said it took him 6 semi truckloads to get everything hauled away - he was planning on 4. He also moved the deck for me. I had cut the 4 posts that I had put in the ground and put boards across the open ends of the deck. He then just picked it up and set it back by the pool. I'll have to do some work to it to clean it and maybe replace a few boards mainly to extend the legs. With a small addition to it to make it "wrap" around the pool, it should be a great deck for the pool. I had originally built it plenty strong with the joists 16" on center and cross bracing.
As far as a permanent house, we are still debating that one. Leaning toward one builder, but want to talk to a couple more before we make our decision. We are also still working on our inventory and getting prices for things. We spent about 2 hours the other day at Toy 'R' Us. It was a big help to walk up and down the aisles to remember what they had. It is amazing how much you forget - and it is amazing how much money we (and others) had spent on toys
Life is starting to get back to "normal" - whatever that is.
We've got the house trailer in place. We've been in it for a week now. It is amazing how much stuff we had accumulated in a period of about 3 weeks. Took awhile to move everything - mainly just clothes and some toys for the kids. Monica was so happy to get a washer and dryer.
Because of the rain we had trouble getting the trailer backed in. They had to pull it in. That made hooking it up a bit more difficult - everything had to be run farther than we had planned. While they were trying to back the trailer in the sunk down beside my culvert and crushed it sideways. I'm going to have to dig the end of it out and cut the end off now. A little bit of seat time on the NH.
The excavator came on Saturday and demoed the house. Only took him about an hour and a half. Keagan got to have fun, he rode in the excavator driver for about 15 minutes. He loved it. They hauled it away Tuesday and Wednesday. It was amazing how thick the footer was that it was sitting on. It was a good 8 - 10" thick. I was thinking it was only 4". He said it took him 6 semi truckloads to get everything hauled away - he was planning on 4. He also moved the deck for me. I had cut the 4 posts that I had put in the ground and put boards across the open ends of the deck. He then just picked it up and set it back by the pool. I'll have to do some work to it to clean it and maybe replace a few boards mainly to extend the legs. With a small addition to it to make it "wrap" around the pool, it should be a great deck for the pool. I had originally built it plenty strong with the joists 16" on center and cross bracing.
As far as a permanent house, we are still debating that one. Leaning toward one builder, but want to talk to a couple more before we make our decision. We are also still working on our inventory and getting prices for things. We spent about 2 hours the other day at Toy 'R' Us. It was a big help to walk up and down the aisles to remember what they had. It is amazing how much you forget - and it is amazing how much money we (and others) had spent on toys
Life is starting to get back to "normal" - whatever that is.
OhioTC18
Gone But Not Forgotten
I kinda figured you were in by now, from what I saw in a few previous posts you have made either here or somewhere else. I'll bet Monica is glad things are getting to where she can get comfortable. Hell, all of you must be glad your at that stage. We got the card Jim and you're welcome. Just to let the FF anonymous donor know, Jim and Monica sent a wonderful Thank You card signed by all the family including the kids with a drawing from each on it.