Fire

[mnjrutherford]

About 2 hours ago, our shed burnt to the ground. Cursory glance through the insurance policy says most of what is gone can and will be covered. Nobody was hurt including the chickens. It was touch and go for them for a few minutes because the fire was heading straight for them but about 5' before it hit the coops it broke and went around them.

My family and I would be extremely grateful for your good thoughts and prayers especially over the next 3 days as we come to grips with the "occasion" and get the clean up operation started.

[nuts]

Gosh!

I do what I can for the praying.To make the insurance work..so you can make a better shed.
I'm happy for the chickens.

It remembers me of something alike,a 20years ago.
I had about 50 baby goats burned.
They were destinied for butcherig and covered by insurance,but nevertheless I was shocked a bit.About 30 young goats for reproduction were saved,so I could come over it quite good.

good luck!

[ottawagardener]

So sorry to hear. Glad the chickens are okay.

[mnjrutherford]

Feb 19, 2011 16:28:16 GMT -5 @nuts said:

I do what I can for the praying.To make the insurance work..so you can make a better shed.

;D Yep, that's what we are hoping for! Monday is a legal holiday so we won't get started with the insurance folks till Tuesday but the list of lost items is nearly completed.

That is really sad about your goats, even though it was long ago.

I was really worried for all our animals. We haven't seen our kitties yet, but then they don't hang around during the day anyhow. I'm worried how they will react when they see there house burnt and gone.

[garnetmoth]

very grateful you all are ok!
Sorry to hear about the damage.
Take Care, and good luck with the insurance company!

[cortona]

very gratedul that you ad your family are ok..and yes you hare in my pray.

[ozarklady]

I bet your adrenaline was pumping.
Do you know how the fire started?

In 2008, our home burned, at 3 am due to lightning strike right on the propane line. We got out safely, and fortunately, our bird was at our son's house, so it was okay too. We didn't have an inside dog or cat at that time.

But, it was a total loss, and no insurance. We just replace items as finances allow.
But, the outpour from folks was overwhelming. We were operational, if not set up, within days.

I had no idea, that so many folks would give so much! Or that news travels so fast!
Co-workers bought us new clothes and shoes within hours, and it sure was appreciated.

[sandbar]

Jo, so sorry to hear about your loss. Hope and pray that the insurance co. moves quickly to get your chickens a new home and fully replace your losses.

[atash]

I was trying to imagine what your feelings were like when this happened. Fear when the fire was out of control and spreading. Worry about your animals. Dreading the cleanup.

As soon as the kitties are located, then please breath a sigh of relief and let go of any anxieties you might have had, because it's over and you have a big job to do that will go better with a clear mind. Let us know if you had any irreplaceable uninsured losses, particularly if any of it was seed.

I hope the kitties are OK. Glad the chickens are OK.

Take care and know that your friends care about you and that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

[wildseed57]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, but I'm glad that you didn't loose your house or life. All to often more than just a shed is lost, My prairs go out to you and that you will be able to recoop what you lost.
Sincerely
George W.

[mnjrutherford]

Both kitties are now accounted for and all is very well. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the comforting words you have all given me. It has been invaluable!

Atash, I've been pondering what you said about my feelings when the event was at it's height. I was at first focused on taking the right actions as expeditiously as possible. I'm a little singed from that because I walked across the back of the house through the heat of the fire. Nothing major, a couple of ibuprofen took care of the problem. That was the biggest injury.

But really, I wasn't exactly afraid. Didn't have to worry about the animals cause they were taken care of within the first few minutes of the conflagration. I kinda thought I was in shock for a little while. I could feel tears in my eyes a few times, but they never really came out. I was VERY grateful that all our neighbors and friends were around, watching for the most part but lending emotional support. I was very happy that the flames never quite made it to the house, even though the heat certainly did! I was elated that the fire fighters arrived when they did and that the fire did not even come close to the kennel or the chicken coops. I was concerned that my oldest was totally out of control emotionally, crying his wee little heart out and beyond being comforted for good long while. I wanted to throttle my youngest because he was jumping up and down on the edge of the fire as it crept across the lawn and getting in the way of the fire fighters. A friend took him in hand and diverted him to riding his bike up and down. I was grateful for that.

But I knew that nothing was insurmountable or earth shattering. I did lose some irreplaceable family heirlooms. But, well, life will not come to a screeching halt because a few old things are now more suitable for the the garden. OH yes, which brings me to this... WE HAVE BIOCHAR! LOTS AND LOTS OF BIOCHAR!

Life is not a bowl of cherries because, well, the stupid trees aren't growing as I would hope them to do. But I do have enough charcoal to fill every stocking in the house and that is THRILLING! Perhaps I will cry about this as we go through the debris, but not today. There are far to many good things going on around me to worry about a little thing like a shed fire.