- A
- T
- T
Here is a video walk through of the front of the house.The following pictures are from during and after the fire destroyed the house. What you are seeing is the least of the damage. I will post more pictures of the back of the house later when I can get in the back yard to do so.
On February 20th, 2017 around 9 am EST, my friend Sugar woke up to the smell of smoke and immediately woke myself and another friend up. Initially, we did not understand what was happening because of being half-asleep, but then we smelled the smoke as well.
When looking at the pictures, you can see the fire had started in the garage and we were in the other end of the house in the bedrooms. In that area, there is a door that closes off the end of the house so most of the smoke had not reached us but it was billowing out from the vents and light fixtures.
As soon as we all gathered our wits, I reached for the bedroom area's door to see where the fire might be. I touched the door and it was not warm so I used my shirt to open the door just in case the fire was closer. Once opened, smoke flowed right into our area and you could not see anything. I did not see any glowing from a fire so I told Sugar and my other friend to follow me to the front door and we all got out safely.
As we got to the road and stood back to see what was happening, we saw 10-feet flames coming from the garage roof and also heard a neighbor shouting for us. This woman had been taking a morning walk and saw the flames and was already on the phone with 911.
My other friend stayed calm for Sugar and myself but we were slowly getting more and more upset as we started to process what was happening. Our two cats were inside! All of our clothes and electronics were inside! We had JUST moved to this house and had not even begun to unpack. Most of our clothes and things were right next to the fire!
Minutes later, the fire department arrives and so do EMTs. They began working on controlling the flames but it was so hot and moving through the house so rapidly, that they could not save the house. About 30 minutes in, a fireman comes out with one of our cats (Cali) but not the second one.
This is the point that things get fuzzy for me. I went in to full on panic mode. I passed out and could not stay concious for long according to the EMT and doctor at the hospital. I was and am okay, I just had to let the panic attack run its course.
Later that evening, my other friend was checking out the house after the flames were quenched and saw the 2nd cat (Mow Mow) through a window and was abe to get him out. Both cats are now doing okay. Mow Mow and Cali was taken to the vet and checked out. Mow Mow has inflamation in his lungs from the smoke. He is still coughing and hacking up and is not his normal playful self. However, the vet said he should make a full recovery aslong as he does not get worse in the next few days. I will be taking him back to the vet for a follow-up and more x-rays to make sure everything is healing up.
As per the home owner, there is insurance, but I am not sure to what extent. As of right now, we only have a laptop and our phones. Sugar's suitcase had much of her wardrobe in it and all of my wardrobe and my other friend's as well as his mom's wardrobe is gone. All of our electronics with the exception of what was written before is gone. The cars only had some melted tail-lights and paint damage.
It is scary to think about what would have happened if Sugar had not woken up in time. We might have had a few moments to get outside before the smoke would have killed us. We also had been waiting on a bed frame to come in the mail for a new mattress that was delayed until the day of the fire. Had that been delivered on time, Sugar and I would have been sleeping in a room right next to the fire. I am so thankful for her waking us up.
I am setting this page up to get funds for the medical bills from the hospital trip ( I am unsure of the extent of them as of now), the vet bills and to cover
anything the insurance does not cover (like our cars or for any of the things I moved with that was not previously put into inventory for insurance).
I know this will be a slow process with the insurance and with replacing everything that was lost. All of my other friend's, his mother's and my childhood posessions were among the ruins. There were many things that cannot be replaced but we are all alive and well.
I set this page up with a small amount campared to the damage. Any help is welcomed. I am currently not working because of medical issues but I was looking for work from home options, so if anyone knows of a proper work from home job, that would be fantastic.
I appreciate any and all support from everyone. Feel free to ask questions and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Edit: The theory is that the fire was started by a possible electrical issue in the garage.
On February 20th, 2017 around 9 am EST, my friend Sugar woke up to the smell of smoke and immediately woke myself and another friend up. Initially, we did not understand what was happening because of being half-asleep, but then we smelled the smoke as well.
When looking at the pictures, you can see the fire had started in the garage and we were in the other end of the house in the bedrooms. In that area, there is a door that closes off the end of the house so most of the smoke had not reached us but it was billowing out from the vents and light fixtures.
As soon as we all gathered our wits, I reached for the bedroom area's door to see where the fire might be. I touched the door and it was not warm so I used my shirt to open the door just in case the fire was closer. Once opened, smoke flowed right into our area and you could not see anything. I did not see any glowing from a fire so I told Sugar and my other friend to follow me to the front door and we all got out safely.
As we got to the road and stood back to see what was happening, we saw 10-feet flames coming from the garage roof and also heard a neighbor shouting for us. This woman had been taking a morning walk and saw the flames and was already on the phone with 911.
My other friend stayed calm for Sugar and myself but we were slowly getting more and more upset as we started to process what was happening. Our two cats were inside! All of our clothes and electronics were inside! We had JUST moved to this house and had not even begun to unpack. Most of our clothes and things were right next to the fire!
Minutes later, the fire department arrives and so do EMTs. They began working on controlling the flames but it was so hot and moving through the house so rapidly, that they could not save the house. About 30 minutes in, a fireman comes out with one of our cats (Cali) but not the second one.
This is the point that things get fuzzy for me. I went in to full on panic mode. I passed out and could not stay concious for long according to the EMT and doctor at the hospital. I was and am okay, I just had to let the panic attack run its course.
Later that evening, my other friend was checking out the house after the flames were quenched and saw the 2nd cat (Mow Mow) through a window and was abe to get him out. Both cats are now doing okay. Mow Mow and Cali was taken to the vet and checked out. Mow Mow has inflamation in his lungs from the smoke. He is still coughing and hacking up and is not his normal playful self. However, the vet said he should make a full recovery aslong as he does not get worse in the next few days. I will be taking him back to the vet for a follow-up and more x-rays to make sure everything is healing up.
As per the home owner, there is insurance, but I am not sure to what extent. As of right now, we only have a laptop and our phones. Sugar's suitcase had much of her wardrobe in it and all of my wardrobe and my other friend's as well as his mom's wardrobe is gone. All of our electronics with the exception of what was written before is gone. The cars only had some melted tail-lights and paint damage.
It is scary to think about what would have happened if Sugar had not woken up in time. We might have had a few moments to get outside before the smoke would have killed us. We also had been waiting on a bed frame to come in the mail for a new mattress that was delayed until the day of the fire. Had that been delivered on time, Sugar and I would have been sleeping in a room right next to the fire. I am so thankful for her waking us up.
I am setting this page up to get funds for the medical bills from the hospital trip ( I am unsure of the extent of them as of now), the vet bills and to cover
anything the insurance does not cover (like our cars or for any of the things I moved with that was not previously put into inventory for insurance).
I know this will be a slow process with the insurance and with replacing everything that was lost. All of my other friend's, his mother's and my childhood posessions were among the ruins. There were many things that cannot be replaced but we are all alive and well.
I set this page up with a small amount campared to the damage. Any help is welcomed. I am currently not working because of medical issues but I was looking for work from home options, so if anyone knows of a proper work from home job, that would be fantastic.
I appreciate any and all support from everyone. Feel free to ask questions and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Edit: The theory is that the fire was started by a possible electrical issue in the garage.