We recently received this email from a reader and have been thinking about it pretty much ever since. So we thought we’d share it in the hope that Melanie’s story will help others out there who may have gone through the same experience and people like us who probably don’t know a thing about being prepared for something of this magnitude. Here’s a photo that Melanie sent to us.
Here’s her letter:
I’ve been stalking following your blog for just over a year thanks to making an offer on a short sale home in September of 2009. It was our dream and forever home. We spent the first two months washing, priming, and painting every single wall and ceiling. We replaced every hinge, door knob, light fixture, window treatment, and put in beautiful hardwood floors on both main levels and the stairs. You name it, we most likely did it.
Sadly, on Thursday January 6th, just before 6am I woke to the sound of two second story windows shattering followed by bright lights. I peeked into our guest bedroom and flames had just begun to enter, the smoke detectors went off seconds later. My husband, our 2.5 year old son, and I escaped safely with just the clothes on our backs. We had no shoes, socks, coats, or hats in subfreezing temps. Just each other and the love of our neighbors, friends, and families. It was quickly determined to be accidental, but we lost it all including my car. Our 2.5 story 2,000+ square foot home, plus in-law suite burned to the ground very quickly (one estimate was 30-60 minutes). Within hours we also learned of the love from acquaintances and strangers in our community and beyond.
We are very lucky to have each other and our lives- but our home, and all of the hard work and DIY projects we had done were gone so very quickly. We’ve already spent five hours documenting the structure of the house, and now begins the grueling task of itemizing each and every personal belonging. We’ve learned some of the “what would we do differently” as a result of this fire, that I’m hoping you consider for yourselves and might share with your readers:
- Subscribe to an online data backup service (my external back up drive sat right next to my laptop in my office)
- Keep passports in a safe deposit box
- Take pictures of each room initially and update them as improvements are made (storing them somewhere offsite – like Flickr)
- Take pictures and keep hyperlinks of all expensive purchases, including jewelry
- Hire an architect (my dad in our case) or use floorplanner.com to document each floor layout along with precise wall/ceiling measurements, each outlet, light switch, crown molding, other trim, type of flooring, any unique items to structure of property
- Put phones in a consistent place each night
- Get fire ladders for any second floor bedrooms
- Scan each photo and receipt, again keeping them offsite, or on an online data backup service
- Do not be frugal with homeowner’s insurance. Spend the extra $50 per year for the most coverage
Thank you for reading this and passing it along to your readers. -Melanie
Below is actual video of Melanie’s house. We can’t even imagine what she has been through:
We also got an email from a reader named Robin a while back. Her house nearly burned down at 2am on a Saturday morning. She and her family were thankfully able to get out safely and their home should be livable again in about three months. She also shared what she learned, so that we (and all of you) might be able to learn from her experience:
- Toasters aren’t the only appliances that burn. The source of Robin’s fire surprised us: her dishwasher. Her family was in the habit of starting the dishwasher as they headed off to bed – something John and I used to do as well – and it malfunctioned and sparked the fire. She sent us this photo to drive home the point. Along with reminding us to avoid running appliances overnight or when we’re out, Robin taught us that sending in the warranty card on all electronics is a must, since it’s the best way to ensure that you’ll get notified if there’s a defect or a recall.
- Robin also taught us that if your home has hard-wired detectors, be sure to have battery-powered ones as well. That way you have a back-up alarm in case of a power outage (which often happens during a fire). And remember to check the batteries twice a year. People often suggest doing it when you change the clock for daylight savings in the spring and fall as an easy way to remember. If you have children, consider installing a Talking Smoke Alarm in their room. Robin learned that studies show that kids under 17 often don’t respond to a traditional alarm, but they do respond to their parents’ voices. So these talking versions allow you to record a message that could even include instructions or comforting words.
- Robin learned first hand that despite living in her house for over two decades, the panic of a fire makes it easy to lose your bearings and become disoriented – especially if you’ve got smoke to deal with. Which is why she recommends figuring out at least two ways you can get yourself and others out of your house (in case one is blocked) and, if you have a second or third level, make sure at least one doesn’t rely on a stairwell (fire and smoke love traveling up stairs). Then practice your plan until it’s second nature.
Robin’s tip about the talking smoke alarm actually reminded us of a something my sister Emily learned while teaching fire safety to her kids. Emily decided to have a fire drill at home, and after talking through the route, reminding them to stay low, and pointing out that it might be hot and filled with smoke the kids were given the “Ready, set, go-go-go!” Olivia, who was about seven at the time, froze in place and started crying because the scenario was so scary. It was a huge wake up call to all of us because if this was her reaction during a drill, just imagine what she’d do if the house really were dark, hot, and smoky. As scared as Olivia was, Emily was grateful that she had a chance to talk her through it, put in some practice time, and improve her reaction response.
Thanks so much for Melanie and Robin for sharing their stories and their tips with us. We can’t even begin to imagine what it would feel like to be in their shoes, but we’re so glad to hear that their families were unharmed and that everyone from their friends to their community has shown them some serious love and support. And speaking of love, we’re sending out lots of it- along with a huge thanks to both ladies for thoughtfully taking the time to share such an important message.
Lakita says
Thank you so much for this post. We have a 2.5 year old boy with b/g twins on the way. Their rooms are upstairs, and this is a huge wake up call for us.
zinna says
Thanks. That’s very sobering indeed. I’m glad everyone was safe. Here is a fire ladder.
http://www.amazon.com/Kidde-KL-2S-Two-Story-Anti-Slip-13-Foot/dp/B00005OU7B
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
Wow, those are great tips, most of which I wouldn’t have seriously thought about. Fortunately, everyone made it out safely. Thank you for sharing.
Jenn(ifer) says
So sorry for those two! And thanks so much for sharing!
I think a fireproof safe or even box for some of the most important things should also be on everyones list. You simply can not store everything online and some of those things you just want to keep at home and not in a safe deposit box because you use / need them somewhat regularly (like inherited jewelery). Also storing these thing offsite is smart, but the worst might just hit when you needed them at home and didn’t get around to returning them…
melarse (Melanie) says
Jenn – I thought about a fireproof safe too. We were told by someone that those are iffy too, since some have a limit on how long they will last in a fire; some only as long as an hour! I had no idea.
Julie says
GREAT post…My husband and I had a house fire in August of 2008 and luckily we were not home, we had left the house with our 3 year old and 1 year old and had gone to work and school when we got a call about 2 hours after leaving that lightening had struck a tree which then traveled into our house via an electrical outlet and telephone line. We had lots of smoke/heat damage to the entire house, and the actual fire damage was mainly in the kitchen but we still had to basically gut the entire house including drywall and ceilings and stuff like that because the smoke damage was so bad. One thing we learned was as silly as it sounds, take pictures of all your stuff in each of your rooms. I had been diligent and took lots of pictures of all our rooms from the time we moved in up until just before the fire. I even went back and looked at other random pictures just to see if anything triggered my memory about things we had that we had forgotten to list on our inventory. I was able to see so many things in those pictures so I could put them down on an inventory list for our insurance company. I recommend even taking pictures of the insides of cabinets, drawers, closets, you name it, that is what saved us precious time when we had to put our inventory together. We were out of our house and in a hotel for 4 months and it took the entire 4 months to piece pictures together so we knew exactly what was in every room.
Tanya from dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com says
On Sunday my neighbors’ across the road experienced a home fire, so that really got my butt if gear. I’ve been researching (and blogging) all week about how to pack a “go bag,” having an “escape route” mapped out and practised, and how to prevent fire in the first place. Most recently I blogged about smoke detectors-I love your reader’s tip about having one with a voice & not a siren. Not enticing topics, to be sure, but definitely necessary. Thanks for posting about your reader’s experiences.
Sarah says
WOW! What a heart breaking story, both of them. I’m not letting hubz run the dishwasher at night any more! What a scary thought.
Dana says
Thank you for posting this. I was in tears reading it and it really made me think about how unprepared my family would be for such a tragedy. What a wake-up call!
p.s. I ? your new bedroom draperies. Your new home color scheme is working out beautifully! I love seeing it unfold. Thanks for sharing these peeks into your life. You’re an adorable family and you make me smile.
Dana says
Ooh… that ? in my p.s. was supposed to be a {heart!}… LOL!
Rochelle says
As an insurance agent, I am always reminding people of these very items. Most of time people just give me that blank stare or appease me by agreeing. Unfortunately, many people think it just won’t happen to them. I’ve paid out too many total loss claims to know that it’s a real risk. Another thing to remember is water loss can also cause major damage. One of the most common losses is when the water lines break on your washing machines and dishwashers. Spend the extra money to buy the metal flex lines and always turn off the valves to those appliances when you leave on vacation!!
Jennifer says
Amen to this. We had a water break in our upstairs bathroom last September while we were away at work. We were gone less than 8 or 9 hours and 80% of our house had water damage. It literally sounded like thundering waterfalls when I first opened the door when we came home – complete with it raining on both levels of the house. And all it was was a plastic supply line to our bathroom vanity – hot water of course! It broke at the fitting!
We had to rip out the original hard wood floors from when the house was built in the 30’s – I cried about it. And then we had to move in to my in-laws future retirement home 20 miles away for 3 months.
Even though we got a beautiful walk-in shower and new fixtures, floors, walls, etc. it is not worth that kind of stress! Replace those plastic lines STAT!
kim says
so appropriate at this time, two houses in your neighborhood have burned down in the last month.
Off topic, what kind of camera do you guys have? You picture turn out really well, and I’m in the market for a new camera.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kim,
It’s a Nikon D3000 (DSLR). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Tracy Rizzo says
Thank you for the talking smoke alarm link.I never knew such a thing exsisted. i have a son with autism and a daughter who sleeps through anything. Thank you so much.
Stephanie Phillips says
This just breaks my heart. I am so glad that Melanie, Robin, and their families made it out safely. It’s hard not to get choked up reading about such a devastating event, though.
I hope that if they need anything and your readers can help in any way, they will ask. I’d love to help them.
Nicole says
Thank you Melanie and YHL for sharing this information. What an enormously devastating experience. We recently moved into a new “to us” home and a house fire is one of my biggest fears/concerns. We will follow Melanie and Robin’s advice. My heart goes out to Melanie, Robin, and their families.
Martha says
Thanks for the reminder. About 1 1/2 years ago, my horse barn caught fire. Luckily my two horses were in the pasture and my busband was able to lead them out quickly. 70 bales of hay were lost, a trailer and all my horse tack, including two saddles were lost. The cause of out fire will never be known. This was a “small” fire when you look at the big picture. We have a large bank barn next to the old horse barn and an old milk house, the siding on both barns was melting as the firemen arrived. That “small” fire was scary!!!!!! It has placed a fear in my husband and I. We never want to see that again. Today we try to be aware of safety at all times. You never know when something will happen.
I am very sorry for Melanie and Robin : ( and I am grateful that no ine was hurt. I am thankful for the reminder.
Aya M says
Thanks for this post. It’s really the kick in the pants that I needed. This happened to my neighbor and my aunt, and you’d think after all these close-to-home incidents, I’d not put off preparation for something like this that could so easily happen to us, too. We’ve been talking about getting a fireproof safe for our important documents, but we haven’t done it yet…
Megan says
I remember learning about fire safety in my fourth grade class and being completely petrified and overwhelmed by it. I went home and did a fire drill with my childhood dog, crawling low to the ground to the back door and crying the entire time because I was so scared (I’m crying right now just remembering it). I can honestly say that a house fire is the biggest fear I have.
Thank you for this post. It will certainly put fire safety in the front of your readers’ minds.
zinna says
Ewww. Never mind. I just read reviews on this ladder (which I hadn’t done before). Um. Well, there are others out there.
[email protected] says
That was very sad and very informative! I will definitely not be running my dishwasher at night.
Kait says
Wow. I have tears in my eyes. How terrifying. Thank you for posting this – fire safety is so important.
Judith says
Made me cry and also realize that my home is not prepared for an event like this. I will talk to my four kids after school.
Love and best wishes to both families.
Anne says
Thanks so much for sharing this. Our house burned down two weeks before my sixth birthday, and we lost everything. Still, the experience showed us how much love and support friends and neighbors are capable of, and we haven’t forgotten it to this day.
I know someone posted this upstream, but I really do hope Melanie and Robin will let us know if there’s any way we can help.
susan says
I am just heart broken for that family. Thank you for the post and the detailed things we can do. My back up hard drive is in a drawer by my computer. Useless if it burns up in a fire. I am also going to buy the talking smoke detectors. susan
Corinne says
Wow, what a great post. Very eye opening and informative. I’m so glad that Robin and Melanie and their respective families were okay!
I’ve been in the habit of running the dishwasher and dryer when I’m not home or have gone to bed. After reading this, I will definitely be kicking that habit to the curb! This weekend may be spent taking a full of inventory of my house too. When I was a kid, I was paranoid about my house burning down. As I’ve gotten older, it’s become something that I don’t ever think will happen to me. But this post has kind of woken me up and made me realize that a devastating fire really can happen to anyone and you’ll never know when.
Emily says
This really puts things in perspective. Amazing and heart-wrenching video. Worst nightmare.
Thank you for passing it along and sharing such great (and easy) tips to make things easier if it does happen.
kami says
i would love to help, even if it’s just to donate a few dollars. please let us know. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kami,
Thanks so much for offering to help! We wondered if we could do the same thing. Hopefully Melanie and Robin will let us know if they’re in need of anything (understandably they’re quite busy, but we’re hoping they drop in to see how much their stories are appreciated).
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
Update: To those wishing to help, Melanie isn’t actively seeking any handouts or donations, but her family has set up a fund for those who would like to help in some way. Here’s that info for ya:
South Shore Savings Bank
The Arsenault Family Fund
650 Middle Street
Weymouth, MA 02189
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
It scares me how frequent these fires are. My boss’ house burned down because of old electrical wiring a few months back and I’ve heard of many others too =( It is SO SCARY!!! I’m glad these ladies and their families are alright.
I cant help but wonder if this is a more common problem in older homes or newer homes… or if there is any way to even tell. I’ve been overly terrified to buy a home in fear that something done before we moved in might harm us later =/
Thank you so much for sharing.
fdr says
This is my absolute worst nightmare. I regularly wake up in a cold sweat about fires, malfunctioning alarms, carbon monoxide poisoning…
I’m so sorry Melanie and Robin had to go through this and so happy to hear their communities have been supportive.
Many thanks to them for thinking to share the tips they’ve unfortunately had to learn and to you for posting them.
Irene says
This is so sad but a really great blog post.
Venessa says
A couple of years ago we had a tornado blow down our house. My son and I were in the basement and heard the roof blow off, and the wires snap. He was four months old at the time.
One of the best ideas we had to remembering everything we lost was to “register” at Target, Sears, etc. We just printed off the lists and had the prices right there for insurance.
My heart aches for these families. The amount of work, stress, and grief is unbearable at times. We ended up rebuilding and no longer take Mother Nature for granted.
melarse (Melanie) says
Venessa – The “fake registry” is what I was thinking too! I have been back in stores re-purchasing what we need, but being physically in the store reminds me so much of what we had.
Venessa says
Melanie-
It was the best idea I had during the chaos. All of the tools, kitchen gadgets, and just random things. The insurance part of it all was so overwhelming. I made Excel spreadsheets by the room, more for my sanity than anything else. I didn’t want to forget anything. Every now and then I remember something else and it has been two years!
It gets better, I promise. Let me know if you want my email address. I would be happy to be a part of your support system.
Venessa
Kendra says
This is my favorite post you two have done. I have read of several houses burning down lately in blogland. I live in an area that has wildfires. Thank you for this informative post.
Alexson says
Those are some scary stories! We are recovering from a small flood and unfortunately, it does sometimes take a big disaster to serve as a wake up call. We’re now loaded up on insurance and safety measures that we would have left at the bottom of our to-do list had we not gotten a taste of what it’s like to have your house turn on you.
Jessica says
GREAT post, guys. I have been telling myself to do an inventory of our home and belongings for years, and this is a kick in the pants to get me to actually get it done. Our insurance guy JUST left an hour ago from signing new policy paperwork, so this is even more appropriate.
My heart goes out to Melanie and Robin. Thank goodness you and your families escaped safely, and thank you for the important reminders!
Katie Himiob says
This is such valuable information! Thank you so much for sharing. My heart goes out to those who lost their homes and precious belongings.
Beth says
I’m so glad you posted this. One of my cousins was killed in a house fire. He was 16. His dad had been through many health issues and after he and his mom were out of the house safely, he went back in to save his dad. Thankfully, his dad made it out safely moments later, but my cousin Nathan never did. Belongings can be replaced, people cannot. Remind kids that once they are out of danger, STAY THERE.
Sarah Mc says
After watching 2 neighbors’ homes completely burn in recent years, I know this post will save at least 1 family from losing everything.
Thank you for posting.
Emily says
Very sobering post but something we all need to be reminded of. Will definitely not be running appliances at night or while we are out anymore! So sorry for their loss (I can’t imagine!) but am so glad that they all made it out uninjured.
Sara says
Thank you so much for posting this, and please please if possible forward this family my email address. I also live in Weymouth, the town that they are from and when this fire occured my entire family was afraid that it was me. My fiance and I also purchased a foreclosure and poured all of our time and energy into it this past summer and it is still very much a work in progress. So please please if they need anything at all, which I am sure that they still do, we are more than willing to give of our time and talents of rebuilding/home improving. Good luck and God bless!
YoungHouseLove says
Will do Sara. Thanks so much for reaching out to neighbors in need!
xo,
s
bungalowbliss says
Thank you for sharing these heartbreaking stories. Sometimes we (myself included) get too caught up in the painting, furnishing, accessorizing part of improving our homes that we don’t think about the stuff that’s not so pretty. This is an excellent reminder to invest in those projects as well.
I’m thankful to hear that all are okay, but yes, please let us know how we can help. My heart goes out to both ladies and their families.
Melo says
To Melanie,
We are so sorry for what you went through, and so thankfull that, in a time where anger and upset can take over, you took time to pass on these very important proactive measures. Many of these are news to us and thanks to your kindness we will be better prepared if a devastation like yours hits our home.
Please do write back if there is anything this community of YHL readers can do to help. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
With appreciation,
Melo
Design Love says
omg…I have shivers! I can’t believe they had to deal with that! Seeing them walking away…..wow! I pray they get thru this difficult time of re-building, but at least they were safe!
Great tips, how nice of here to forward her story to you to share!
Cindy
Sara says
I can’t even imagine. Thanks for posting this, it’s extremely helpful
D says
So sorry to hear about your loss, Melanie. Thank you for the safety tips and best of luck to you and your family.
Jaime @ Queen of the Creek says
That video is shocking – but what a great post (and reminder). I am in awe that they just let the car keep burning; they had enough man power to move it, I would think. I’d be terrified that it would explode. Well, they are trained on the topic, and I am not.
My heart & prayers goes out to both Melanie and Robin.
Thank you for sharing, and waking the rest of us up.
Ami @ beyondpeasandcarrots says
Thanks for sharing these readers stories and tips. My heart and prayers go out to them during this time. My husband makes fun of me all the time, because fire is such a huge fear of mine… but I figure it’s always better to think ahead. I still don’t feel prepared, there are so many things to consider (especially now having a baby)!!
kelly says
WOW! Totally unimaginable for us. I am glad they are okay and do they need help?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelly,
Thanks so much for asking! We wondered the same thing. Hopefully Melanie and Robin will let us know if they’re in need of anything (understandably they’re quite busy, but we’re hoping they drop in to see how much their stories are appreciated).
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Thank you for sharing this with everyone. It’s great information. There was a recent house fire here in Chesterfield on my street which made the headlines and sadly two family members didn’t make it out alive. The husband was able to escape only because he jumped from a second story window.
The cause was a faulty outlet. Please also remind your readers to have an electrician come out and do an inspection to make sure the eletrical boxes and outlets are up to date.
Hugs to Melanie and Robin!
Radhika Paruchuri says
Very sorry to hear about what happened to Melanie and Robin ‘s families. Please let us know if they do contact you with list of things that they need. Surely would like to help out.
This story has lot of information that we (our family) need to pay attention too. I always run my appliances at night time (dishwasher, washer and dryer) or when I am out. It never occured to me nor anyone said about the danger that is waiting to happen. Will make sure we impliment the tips that was provided.
Good luck to Melanie and Robin’s families.
bfish says
So sorry for these readers!! They and you guys have performed a great public service by sharing the lessons learned.
Sarah K says
Oh so scary. My heart goes out to Melanie and Robin. These are scary things, but it just shows how important it is to be brave and plan for worst-case scenarios. Thanks for all the tips.
Stephanie says
Great post. Last year we had to evacuate our house in the middle of the night (with 3 kids) as our neighbour’s house was on fire. The firefighters at the scene advised us to not only have an evacuation plan, but also a meeting spot across the street from our house. In the event of a fire families can get separated and take different escape routes. Parents in a panic will often try to go back into a house to rescue children that have already escaped, with dire consequences. Its important to make the meeting place part of your drill.