Anyone ever have a closeone? I think I did. I'm still shook up a little. My father is usually away from the farm working as he is a contractor. I'm glad he was home yesterday.
I found out what a fire can do and in less then twenty minutes, yesterday at noon, my house burned. I was on a standing machine with no clothes on when the wood stove doubled wall pipe caught the trusses on fire in the ceiling.
I stayed in the house longer then I should have, remaining on my standing table, ordering my attendant to get my father who was in the shop working on his truck. By the time my attendant got back to me my house was engulfed with flame and smoke. His girl friend called 911. Fire Department arrived around twenty minutes later.
If it hadn't been for my father tearing into the ceiling spraying water on a portion of the fire around the stovepipe, my house would have been a complete blaze. What my father didn't know was that the fire had spread to the kitchen. He was spraying water toward the bedroom ceiling.
During the initial awaking that my house was on fire, smoke poring out and blazing flame visible from outside, my father scrambled to get tools and ladders and water hoses. By the time I was taken out of the house, still naked having been lowered in my electric chair, the house was really blazing. It was necessary to cross under the blaze and through the spoke in order to get out of the house as the wood stove is next to the sliding door, the only accessible door to me in my house.
My attendant made sure I made it to the front deck, ten feet from the blaze and then started helping my father put the fire out. It became evident within a few minutes the fire was out of control, so my father ordered my attendant to remove me from the deck.
I went down the ramp, spoke and pieces of wood snapping and traveling through the air in all directions.
I only received one small burn on my hand. Go figure. My attendant left me in the driveway, still naked, 60 degrees (cold for me) and then returned to help my father. As my father tore into the ceiling, my attendant sprayed water.
When the fire chief showed up I was in the middle of the driveway, still naked
And my father was on top the roof to chop into the roof. The fire chief showed up and told him to stop and wait for the fire trucks. Dad stopped and went back inside with my attendant and by this time one of my fathers employees had a second hose and more tools.
When the fire trucks showed up, they ordered everyone out, all of whom were covered with black silt and they went to work.
Had my father not been on the property, my house would have been a complete blaze. As it is, the only room not touched was the living room where my computer and office was. Since the fire was confined to the roof, my personal belongings were in tack. Yet the roof is gone (40'by24'), smoke and a ton of water.
I have insurance and moved into one of the rentals on our farm. Fires are real and they suck.
Sorry to hear about that, Bruce. The two most important things have survived though..you, and your personal stuff. The rest can be replaced. Even so, the shock of something like that can hit really hard, maybe days after the event. I had a similar experience, involving a shipwreck, and thought I was doing fine until my mind went to what-might-have been.
Take care,
Norman
Bruce we had a chimney fire years ago in our first house. I can still remember the feelings as I fought to put the wall fire out. In my case I was successful. But in all these years since, I have refused to burn wood even though I could get it for nothing. To me its not worth it.
Take care my Friend.
By the way? when did you finally get somebody to notice you were still naked??
Bruce, glad to you hear your ok, sorry about the outcome of your house. The main thing is there were people around to help you out. Under the rush of everything going on I guess it would be pretty easy to forget that you were still in your birthday suit. It will be a story for years to come.
At my last house I had a chimney fire, sounded like a locomotive running wide open. I got it out with no problems, but kept a much closer eye on the chimney (cleaning) from there on out. Guess luck was in my corner that day.
When I first bought that house I inspected the chimney it was built when the house was. Brick and there were gaps and cracks 1/2 inches wide in it. There was no liner just double brick. When I ripped off the roof of the house and replaced it I also put in a new block chimney with a liner. Just glad I took the time to inspect it before using it.
Burn Safe
Gordon
Bruce, we're sorry to hear of your fire. Thankfully you had some place to set up again so quickly.It sounds like another remote point of egress would be a smart thing when you rebuild.
All heating is dangerous, don't be lulled into complacency. Gas leaks,oil pools,electricity shorts.
A lesson to us all...annual maintenance, and if burning wood frequent inspection.
Hey Bruce, good to hear they got your bare butt out of the house before singe set in.
Too bad about the damage but it`s minor compared to what could have been.
I would guess that half the fires in the rural areas up here are due to wood stoves.
For wood burning I prefer a bricked in clay flu and hardwood that`s been kept dry for at least a year.
Did you know there are some people on here that would set their house on fire just to get the chance to sit outside naked! :o
Glad it wasn`t more serious.
Thanks everyone. You make me feel so much better.
No more stove. Quad and stove is not a good mixture unless you got a rocket scientist working for you to maintain the flute
and damper.
When the firemen put a bandaid on my hand around an hour later someone help me to get dress.
The red cross gave $95 for food and firemen $150, family members moved me in two days into an extra house on the farm being remodeled.
Red Cross said if I had not any resources they would have found our family a place to stay. GOD Bless
Glad to hear you made it out ok,Bruce. I lost half a house in the 70's and it took many personal belongings and family history with it. A fellow doesn't realize how Rich he is until he's lost the most important things in life, Family and History.
Somehow, money doesn't mean as much when you've lost your baby pictures and childhood toys.
It's a new awakening and can really make one realize just how lucky he is to have the people around him that he does.
Your dad and attendant get my blessings for the quick action they took to save the house and you for keeping your senses in such a disaster. Thank God nobody was hurt.
I'd have given most anything to be standing on the corner with a camera though. Your naked tail might have brought a pretty penny from the AP when they spread it across the nation :D
I hope everything works out ok and that you let us know how things are progressing. The most difficult thing we ran into was the smell of smoke that had permeated everything. It takes a specially trained person to get it out of the wood and cloth...or at least cover it up. Our attic and inside of the walls had to be sealed with an Aluminum paint because we were told the smell wouldn't come out.
If they have to seal some of your home, be sure you get important things like pictures out of there first. That mist will get into everything and ruin it. We found a fog of aluminum paint on pictures that were closed up inside of drawers in rooms not even affected by the fire.
Smile...we're thinking of you.
QuoteDid you know there are some people on here that would set their house on fire just to
get the chance to sit outside naked!
Tom you didn`t have to come out of the closet, I wasn`t going to name names. :D
:D :D
I'm glad you made it out, Bruce!! I lost my house (yep, all of it), my barn, my wife's car, the cars of two friends (I was up in the woods with my truck and friends) and two boats some years back. We salvaged a few things, some pictures, and a cabinet I made, which happened to be right under the vent going upstairs, so all of the water the firemen were pouring on the house drained through the vent on top of that cabinet. You outta see what storing several thousand bd ft of lumber will do to a barn!! My guns, my personal library, and my musical equipment was saved, as they are in a separate building, far enough away that it didn't burn. The cause? 1. A windy day 2. My son overfilled the gas tank on the mower (how many times have we all done that???) 3. The driveway is gravel and when he started the mower, a blade hit a rock and ignited the gas, which blew back into the barn. Worst thing is there were two fire extinguishers within 20 feet, but I had neglected to tell my son where they were, or to teach him how to use them. We just moved ahead, never looked back and wept, just hung together as a family and things turned out fine. I think I threw a rod on my tractor last week, so I'm pretty much out of business. What of it? I can get a "real" job! Glad you're okay, it's a scary thing. Took the F.D. almost 12 hours to get it all put out!
Sorry to here about your tractor. Your fire was pretty extensive. I think we will begin rebuilding next week. Roof replacement and sub flooring, interior walls, etc. Just got my phone transfered. My wife has really been a soilder. Must get her some flowers. We anticpate about a month to rebuild. It's raining everyday here.
I must say the Forestry Forum has grown. I sure enjoy reading the many post from all the members. Many new members as well are finding the forum to be the best on the net.
My house should be finished in the next two weeks. It sure takes time to rebuild and add on. When its finished I'll post a few pictures. It sure is tough rebuilding when the weather istn't on your side.
Last night 60 miles an hour winds raged throughout the valley. Lebanon, Jefferson, Sweet home, Scio, Brownsville, Halsey and other towns and rural areas lost power. My area won't have power restored until late tonight.
In 1964 when I was in kindred garden in a small school house the Columbus Day storm blew down an 100 year old oak tree. It fell six feet from our classroom. Last night the top of trees broke off on my cousin's firs and ended up in the creek full of raging water. Others in his drive way. Power poles and trees throughout the valley are on the ground.
Last year my father cut down two 100' pine trees next to my house. I'm sure glad now he did, although at the time I called him a tree killer.
It makes it difficult to install a metal roof on my house when its raining and the tarps blew off last night. At midnight my father had to put them back on with more tires and lumber to hold them on.
Today the sun is out and its not raining yet the morning was lost as my father had to hook up generators to the main power boxes in order to restore power to our homes on the farm.
I won't be using a wood stove any more and I don't think those whom lost there house to fire from gel candles will use them anymore either.
God Bless
8) Glad to hear its almost over Bruce, have been wondering how you were getting on...sounds like y'all are having an eventful winter. Yesterday was midwinter, don't know if that's official, down here you should still have half your stack and check the chimney...well.
Good to hear that things are almost back to "normal", Bruce (whatever that is :D). May the wind be at your back, and the sun in your face! 8)
Bruce, I just found the thread. I am sorry to hear of your plight and yet excited for the return of some sence of normalcy. We had som of the storm in the it hills ourside of Dallas, Oregon. it was just 3" of snow. Much of it was gone by the noon hour today, Friday. If You think I caould help with some lumber ot anything let me know. I am not taht far away. Let me know where you reside, as it would be a nice little ride one day, from here to there. I am glad it is all coming back together for you and your family.
I decided two years ago to install a Taylor hot water stove that is all located outside and much, much safer and more economical in the long run for me and mine. Besides I have no more complaints from the boss as to the soot and crud brought into the house by carrying wood and tacking musd etc. 8) 8) 8) I made many more points with the new stove and less housework for everyone, including myself. :D :D
Frank:
Nice to meet you. It's nice to know another oregionian has found the best forum on the net.
My father is a contractor and has built over 700 commercial/Ag/Residential buildings. He's semi-retired know and is finishing up my double wide mobile home.
Since my moible home is on a foundation and concrete slab and the walls not damaged we decided to rebuild it.
I live at 3339 Jefferson Scio Drive SE, Jefferson Oregon. Not to far away is a town called Scio which is close to the Fish hattachery. There is still an old time wooden covered bridge up by roaring river as it's called. Thers a real nice park with a stream running through it up there.
Years ago Jordon was the place to go to cool down in the summer but it's closed know to the public as too many people liked jumping from the roof of the old time covered wooden bridge up that away.
Being close to two old time wooden bridges is something now a days I guess.
Of course I'm not as close to that there town that doesn't allow stores to sell alcohol as you are.
I'm glad I'm not as close to Spirit Mountain as you are. Might want to visit more often. As it is I think I've been three times since its opening.
Last time I listened to music in the lounge while my wife played the slots. She was doing great for awhile but then the host tightened up the machines so I played black jack toward the end of the evening and went home the worse but had a good time.
Don't quite understand the humvee (military jeep) buy a ticket to win. The fed's would want $36,000.00 for there share of the win. I don't have that kind of money. Needless to say I think it's still there. Been there for two years I understand.
I broker truck loads through Nu-West Transport. Know of alot of trucking businesses suffering.
Do you sell cut to fit milled lumber to lumber yards or wholesale? Do you transport your own lumber to customers?
I imagine up in your neck of the woods trees are being protected by those tree setters. Hope you don't run accross any spikes. Wish the tree setters would become more informed. Members of the Forestry Forum are well informed. It's nice to be part of a group of people only interested in good clean fun. Answers to questions on various forestry subjects/topics has inlightened me. I don't post topics on a regular bases but try and read as much post as I can.
Any time your in this area, come on by.
Glad to hear that your almost back into the house Bruce. Sure has been a long road for you this past year. Hope things start looking up again for you and I guess it goes without saying that you won't be having a wood stove anymore.
Gordon
Thanks Gordon:
Thats for sure. Finished roof today. Sheetrock, carpet and I'm back home again.
Home Sweet Home, now that's a joy. You really appreciate it when you've been in a motel room for a month or two.........eh?
Note: Kevin's been teaching me Canadian while you were gone.