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PSA: House Fire (My sister's family of 5)

minniemoh
minniemoh Posts: 2,145
in EggHead Forum
I haven't contributed to the forum much for the past year or so as we have bought a different house and had a lot going on with our kids changing schools, the Mrs got a new job, etc... I've still been cooking some but not as much as I used to and not really much time to get creative. I'm not sure if this topic has been brought up recently but I want to call attention to this risk again. As we get into Spring here in the Midwest, the grills get fired up and we enjoy more time outdoors.

These pictures are of my sister's family home that went up in flames at 4:30 AM today. All five of them were home and asleep and thankfully everyone got out safely. The fire started on the deck from a charcoal grill. My BIL grilled dinner last night (he's a diehard Weber kettle guy) in the awesome sunny weather they were having in central Iowa. Apparently an unnoticed ember or spark got on the deck and smoldered somewhere until it was able to get enough air to start the house on fire somewhere around 4 AM. The only undamaged possessions they have left are his junk in the garage, their PJ's, and three pairs of shoes. Their kids are 17, 13, and 2. The last picture is my BIL and his two daughters standing in borrowed clothes in utter disbelief.

At our previous home, I had all of my eggs on my deck and this was a concern for me... luckily, I dodged this bullet for years. Now my eggs are on a brick paver patio and I think I would still like to get rid of my wood table to reduce the risk. I know our eggs are a little less susceptible to embers getting away than a Weber kettle, but I have had it happen MANY times on my old deck and it always made me nervous - and that was just the ones that I SAW get out the draft screen.

I share this because I care for my Egg friends and your families. From what I have seen on the forum lately, it's all about choosing your political side and waging war on the opposition. I hope this is an issue that we, as Eggheads, can stay united on.

Wishing you safe and tasty egging!  ~Thanks! Minniemoh





L x2, M, S, Mini and a Blackstone 36. She says I have enough now....
eggAddict from MN!
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Comments

  • GrateEggspectations
    GrateEggspectations Posts: 11,613
    Wow. Very glad to hear all got out safely. Thanks for the reminder. 
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  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 34,750
    I hate to see something like this.  Terrible.  

    Nevertheless an important lesson and reminder to us all, so thank you for sharing it.  And of course I'm  glad nobody was hurt.  
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike

    "The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand." - Deep Throat
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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,339
      I can learn by the misfortunes of others. My Egg is on concrete ten feet from the house and 10 feet from the detached garage. For those limited to using wooden decks, there is a product called Frog Mat that cN be a fire proof layer between the Egg and the deck. 

    I hope that your relatives recover soon.
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  • minniemoh
    minniemoh Posts: 2,145
    Thanks @WeberWho. That's very kind and generous of you. I think everyone's still in shock so far. Most of my family lives in the area and they do have a very good support network locally. We will be going down this weekend. I really wanted to go today but I thought they had enough people standing in the yard saying "Well F$%&! That sucks!"
    L x2, M, S, Mini and a Blackstone 36. She says I have enough now....
    eggAddict from MN!
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  • GrateEggspectations
    GrateEggspectations Posts: 11,613
    Absolutely kicka$$ offer from @WeberWho. I love seeing this kind of stuff. If there was a “superlike” button, I would pound it repeatedly. 
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    That's a sobering reminder of what can happen living in houses made of fuel and an atmosphere of 20% oxygen.  After we move I'm going to put all my outdoor cooking stuff on a brick patio.  currently it's on a wood deck connected to the house - a recipe for disaster.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,182
    That’s scary. Thankful that everyone is safe. 
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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,532
    GrateEggspectations said:
    Absolutely kicka$$ offer from @WeberWho. I love seeing this kind of stuff. If there was a “superlike” button, I would pound it repeatedly. 
    Haha thanks. That's just what you need to do sometimes. A helping hand can go a long way in need. The very least I can do is offer it.
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,387
    Wow.  +1 happy to hear everyone is ok.  You can replace things.  You can't replace people.
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP PitBoss Navigator 850G 11/25
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,812
    Can't be glad enough for all affected to survive.  I cannot begin to process the challenges immediately ahead.  Stay strong and supportive for all as sometimes that is more needed than you know.  
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 21,681
    Scary lesson for sure.  Thankful everyone is physically ok.

    I would rather light a candle than curse your darkness.

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  • jeffc5227
    jeffc5227 Posts: 131
    Glad there ok. Tough loss losing everything.
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  • Spaightlabs
    Spaightlabs Posts: 2,349
    Glad everyone is ok as you are correct - the rest is just stuff.  

    I've been though this a few years ago, if I can offer any assistance with the insurance claim process or in dealing with contractors post-fire please let me know.  We got out with he clothes we had on as well.  At 1:30 AM that day I owned a pair of game shorts, a knee brace and a pair of crutches. 

    The first morning was pretty surreal.  Walked into Target and literally needed 'everything'.  


    It is imperative that your family knows that the contractors will be looking out for themselves first and foremost, and for your family second.  They will try to cut corners and use lower quality materials wherever they can - if they save money versus the estimate they will just suck that profits back into their pockets.

    99% of people do not have a full inventory or a video inventory of what is in their home.  There will probably be adjustors out today or tomorrow to start the process, but your family should take a quiet hour or two and start doing an inventory on paper recording everything they can think of, room by room.

    Many, many things will be missed or forgotten.  4 years later I still think of things at least monthly that are gone that I didn't get on the claim.

    For us the blessing was that in addition to everyone being safe, it was a great time to de-clutter and re-design our home.
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  • speed51133
    speed51133 Posts: 691
    Wow, are they fully insured?
    XL BGE and Kamado Joe Jr.
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  • minniemoh
    minniemoh Posts: 2,145
    That's great advice @Spaightlabs. I will talk to them about these things this weekend. I assume they are fully insured but have not asked. I really have no idea where they are at with things as of today.
    L x2, M, S, Mini and a Blackstone 36. She says I have enough now....
    eggAddict from MN!
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  • Canugghead
    Canugghead Posts: 13,723
    Thanks for sharing, glad everyone is safe. Guess I should forget about replacing ugly paved patio with deck  :)
    canuckland
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    edited March 2020
    Oh man. So glad everybody is ok. I have a composite deck and it’s pocked with burn marks from stray embers and one large spot from when my table burned down that would have certainly taken the house with it if it were wood. Thanks for the sobering reminder. 

    Best to your family. I’m sure several on here (including me) would gladly throw in some cash or gift cards if they need some immediate help getting the basics. 
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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