73-87chevytrucks.com

General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: Da67goatman on January 31, 2011, 09:35:20 pm

Title: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on January 31, 2011, 09:35:20 pm
I was awoken this morning to my father shouting fire call 911.  It was about 6:40 am, still dark and the garage was on fire.
The fire dept that's only 1/2 mile away is closed all winter(budget cuts) because they have to pay for heat.  So they had to come from the station that's 9 miles away, by the time they got here, it was just a huge fireball, total loss.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Captkaos on January 31, 2011, 09:38:30 pm
That is awful.  At least everyone is ok.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on January 31, 2011, 09:39:59 pm
Lost a 2003 Cavalier (on left), and my dad's 67 Chevelle convertible (on the right).  all the tools and spare parts, gone.  can't even plow the driveway, tractor and plow, gone.  4 small blocks, turbo 350, powerglide, gone
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on January 31, 2011, 09:46:03 pm
Its B.S. that the station was closed or they could have saved the Chevelle and about 8 grand in toy trains on the far right.  and they could have contained the flames fast enough to protect the house, van and my truck. It took them 15 min to get to the fire, vs 3min.  Then it was the probie crew that showed up and took forever to get water flowing.  Talk about feeling helpless, standing there in disbelief, I can't have that bad of luck.

The siding on the house is melted, doors and window also melted and broken.  my dad's work van's bumper, grille and headlights melted, and the windshield was broken by the firefighters.  my truck was dripped with burning plexiglass from the basket ball hoop, broke passenger side rear and 2nd door windows when they hit it with water.  garage and both attached sheds were totaled.  lost so much stuff that's not replaceable, wedding dress and album, pictures of us kids growing up, antique toy trains, the Chevelle, ect.  We lost everything cause it all got shipped out to the garage for the house remodel.

Bottom picture on the 1st post is the 4 banger in the Cav, anything not steel either melted or burnt, hence the missing aluminum intake.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: 1982 Daily Driver on January 31, 2011, 09:56:04 pm
So sorry to see this happen to anyone, it is good nobody was hurt.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: beastie_3 on January 31, 2011, 10:00:34 pm
Sorry for your loss. Any info on cause yet?
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Grim 82 on January 31, 2011, 10:06:46 pm
That's terrible man. My sympathies to you and your family.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: BigBlueBoy on January 31, 2011, 10:08:26 pm
So sorry to hear man, but everyone made and that's a blessing. This happened over the summer by me because of lay offs and closings of fire houses in my rural area.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on January 31, 2011, 10:10:29 pm
Undetermined cause.  They keep trying to pin it on the only piece of electrical equipment plugged in, a brand new 18 volt Dewalt battery charger.  My best friend is a volunteer fire fighter in a neighboring township and he left his driveway and saw the smoke cloud across the lake, 15 miles away.  He took his dept truck even though they weren't called, just because he knew the address.  When we called 911 there was a small fire in the back left corner, by the time they got there, 10 mins after the police showed up which was 5 mins after the call, the whole building was engulfed.  I'm uber ticked that the station 2 seconds from home was closed, that alone would have saved so much.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: JRConnieK10 on January 31, 2011, 10:22:14 pm
Man I'm real sorry to hear about your loss.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: bake74 on January 31, 2011, 10:35:52 pm
     All I can say is sorry, that really sucks and yea, it's a day we all dread..
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Dr_Snooz on January 31, 2011, 10:59:10 pm
Oh dear God. I'm so sorry to hear it. I'll keep you in my prayers. Hope you are able to get rebuilt quickly. Not that it will be the same.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Lt.Del on January 31, 2011, 11:18:09 pm
I can relate.  My dad collected antique tools and such for 50 years and the countless thousands in tools and equipment lost in his garage fire made him sick...insurance settlement was great, but, he lost so many vintage guns, rifles, his vietnam K-bar, etc....
glad no one was hurt....his fire started probably because of squirrels got to his electrical wires

http://www.delbridge.net/fire
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: chevyh20 on January 31, 2011, 11:20:29 pm
what hurts is so much is irreplaceable, and so many memories attached like losing a piece of ourselves.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: autorepr on February 01, 2011, 08:45:31 am
WOW!  That's a shame!  Sorry to hear that but at least it wasnt the house and you guys were not hurt physically.

That poses a question. Is there a reasonable way to put a sprinkler system in our garages/ barns? Any plumbers or sprinkler system intallers out there? If a guy had a system that at least bought some time till the fire dept. got there???????
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: thirsty on February 01, 2011, 08:51:25 am
Wow :'( That is terrible!
I always have that in the back of my mind. I've made countless trips to the garage to make sure the compressor was off or whatever. I feel for you. Good news is your still here on this board! I hope everything works out and you guys can get rebuilt.

This reminds me to update the inventory for insurances purposes.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Irish_Alley on February 01, 2011, 08:55:15 am
That does blow sorry to hear about it. Someone last year I think on here had a garage fire also. But about sprinklers you would have to keep them from freezing that's the only thing
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: VileZambonie on February 01, 2011, 08:55:35 am
That sucks big time. Sorry for your loss, hopefully you have good insurance coverage. The insurance company will most likely send out an investigator.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: bobcooter on February 01, 2011, 11:46:29 am
Sorry to hear that. It's a shame things like this happen.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: howlinwolf on February 01, 2011, 12:55:09 pm
my father in law would love if his 8 year old house burnt down, more insurance than its worth or whats even in it.

sorry to hear about that man, at least you guys are safe.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: txchainsawgogi on February 01, 2011, 04:16:39 pm
things like this make me sick to my stomach.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: frogman68 on February 01, 2011, 05:57:37 pm
Wow I am sorry I am going to say it again be thankful no one got hurt . Memories can start anew

WOW!  That's a shame!  Sorry to hear that but at least it wasnt the house and you guys were not hurt physically.

That poses a question. Is there a reasonable way to put a sprinkler system in our garages/ barns? Any plumbers or sprinkler system intallers out there? If a guy had a system that at least bought some time till the fire dept. got there???????

Depends (Btw I am no expert) if you are on City water cost shouldnt be too bad if you are on a well it will get expensive , Tank to hold 300 gallons of water possibly a generator and a well pump with a very high gpm
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: cvbear on February 01, 2011, 06:33:23 pm
Wow, I am so sorry.  After all the hours and $ I have put into our truck I can't think of losing it.  Insurance would never pay even a fraction of what it is worth to me.  Glad everyone is ok, stuff can be replaced (though it hurts).  Good luck getting it back together.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: KY..Rob on February 01, 2011, 09:08:44 pm
I'm very sorry for your loss, And glad everyone was unharmed. Those fears are in the back of all our minds. This might be a good time to petition the county to reopen that Fire department, maybe even take some donations to pay the Heat bills for them, Try and get the community to rally together.

Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on February 01, 2011, 09:11:57 pm
I was thinking more along the lines of a lawsuit to make the trustees pay for the heat, out of pocket.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Irish_Alley on February 02, 2011, 02:38:44 am
im confused. a trustee???
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on February 02, 2011, 09:44:57 am
I live outside the city in Bazetta township.  The trustees run the show passing bills, budgets, etc.  they shut it down cause it is more cost effective to use the free heat at the other station, only its 10-15 min from most of the township.  And the city firestation is 2 min from that station, so anyone not rich and living in the city has like a 12 min wait for the firestation.  Just found out another place about a 1/4 mile from my house is on fire right now.  I'm fairly certain we are going to rally as a community and do whatever is necessary to get that station back open and make sure it stays that way.  Its too late for us, but we can save still some of our neighbors.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: DnStClr on February 02, 2011, 11:41:39 am
Two fires within 1/4 mile of each other?! Something isn't right Goatman. I hope there's a good investigator around there. Hang in there.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: jaredts on February 02, 2011, 02:08:59 pm
The savings of shutting that down are probably considerable or they wouldn't have done it.  You're going to need some leverage like a petition to get their attention.  Even then they have to find a way to pay for it.  Sounds like a good cause worth fighting for, though.  Best wishes--hopefully your insurance co. doesn't run you through the ringer.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Lt.Del on February 02, 2011, 09:28:50 pm
Quote
im confused. a trustee???

Yeah, like the name implies, the people who can be trusted to make the right decisions. :o
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Irish_Alley on February 03, 2011, 08:43:38 am
Well see trustees to me are like inmate workers. Yeah they get paid to do a job but don't let the out of your site or trust them too much cause they will turn on you lol I guess its the same thing then
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Grim 82 on February 03, 2011, 08:53:55 am
lol That sums up nearly every elected or appointed office in the land.

Good thing we got them smart guvment folk to take care of stuff us regular folk couldn't possibly understand ::)
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on February 03, 2011, 01:14:32 pm
Spent the day running around jumping through hoops for the insurance company, getting quotes.  Got one for 1250 one for 1400 and the place I wanted to have it done gave me a price of 2k.  I don't know if the guy was just being an :( or what, but he thinks it takes 17 hours to change 3 windows, can you tell he doesn't do the work.  So I now have the pleasure of arguing with my agent about all this. Thanks for the support, I need all the help I can get to keep from ringing necks.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: bobcooter on February 04, 2011, 09:27:03 am
Two fires within 1/4 mile of each other?! Something isn't right Goatman. I hope there's a good investigator around there. Hang in there.
I'd be eyeballing some firemen around there. Sometimes firemen, especially younger ones get a little confused and start setting some of the fires themselves so they can put them out. It's happened all over the country for a long time. Just sayin....

And.. Irish, you have a great way with words. :)
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: 87454westernhauler on February 04, 2011, 02:42:28 pm
did you loose the suburban in the first post? 
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on February 04, 2011, 02:43:45 pm
Waiting to find out if the insurance co will total it out over a couple broken windows.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: roger97338 on March 05, 2011, 06:00:15 pm
I feel for you, bro. I really do. When I was 12, I came home from school to find my yard full of fire trucks. I walked up just in time to see the EMTs wheeling great-grandpa out on a stretcher. He didn't make it. I'd give up every vehicle that I've ever owned, or will own, for a different ending to that story.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Da67goatman on March 09, 2011, 11:31:07 am
So here's an update:  Insurance didn't total the truck, they are sending me a check to fix it.  We're still making lists and researching prices on things lost and things that are getting replaced.  We're looking at getting some tools and equipment pretty soon so we can build the structure this summer.  Would any of the hand tools be still usable?  like the wrenches and sockets and prybars etc.  Obviously the plastic handled screwdrivers are toast, but what about other things like my 6 ton jack stands?  Just trying to see if anything is worth keeping, its hard to throw away tools you've only used once or twice.  Thanks, will keep you updated as things progress.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Irish_Alley on March 09, 2011, 07:43:27 pm
This one garage caught on fire they gave there lifts away they went burnt but they thought the heat would of weakened the strength of the parts so they couldn't use them
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: Grim 82 on March 09, 2011, 08:17:28 pm
Without seeing the extent of the damage, I would say use any wrenches or hand tools that survived until they break, but I wouldn't take my chances with the jack stands, or anything that has moving parts like a jack or a hoist. The steel integrity may be ok, but the seals and backups could be compromised.
Title: Re: The Day We All Dread
Post by: 87454westernhauler on March 10, 2011, 08:56:27 am
I would see if the insurance guys will pay to replace them, cause they are probably weakend by the heat and not very safe.