My Neighbor's House Burned Down.....

GO DAWG GO · GO DAWG GO's Garage

Don't really know what started the fire..Obviously? But would ask that all of you to be careful with your Christmas lights/trees. This was horrific to watch!..The house is gone/totaled..bull doze material. Sad! Good thing all the neighbors are trying to help them with anything they may need!

This shot is from my Blackberry tonight! Just a couple hours ago...

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A930Rocket · 12-18-2009, 07:34 PM

Nothing worse than a house fire. I've seen a few around Christmas.

Here's a house I was building several years ago. I was almost finished when it burned to the ground.

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Here's a house I was building several years ago. I was almost finished when it burned to the ground.

What was the cause, arson?

NineOhOne · 12-18-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schrup

What was the cause, arson?

No, a huge insurance policy...

Rick V · 12-19-2009, 12:13 AM

This was my old rental house, thankfully after I sold it

NineOhOne · 12-19-2009, 12:16 AM

As mentioned in another thread, it's amazing there aren't more fires involving homes which are "upside down" or facing foreclosure.

And, no matter how hard I try, I can't get the damn cat to knock over the Christmas tree that is decorated with real candles...

turbo6bar · 12-19-2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

As mentioned in another thread, it's amazing there aren't more fires involving homes which are "upside down" or facing foreclosure.

You can go to jail for torching your house, or you can mail the keys to the lender and face almost no penalty or punishment. Borrowers who stop paying will stay for 6 months, a year, or even longer before being evicted.

I'd rate having your home burn down a close second to having your home flooded.

NineOhOne · 12-19-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo6bar

You can go to jail for torching your house, or you can mail the keys to the lender and face almost no penalty or punishment.

See thread: Should being dumb be criminalized...

NineOhOne · 12-19-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo6bar

I'd rate having your home burn down a close second to having your home flooded.

My shop was flooded yesterday. No contents coverage =

Had it burned instead =

Hugh R · 12-19-2009, 10:02 AM

I live in brush fire country. I insure the house for $250/sq. ft. plus 50% additional for code upgrades. In 12 years, I've had three brush fires that came close, one real, real close; like 200' away. You figure out pretty quick what is important and what is just stuff that can be replaced. We have a fire evacuation plan and know what to do if we're here. We have a reciprocal plan with my brother who live three doors down from me.

Joeaksa · 12-19-2009, 01:38 PM

Sorry to see this. One of my worst fears is to have the place go up and lose everything.

flatbutt · 12-19-2009, 01:41 PM

heart breaking. if me ,the beemer and the dog all get out alive it's all good but still it would be heartbreaking. all of the memorabilia of a lifetime gone?

DByers · 12-19-2009, 01:44 PM

Hugh, You may think of upping that sq foot cost.

Sorry to see this happen to your neighbor GDG.

1990C4S · 12-19-2009, 01:50 PM

My friends house burnt down at Christmas a few years ago. A crappy power bar from the dollar store was found to be the cause.

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

my aunt died in a house fire(electrical) on her birthday and i was the last to speak to her. she stated " i will be right back.............................." and never got back on phone. this was feb 1972. at 5am we got the "visit" from scottsdale p.d. at 5am that she had died after using 12 bottles of O2 on her.

she was single and never married, very attractive with boyfriend and brand new yellow convert ghia. was secretary to max hetzel CEO and PREZ of LOCKHEED INTL based at JFK. flew around the world more times that most pilots. got me on a flying P-3 ORION over atlantic and AIRFORCE ONE(707) at JFK INTL.

she was HIP! sorely missing her from my life all these years later. still.

fire AINT COOL!

Hugh R · 12-19-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DByers

Hugh, You may think of upping that sq foot cost.

Sorry to see this happen to your neighbor GDG.

Really? I'll check with my agent on Monday. I'd rather pay a few $100 more than be $50-$100K short.

DByers · 12-19-2009, 03:44 PM

Hugh, I am not sure of your sq footage or age of your house, upgrades already made and so forth, but I can tell you being in the construction industry that many homes were way under insured here in SB and had no idea until after the 2 fires we had last year. What will eat you up are the code upgrades in the structure and wiring area. Many did not realize that landscape was not included in their insurance also and need an umbrella policy for that.

Talking to your agent is a good start, getting a good GC and have him walk your property and give you an idea on what items would have to be brought up to code will help determine if your "upgrade" portion is enough.

My POS 1500 sq foot house is insured at $350 a sq foot with believe it or not 75% code upgrade. It was built in 1967 and would not meet code for todays building standards in so many ways.

Shawn 357 · 12-19-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DByers

Hugh, I am not sure of your sq footage or age of your house, upgrades already made and so forth, but I can tell you being in the construction industry that many homes were way under insured here in SB and had no idea until after the 2 fires we had last year. What will eat you up are the code upgrades in the structure and wiring area. Many did not realize that landscape was not included in their insurance also and need an umbrella policy for that.

Talking to your agent is a good start, getting a good GC and have him walk your property and give you an idea on what items would have to be brought up to code will help determine if your "upgrade" portion is enough.

My POS 1500 sq foot house is insured at $350 a sq foot with believe it or not 75% code upgrade. It was built in 1967 and would not meet code for todays building standards in so many ways.

That is some solid advice. I do insurance for a living and about two years ago insured a friend's home. When I brought him the quotes he asked why I was twice as much as who he currently had and I said "because it is twice as much coverage." Unfortunately that friend's house burned down about six months ago....he was really happy that he went with my quotes! He would have been shy about $125 a square foot (at least) and it was a 7000 square foot home.

Sadly I constantly see people in San Diego that have their custom home insured for $120 a square foot

A930Rocket · 12-19-2009, 07:09 PM

It was very cold that week and the drywall trade was using a propane heater to keep the mud from freezing. Too bad he set it right on the floor instead of on some block or brick. At some point during the night, it got so hot, it burned a hole in the floor, fell into the crawl space, with the 50-100 gal propane tank that was supposed to be left outside.

All that was left was the foundation. I knocked it down and took the footers out so I wouldn't have to say that any part of the house had been in a fire when re-built and sold.

Fortunately, insurance covered it all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schrup

What was the cause, arson?

VINMAN · 12-19-2009, 07:28 PM

Ive been a firefighter for almost 19 yrs, and it is still heartbreaking to see someone lose everything in a fire. Sure some thing can be replaced, and insurance wil cover it, blah, blah, blah. But people have certain possesions that can never ever be replaced. It sucks, especially having to tell a child that their favorite toys or stuffed animal or even worse , a pet is gone.