My sister's brother in law and family lost EVERY thing to a fire Friday night

[greenbriar]

they live in a small town and there is not much to offer there. Hubby and I paid for their family to spend one night at the local motel Saturday. We also ordered a pizza for them and had it delivered to them at the motel. It is wonderful what internet can do now days.

Now, there is the task of seeing if anything is salvageable.

Hubby's family lost everything to a fire about 20 years ago. I know how depressing and frustrating it is.

When they find a new place or figure out what they are going to do, we are going to give them a gift card so they can pick out some household items they might need.

The town folks are pretty good, but in times like these, they also think it is time to get rid of all their "garage sale" items.

My mother-in-law said you would not believe the shit people sent. Granny panties that would fit the fat woman at a carnival is one such item.

I think the gift card will be much better for their needs. I just wish we could give more than 100 bucks.

[greenbriar]

1. since I was in the hospital, we couldn't go down in person

in that small town, everyone rallies when horrific things like this happens. It is a thing of beauty in the face of sorrow.

We did what we could from the hospital.

I hope they are able to put their lives back together.


Really, we have decent insurance so my materialistic things wouldn't bother me too much, but the photos and personal things would be so heartbreaking to lose.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear greenbriar...

That is horrifying...

I hope they can regroup and get going once again. Of course, things can be replaced, but it's the loss of special momentos of a lifetime that hurt so much.

I'm betting their next home will have sprinklers or at least smoke detectors.

Good luck to them!

Good on you for helping...

:hug:

[greenbriar]

3. they were gone when it happened. The came home to firetrucks

in their yard.


That would be so horrible to me!

[Terra Alta]

4. I am so sorry

it must have been devestating. My heart goes out to them.

At least they are all safe, though. They will be in my thoughts and prayers as they get their lives back together and recover from this.

Don't feel guilty about just giving 100 bucks... you did what you could, and I'm sure they are very grateful! :hug:

[Roon]

5. My former step-sister-in-law house burned down on christmas eve

two christmases ago. It made the headlines, everyone sent help,it was on all the news channels because it happened on christmas eve.

The day after christmas another house burned down and a family lost everything. IT made page 3B..third paragraph down..I hate the media sometimes.

[Patiod]

6. Can I offer a few words of hope?

The work I do often traps people who don't know each other in a small room, and it's strange some of the topics that arise while we're killing time between work sessions.

One day, someone mentioned losing everything she owned in a house fire. Another person in the room of 8 people said "really? that's weird - I lost everything I had in a house fire, too" and they started comparing their experiences - neither had ever talked to someone else it had happened to. Of course there was talk of insurance and lawyers and financial issues and family photos.

But the BOTH agreed that among the sadness, there was also a great and unexpected feeling of freedom and unburdening. Both said that, as they rebuilt thier lives, they looked at every single possession and said "do I REALLY need that?" They both said it underlined what was important to them (friends, familY, pets) and what wasn't (possessions).

One caveat: both were upper middle class, with insurance, family support, good jobs, and plenty of resources. They were of the class where the loss of possessions wasn't a tragedy.

[greenbriar]

7. aside from the things you can't replace...home videos and photos

I would feel that way


I do not know this family's financial situation but I can't imagine coming home to see fire trucks in my yard and watching my place burn

[Patiod]

8. The positive part didn't come until later

the immediate feelings were of course those of loss and sadness - especially about the photos

[grace0418]

16. I keep an external hard drive with all my photos and music and work backups in a

fire-proof safe. I don't update it as religiously as I should (for instance, it doesn't yet have my Hawaii pix or pix from Christmas), but at least I wouldn't lose everything in a fire. Beyond that, all I'd really care about is my cat and my husband. Everything else is just stuff.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

21. Me too. And I have another suggestion for you as well.....

Make a copy (or 2) of that hard drive and give it to a family member(s) who lives in a different location than yourself. Those fire-proof safes could in theory be burned too if the fire burns long enough before it is put out (I think most of them are guaranteed only 30 minutes to an hour unless you have a REALLY expensive one, which I don't).

[dana_b]

9. I'm so sorry. That happened to us 4 years ago

The fire didn't get everything but the smoke damage got a LOT. We lost about 80% of everything, not as bad as your sister's bil's famiy. My heart goes out to them.

A gift card would be PERFECT! They can pick out what they need. I remember my brother and his wife et us stay with them for a bit and gave us towels and some linens. The basics were sorely needed.

If you have a Paypal account, I'd be happy to send twenty bucks to you and you can get another gift card for them. I know its not much, but I'm sure every little bit can help. PM me.

[greenbriar]

11. That is so kind. I don't do paypal, but when they get settled,

I will send you their address and you can send it to them


Thank you

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. I am so sorry to hear that. :^( Glad you guys could help them out. *hugs*

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

12. Hope they had insurance

We had a fire too. Spent 7 months in a rental while they rebuilt. SOOOOOOOOOO glad we had insurance.

[BlueIris]

13. This is terrible. Absolute best of luck to them during what is sure to be

a long rebuilding process.

[Lars39]

14. I'm sorry to hear that, greenbriar.

You might want to check with any local Church of Christ congregations...most of them keep a clothes room so that fire victims can come pick out clothes for themselves.

[greenbriar]

15. thank you all for your kind words and the pms wanting to help

I will find out where they are staying and let you all know.

[greenbriar]

17. Thanks all, they are going to stay with his mom for a few weeks

until their insurance and everything gets sorted out.

[michreject]

18. What about your empty basement?

If you can tolerate someone that you don't like for a extended stay, how about someone you do like for a short stay.

[greenbriar]

19. um NOPE...basement is off limits, but they actually live 60 miles away

they will be fine with his mom.

[Beaverhausen]

20. The Red Cross helped my husband when he had a house fire 10 years ago

they paid for hotels for a few days, donated some stuff to him and got him a good deal on an apartment. They are there for these purposes. If there is a local chapter they sould call them.

[applegrove]

22. Vibes to them.