Last week my good friend lost everything but her and her son's life in a fire. She had gone on a long weekend to Idaho for a wedding with her next door neighbor and her son. She returned in the early morning hours to see the news, and the fire crews there putting out the fire in her and her friend's townhouse. She did not have renter's insurance, and lost everything.
The Red Cross put her and her son in a hotel for a few days, and gave her a gift card to Walmart to get him some school clothes. I went to see her in the hotel a few days ago and took bags and bags of clothing for her, and a radio for her 12 year old son. She told me the horrific story of the fire.
The neighbor had a can of paint stripper on the back deck, which was in the afternoon sun. It was next to a propane tank for the BBQ and a freezer. The paint stripper exploded, which caused the freon in the freezer to explode and it shot across straight into her son's bedroom wall. The beam above his bed was not structurally sound and fell right on top of his bed. The fire crew said that if they had been home, they would have never survived the fire. It was 24 seconds before the whole apartment was engulfed.
Once daylight hit, and the fire was out, the fire crew helped her gather a few of her belongings, and put them in the front of the apartment for her to gather the following day. That evening another fire started, and she lost those few items she was able to salvage.
The people at my work have been gathering things to start her over, and have started a trust fund to get her established in a new apartment. Although devastated, she was so grateful for the outpouring of support. She told me she saw a homeless woman collecting cans, and it made her realize that she had a car, she had a job, she had her life, and she has a lot of friends and coworkers that want to help.
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Comments: 22
A fire is so scary.
When we had the Cedar Fires in 03, they came within a few miles of my home.
That was WAY TO CLOSE FOR ME.
I belong to a freecycle group and they have been collecting things for them. They post a list of what is needed then update it as they get things. You might want to look for a local freecycle group. They are usually under Yahoo Groups. If you talk to the moderators, they may forego their requirement of having to post an offer before posting a Wanted.
Keep us updated, please.
When I lived in Asheville, my church would have a "shower" for people after they lost belongings to a fire. We would register the family at a department store so colors and personal choices were considered. Then everyone would buy a present that the family had selected. We would have food and fellowship, just like a bridal or baby shower. Maybe a neighborhood church would be willing to do this for your friend?
Beauty and the Geek