Tuesday, May 29, 2012

House fire and why I won't be blogging for a bit

On Thursday, around 3pm, I got a call from B and the conversation went something like this:
"Hi, what's up?"
"Did you get my phone calls? I've been trying reach you. Our house is on fire."
"Are the dogs dead?" (Seriously, this is what I said yelled because I knew B was already alive, obviously.)
"Yes, they're fine, the firemen are being really nice and giving them lots of water. I came home and the house was on fire and I went in and there was smoke everywhere, I couldn't see in front of me, and I got the dogs out." (What he really meant to say is, "You married a freaking superhero, didn't you know?")
"Ok, good. So, do you need me to come home?" (Ok, in my defense, allow me to explain. I get super hyper focused while I'm working and I was in the middle of writing an email when B called and I think I was in shock because it simply wasn't registering THAT MY HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.)
"Ummmm, I guess not." (Since Thursday, B and I have gone over this conversation many times. He really was OK with me not coming home because he too was in shock.)
After I realized what I said, I think I started hyperventilating and I left work. Here's what things looked like after the fire but keep in mind I only took a few photos because it was all kind of chaotic.
I didn't even bother editing these pictures because, really, what's the point?
As you'll note, NO, our house did not burn to the ground, thankfully. Also, although it crossed my mind that perhaps I left my Chi on or somehow caused the fire myself, I did not (thank you fire investigator man for clearing that up). Our water heater, which is located in the kitchen of our top story, 850 sq. foot historic rental somehow overheated and blew fire horizontally into the kitchen.  The dogs were in the furthest room from the fire. When B entered the home, he immediately went to their room and they were laying down breathing cleaner air. He said they calmly sat up an ran out the door. Thank goodness.
The most important thing to note about this whole scenario is that this happened around 2:00pm. B NEVER gets home from work this early. He just happened to get released from the site he was working on early and came home to take a nap. A fireman told him that if he had gotten there 30 minutes later, the dogs would have been dead. Ugh, it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. It also makes me feel incredibly thankful and lucky. Things could have been so much worse.
The bad news (besides our house catching on fire, of course) is that we didn't have renters insurance. I'm kicking myself in the ass for that because I had been meaning to add it to our auto policy for ages and just never got around to it (if you're reading this and you're renting and you don't have renters insurance, I want you to stop reading and go sign up for it NOW). The good news is that our landlord has been very kind to us. For the first three days after this happened, there were fire restoration teams, electricians, plumbers, and painters who tackled the job of cleaning the walls and floors, repainting every room and restoring the kitchen.
B and I have set to work throwing away smoke damaged items, washing our clothes (yes, we still have much of those!), cleaning the surviving contents, buying basic necessities and trying to stay calm. Every time I throw away a wedding gift or an item I splurged on or something I recently bought, I remind myself that my husband and my dogs are alive and all of the stuff I own is just STUFF. None of of it matters. I'm 28 years old and I feel like I just learned one of the biggest lessons of my life and for that I can be thankful.
I'm going to take a break from blogging for the next week or so to get my home and my life back in order. I've been updating my twitter feed along the way and will continue to do so if you'd like to follow me there.

Thank you to the friends who let us crash at their places over the last few days and for our faraway friends and family for your kind words, prayers, and support. Also, BIG thank you to my sister who drove 14 hours to help clean and who, after blowing her nose after a few hours on the job, started laughing and made me laugh because her snot was black with soot. You're the best.

32 comments:

Esz said...

Oh my god!!!!! Thank goodness you and your loved ones (husband and pooches) are ok! Wow. I don't comment (sorry) but I read and now I have to comment. Even though I don't know what to say. Except far out!! How incredibly fortunate that your husband came home early.
Mental.

*hugs*

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

wow Christina, I'm sorry to hear that but happy all of you are ok, keep strong!

mermaid gallery said...

Good for you for realizing that it could have been much worse! These wake up calls sometimes can be brutal.....this one was brutal....but thank goodness all lived through it! Clean up is ugly but ......take the dogs for a long walk and clear your head.....i would be in shock for a very long time!

laura g said...

Oh my god! Intense--poor pups! Glad you're all okay though, hope the smoke damage clears away so you can settle back! x

gina said...

Oh my goodness Christina! This is one of my biggest fears...I don't care about my stuff, just my dogs. I am always having nightmares about them burning in a house fire. I am so sorry this happened and so happy that B got home in time to get the dogs out. The thought of them being stuck in the house makes me sick to my stomach too. I hope this process of getting things in order is as painless as possible.... xoxox

Lesley said...

that sweet angelika. i am so thankful y'all were together and of course thankful for brad's bravery, that you are all safe and sound (pups included of course) and that God was watching over y'all. seriously, what are the chances of brad getting home just in the knick of time. sending you lots of love!!!

Wally said...

I´m very sorry to hear about your fire :-( Hope you get your things back to order soon - and thank God nothing happened to any you or your dogs.
Good thoughts to you all the way from Denmark.

catie said...

whoa!
what a lucky close call this was.
i know it's still horrible, but such a blessing that he came home early.
wow, wow, wow.
i am so relieved that your dogs {and you, of course} are fine.
sending you strength as you pick up the pieces & rise from the ashes ♥

Nina said...

Oh my. I am so happy you are all well. Very scary. Sending you warm thoughts and lots of courage and trust that all will work out.

Samantha said...

What a pain. Glad nobody was hurt.

MrsKinne said...

I am so sorry to hear this-- but I'm so glad everyone is o.k.!

Diana said...

When I read that B just happened to be there out of luck (or faith, or whatever it was), my stomach did a flip. What perfect timing. I'm so sorry this happened. If you need anything, like at all, random stuff, money, clothes, anything! seriously, please let me know!!! when i was in high school my kitchen burned down and at the time i was scared but now i imagine what my mom felt like. so scary but so glad you guys and the pups are okay!!

jdavissquared said...

So, so glad everyone was alright!

I've had moments like that where I'm so shocked by obviously horrendous news that I have a totally inappropriate, care free response. It's not just you!

Good luck with the clean up!

jdavissquared said...

So, so glad everyone was alright!

I've had moments like that where I'm so shocked by obviously horrendous news that I have a totally inappropriate, care free response. It's not just you!

Good luck with the clean up!

Beach House Living said...

Wow! Good thing B left work early and your dogs are okay.

Unknown said...

Thankfully you are well, Mr.B and the dogs. Poor things I bet they were so scared...

maggie said...

Oh no! Thank goodness all of you are safe. Sometimes I panic about my dog being home alone (because of crazy freak accidents like this), so your first question to B makes perfect sense. Be well!

Gaby [The Vault Files] said...

Oh no!!! I know how this feels like because when I was 21 I was at home by myself and there was an electrical shock on the plug were the Christmas tree lights were plugged in. The tree caught on fire in seconds, then the living room rug, even a glass door exploded. It was terrible! We spent the whole holidays cleaning and getting rid of the black smoke (which it even got into drawers and closets on the second level of our apartment!)
Even though this is terrible, you were lucky to be in the most positive scenario. Thank Goodness you're all ok!

Jennifer Young said...

Will be thinking of you while you're away. So glad you guys are OK!!!
xoxo
J.

Claire Kiefer said...

I am so sorry, Christina. And I'm so glad you're all okay. I'll be thinking of you . . .

Rhianne said...

I would have asked the same thing about the dogs :( the poor things. I'm so glad that you are all safe though and as you said, it could have been much worse. Still throwing away your gifts must be heartbreaking, I get incredibly sentamental about stuff like that and although I know it doesn't matter in the long run, its still ok to be upset about it.

I'm glad you're all ok x

lisaroy said...

oh my gosh! I'm so glad you're all ok. I can't even imagine what it feels like to come home to your house being on fire and having to throw so much away. Heartbreaking. I know that people say that it's just stuff, but it was YOUR stuff and without insurance, that really hurts. Big hugs. xo

Laurel Hill said...

so glad you all are ok, that's all that matters! the rest is just stuff.

Dear Demoiselle said...

I saw it on Twitter (hope you got my message; I signed up just a few days ago and am not sure I understand how it works). I'm glad you and your husband and the doggies are safe and sound - and that you might be able to continue living in your apartment. I'm sorry about your wedding gifts; it must be sad even if they're just things. But you have your memories and the photos from your wedding day, at least. I hope life gets back to normal for you quite soon. Take care!
Much love, T

Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese said...

Oh my gosh! This is awful! So sorry to hear that you're going through this, but happy/thankful that your whole family made it out. Just sent you an email. Thinking of you. XO, Marsi

That Girl said...

Glad you and the pups are okay! Terribly scary...fire is so destructive and terrifying.

Good luck with the cleanup.

flynn said...

I'm so glad you married a freaking superhero, and that you're all okay. Do you need anything? I agree that it's just stuff, but it's expensive to replace all the little things, and besides, it'd be funny to mail you a big package of chopsticks or socks or whatever.

Janine / Being Brazen said...

so sorry to read about the fire. Thinking of you

Callie Grayson said...

OH MY!
I am so happy you are ok! You and your husband and pups!
I am with Flynn, soooo very glad that B is a superhero!

That is so scary. Do not beat your self up about the renter insurance. My friends had it when their apartment caught fire and it didn't help much.
So happy your friends and family are helping! Clean place to stay and all the cleaning, smoke does a lot of damage.

Xx
Callie

Anonymous said...

Hi I found your blog through Pinterest. I had to comment on this post. On Oct 8, 2011 our home was destoried by fire. We lost 98% of the contents. But I thank God it was daylight & our 11 year old grandaughter who was there, my husband & I all made it safely. We also did NOT have renters insurance. I made myself a promise we would have renters insurance at our next house, as well as a fire extinguishor & our smoke detectors would be replace. And I kept that promise. We had all 3 before we stayed the first night here. It can happen to anyone folks. Have what you need to relieve some of the burden. We were fortunate in that family, our church family, friends & our community furnished our new house. I'm glad your family all made it out safely. Take care.

Tricia

Michelle said...

Oh honey! Sending you happy, calming vibes right now. So happy that you and your family are ok!

Jardzy said...

sorry to read these!

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