Lynch Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 So a couple of weeks ago I am on my way home from work after evening shift, almost 2 am, and so pumped for the weekend! I turn down my street and see about 4 firetrucks and a few cop cars close to my house. I think "Ah shit, how am I going to get on my driveway now?" I get closer to my house and I think "Oh fuck they are close to my house, wonder what's up". I whip around the block to come from the other side, park my car and walk towards my house. And I think "Oh FUCK my house is on fire!" About 40 firefighters and cops and paramedics are running around my yard. All the doors are open, windows are out, fire hoses running everywhere..... chaos. They has just got the call around 1 am and had not been able to get a hold of me yet. My neighbors had seen sparking in my entrance where my breaker panel is. Something has shorted out and started burning. No one was home, but I had NO idea where my two cats where, or how the thousands of dollars of guitars and music equipment is my basement was. Complete shock. My back entrance was gutted, holes chopped everywhere, roof was damaged, it started burning up the wall, smoke damage on alot of the main floor. Just a giant mess. It could have been alot worse. I have nothing but good things to say about the firefighters that responded. They must have got there FAST, or the fire would have spread over more the house for sure. My cat Gordie came around the next day, but he was still terrified. Wilco was M.I.A. for a day and a half, and that was not fun, but he came around eventually. He must have just been hiding in the house. They are now safe and sound at Critter Sitter Pet Hotel, and I am staying at the Local Days Inn until the house is done. I am hoping to be back in there in about 2 weeks or so. So yeah, that's my story. Worst weekend ever. On a lighter note, this coming weekend could be one of the best weekends ever. On Sunday I am going to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and I am going to see Andrew Bird, Gord Downie, and Sarah Harmer. Three of my all-time favorite artists, on the same day, on the same stage!!! And all of them are in workshops that afternoon as well. So pumped!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 geez man, that's pretty bad. but at least you and your critters are ok! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Glad you and the cats are okay. Everything else can be replaced. That's why we have insurance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Mega-vibes. Really glad the cats are okay. Thank god your neighbors were up and staring at your breaker at that moment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lynch Posted July 7, 2010 Author Share Posted July 7, 2010 Mega-vibes. Really glad the cats are okay. Thank god your neighbors were up and staring at your breaker at that moment. Yeah, from their bedroom window they have a direct line of sight into my back entrance. Weird how that worked out. All I know is I am spoiling the HELL out of cats when I get back in the house, and I will probably flinch every time I flick a light switch or plug something in for a while. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Yeah, from their bedroom window they have a direct line of sight into my back entrance. Weird how that worked out. When I was 5, I woke up and saw the flower pot on my nightstand glowing - turned out to be flames from our neighbor's garage reflecting off the ceramic. They were on vacation, and we were the ones to call the fire department. Funny how that works out, isn't it? All I know is I am spoiling the HELL out of cats when I get back in the house I don't know about you, but I say that every day when I leave work. Wrapped around their little fingers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Wow, what a scary story. Glad to hear your cats are ok and the fire/damage was fairly minimal. My house had a fire about a decade ago, before we bought it. The old man who lived there had a bucket of rags in the basement that caught fire. When we found out about the fire we realized why the hardwood floors and all the walls looked so much newer and nicer than the other houses we looked at. We might not have bought our house had it not caught on fire. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Sorry to hear about that. Definitely glad the cats were safe and sound. By the way, I originally read this sentence: My neighbors had seen sparking in my entrance where my breaker panel is. as "My neighbors had been sparking in my entrance...." I thought to myself, "who lights up a joint right by a breaker panel?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 By the way, I originally read this sentence: as "My neighbors had been sparking in my entrance...." I thought to myself, "who lights up a joint right by a breaker panel?" Me too Scary stuff Lynch. Thanks for the detailed tale. Glad you and yours are okay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Wow. I've had nightmares like that. Glad everyone was okay and that the cats made their way home. Good luck with everything on the road ahead. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pillowy star Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 OMG. I am so scared of fire. Guess you had a pretty good guardian angel xx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Glad everyone is safe. I remember back about 10 years ago when a close family's friends house burned down and it is devistating. Just a friendly reminder to everyone to change your batteries on the fire detectors every 6 months and program the fire company number on your cell and house phone. Best of luck on the repairs, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lynch Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Alright folks, almost two months later and I am all moved back in and settled in. Cats are happy, guitars are tuned, and music can be real loud again. Damn, it feels good to be home!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 excellent update! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I somehow missed this thread when it was originally posted. Glad everything worked out OK. Hope your insurance picked up the tab. And I hope you're still spoiling those cats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lynch Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Oh yes, the kitties are being spoiled, while being lazy as ever. They sleep in the exact same spot on the same couch, as if nothing has changed. The insurance paid for it all, and so far they have been great to deal with. The contractor doing the work, on the other hand.... The quality of work is good, but it took double the time they said it would. Oh well. Who cares now? I am home, and life can get back to normal again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Alright folks, almost two months later and I am all moved back in and settled in. Cats are happy, guitars are tuned, and music can be real loud again. Damn, it feels good to be home!!!Aww - that is nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Glad to hear it all turned out ok in the end. What a scare! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 Good old home sweet home! So glad you are back into your space and all is well! Your original story gave me chills, so I can only imagine what it was like to live it! It might've been so much worse. My dad, now 87, tells of when he was a boy in school & was riding the schoolbus home one day. The bus came up a rise in the road from where he could always first see his family's big old farmhouse...only when he looked, there was no house where it should have stood. It had burned to the ground while he was away at school that day! I'm so glad your story had a happier ending and you & the kitties are safe and sound! And thank God your neighbors saw the fire begin! All's well that ends well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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