A good friend for many years, had a house fire last night. Apparently the company that was to have inspected and cleaned the woodstove chimney did not clean it, according to the Fire inspector, and it caught their insulation on fire. To make matters worse, their insurance went broke, so they are left now without homeowners insurance.
So far as I have heard, everyone is ok, but they are in Pennsylvania, and left with a 10' by 3' hole in their wall. Some church members helped them cover it last night with wood, so they could at least stay there. They have a 2 year old, 6 year old, and 12 year old kids at home, and one on the way.
Maryann L. (mightymom.gather.com), and her family will have a tough Christmas without the insurance they had been paying for. As they are going to need to fix their house to make it livable in the weather there.
I think they have people from their church to help with the repairs, but are going to need help with supplies. If anyone can help me get supplies to them, it would be greatly appreciated.
This is always a bad time to have a home fire, and even worse when it is because of someone else's negligence.
Thank you all.
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Comments: 24
I am hoping they will be able to get money from the company that was supposed to have cleaned the chimney, as they scammed them.
Thank you Chris.
Yes it is.
I am hoping that I'll get enough views and comments to get a few homedepo cards, or maybe someone will have some extra building supplies they can help them out with.
Charles, I don't go to any church, this was their church that helped them. I live too far away to help them out, or I could do the repairs myself.
Sure hope they can get some help soon!
Yes it is.
I understand, and thank you for the thought. :)
Happy New Year.
We too have recently had a home fire -- old wires in a 50 year old house. Even though the "flame" was contained in the kitchen and family room, the heat, soot, and smoke, that were cooking the house for hours before the fire started, damaged the rest of our home to the point we have needed to inventory, dump, and gut. This, alone, is an emotionally demanding activity, especially after living in this house for 20 years, having two children now teenagers, and celebrating life within.
But what we learned immediately is the support of family and the community. Our church contacted us the second day after the fire, neighbors who we never knew contacted the church to find out how they could help, and friends coordinated efforts. We have been fortunate and blessed. However, we have also learned that many companies have also been helpful with discounts, coupons, and in some cases donations. What I would suggest is to contact all of the businesses you usually purchase from, share your story with them, and ask if they have coupons or discounts for families in need. Sometimes you need to provide a letter from the fire marshall indicating the extent of the fire, however, we have found may businesses to be generous and helpful. Usually the small businesses, not so much the big commercial businesses.
Our fire was on Saint Patrick's day this year, and we have only just finished inventorying all of our contents for insurance. We have coverage since this was an electrical fire, not related to an appliance or service. But if we have learned anything, it is that it is important to keep inventory of your life ... financial, spiritual, mental, and health. You should not need a life-changing event to force you to evaluate where you are in your life, not just from a materialistic perspective. This is something you must take responsibility for, almost every day of you life, but at least on some regular basis, especially if you are a parent with children still at home.
God Bless you and best wishes to you and your family. Hope you are seeing newness in the new year and with spring around you. It is through acts of random kindness that we receive the greatest gift, and when we give, we do receive. -- Suzann