It's all good.

mrbigbluelight · August 2008

Well ... let me share with you all the #1 way I don't like to be woke up early in the morining:

"DAD ! DAD ! JOHN'S ROOM IS ON FIRE !!

Not really very good for the heart. Barreled downstairs, he's in the hallway (safe), look into his room, and the foot-end of his bed is on fire, with flames licking up to the ceiling.
Tell my sons to get out and call 911, race over to the familyroom fireplace to get the fire extinguisher, and .... it ain't there.

Zip back to my son's room, the black smoke is starting to roll, make the call that it's time to bail, and get outside.
While waiting for the Fire Department to show up, take a physical inventory of everybody, and we're all good.
Watch the windows blow out of my son's room (from a safe distance), while enjoying the cool rain that was pouring down.

Finally hear the fire trucks coming, and watch in amazement as 2 pumpers, 1 hook and ladder (?!), and 2 EMT vehicles arrive, along with 4 county cop cars.
:eek:

Long story short: after 5 minutes, the Fire Chief finally decides to unroll a 3 inch hose, and enter the house and put the fire out. Not bad work, they kept the water damage to my son's room althought the whole house has smoke damage.

So ... it's all good. Everybody's out in one piece, we have insurance, the insurance adjuster is thorough but fair, the neighbors keep an eye on the house while we're gone (over at the daughter and S-I-L's house), and life is good.

The Fire Department got the cause of the fire wrong, though. They found a pack of smokes underneath my youngest son's bed (it was my oldest son's ..
.... we're both idiots

) so they felt the cause was "smoking related".
The youngest son insisted he wasn't smoking cause he doesn't smoke, and I told the fire investigator that I thought it was related to the storm outtages and BROWNOUTS we had experienced all night, but he said, "No, we're pretty sure it was smoking related".

We stayed out of the room until the insurance investigator arrived the next morning. He asked about the cause, I told him what the FD investigator said, and my theory.
We walked into his room with flashlights, he looked around and .... gee ... the outlet by his bed had soot marks running up the wall from the outlet, and the cord that was plugged into it was melted about 6" from the plug (and only there).
The insurance investigator: "Well, there's your cause" . It did take him about 60 seconds to figure that out, though. :rolleyes:

Anyhow, I told him I'd LIKE to take a polygraph with an examiner of his choice at MY expense if he had ANY doubts as to the origin of the fire. He said not necessary, so we're able to get down to the business of recovery now without any BS.

So .... the main thing is, my sons weren't hurt, and it's all good.

The one recovery company that came through to make estimates for bids on the job did notice the Polk speakers all over the place, though, and did comment favorably. They all seem to think they can get rid of the smoke smell by cleaning and ozone, but ... this I'll have to see (and smell).

BTW: I didn't notice this until towards the end, but there was a VERY nice Fire Fighter manning the door during the fire. SHE had the boot waders on, but no jacket. Nope, just a green camoflauge type of T-shirt which, due to the rain, was soaked.

Being as she looked to be only 22, I didn't want to embarras her by pointing out that she was .... uhm .... pointing out. :eek::)

Always a gentleman, even in times of crisis.

Being as this post is taking longer than the actual fire, I'll remind everyone:

IT'S ALL GOOD.

obieone · August 2008

Glad to hear no one hurt, and not a COMPLETE loss. And those ozone machines DO work.
I used them when I managed a hotel. Completely neutralizes the air.

zingo · August 2008

Glad that it's all good and everyone is safe. I pray the recovery process for you goes smooth.

bigaudiofanatic · August 2008

I like your laid back approach to the situation. BUT OMG that is funny DAD DAD DAD JOHNS ROOM IS ON FIRE not the best way to be woken up. But i am glad everyone was alright

danger boy · August 2008

glad everyone is fine.. that's some scary stuff..

but.. did any smoke detectors or fire alarms go off in the house? Just curious.

Serendipity · August 2008

Glad to hear everything is okay.

treitz3 · August 2008

MBL, you're a trip.

audiobliss · August 2008

Wow, sorry to hear that, man. Hope insurance treats you right and the smell comes out clear.

You DO have a great way with story telling, too!

fossy · August 2008

WOW glad your family is alright.

WilliamM2 · August 2008

danger boy wrote: »

glad everyone is fine.. that's some scary stuff..

but.. did any smoke detectors or fire alarms go off in the house? Just curious.

That's what I was thinking. We have smoke alarms in every bedroom, even those we do not use, and the hallways.

shadowofnight · August 2008

Glad everyone got out and is ok.

cfrizz · August 2008

Glad everyone is safe BBL!

ben62670 · August 2008

Wow man thats scary. I hope it all works out. I am very glad you were all safe, and damage was kept to a minimum.
Ben

schwarcw · August 2008

That was a close one Mrbigbluelight!!:eek: I'm glad everyone is alright and there was limited damage. Praise the Lord!

You didn't happen to snap a phot of the wet T-shirt firegirl did you??:D

SKsolutions · August 2008

Good to hear you are all safe. That's got to be a bit scary until you find everybody OK.

brettw22 · August 2008

obieone wrote: »

Glad to hear no one hurt, and not a COMPLETE loss. And those ozone machines DO work.
I used them when I managed a hotel. Completely neutralizes the air.

Aren't those the things that make the room smell like chlorine?

My mom had one and said "that's ozone" (it's chlorine smelling)

Airplay355 · August 2008

Isn't ozone toxic? How do you make sure all the ozone is out before you move back in? Or does it dissipate quickly enough with the windows open that it's no big deal?

mrbigbluelight · August 2008

Yes, the ozone machines make a room smell like chlorine; some secretaries at work use them and I think they make everything smell mildewy.

Our smoke detectors ..... let me rephrase that .... the smoke detectors we USED TO HAVE were actually AC powered. Power goes out, they don't work so good.

My youngest son (Johnny "Torch") popped the cover off the one downstairs when his older brother went upstairs to get me and pulled the plug on it to get it to shut up. The one upstairs eventually went off, but we were outside then and couldn't hear it (windows popping out).

The newer smoke detectors are, of course, battery operated and the rule of thumb is now: If it ain't moving, stick a smoke detector on it.
Actually, one per room and one at each end of the hallways.

I installed new locksets and deadbolts in the front door and garage yesterday.
I realized that we didn't have a clue where the keys were because we haven't locked the doors in 10+ years.

For whatever reason

we've never had a need to, but you put some plywood up on windows and it's a very tempting target. Not necessarily for the locals, but some chowderheads make a living off their scanners by monitoring fire calls.

Johnny "Torch" starts school tomorrow and, because we're camping at the daughter and S-I-L's house, he gets to ride the big yellow school bus for the first time !! :eek: I told him I'd ride to school with him on the bus to make sure he doesn't get lost. He didn't much care for that idea, so I'll just stand at the curb and cry or something; I'll have to come up with something to make him feel ex-tree special.

After all, he is a junior in HS.

I meet the insurance claims adjustor tomorrow morning and he's going to give me a proposed settlement for damage to the house (minus personal property; I'm still making that list). Hopefully I won't have to use the "F"-word too much

.

Thanks for the good thoughts, and check those smoke detectors !