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AMA
Original poster

Our house burnt down

231 replies

baddayattheoffice · 09/06/2022 16:46

What would you pick up as you left your burning home?

Most people will never face the reality of their home burning down. We never expected to go through it, but if it can happen to us it could happen to anyone.

AMA.

OP posts:
PeterPomegranate · 09/06/2022 16:48

I’m really sorry. That must be a horrendous experience.

I work for a fire & rescue service (I am not a firefighter). What was your experience of the firefighters at the incident itself? And kind of support did you get from your local service after the incident? Is there anything that could be improved from your perspective?

itsgettingweird · 09/06/2022 16:48

Sorry to hear this.

I think this is the senario most people fear and most wonder what they'd take.

I'd like to say our box of memories but I doubt I'd have time to stop and actually retrieve it.

Hope no one was hurt.

PeterPomegranate · 09/06/2022 16:49

Oh and I’d pick up my kids. And my husband if he needed help. And get out. I wouldn’t delay to pick up any belongings.

MarshaBradyo · 09/06/2022 16:49

That’s really hard

how did the fire start?

JellyBellyNelly · 09/06/2022 16:50

Honestly. I’d pick up nothing apart from my sons medication because even a day without it would be a day too long. And it is something I think about having had a house fire years ago although it was no where near as catastrophic as yours.

How are you now, you and your family?. I think that’s all I want to ask really.

Garfieldismyspiritanimal · 09/06/2022 16:51

Pets

the rest is just stuff

this happened to us

DM me if you like. Hugs xxxx

JellyBellyNelly · 09/06/2022 16:52

Sorry, just to say that when we built a new house years ago it was built with escaping a fire in mind for various reasons and every room can be escaped from so if people keep there head they could in theory all get out unaided.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 16:53

My house also burnt down. It took 6 minutes. I grabbed my phone and DD’s special rabbits that she took everywhere. She was 7.

It was hideous. But we got to pick all our new furniture and decoration. And new clothes.

Shes 15 now, and was sobbing about GCSE’s last night. She was still stroking her rabbits ears, and even briefly sucked her thumb. I’m really glad l rescused them.

Nightmate though. The inventory was 39 pages of Excel…

PlantingTrees · 09/06/2022 16:53

How did it happen? Was everyone ok? What time of day?

pilates · 09/06/2022 16:53

Did you manage to pick anything up?

hope everyone got out safely

PlantingTrees · 09/06/2022 16:54

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 16:53

My house also burnt down. It took 6 minutes. I grabbed my phone and DD’s special rabbits that she took everywhere. She was 7.

It was hideous. But we got to pick all our new furniture and decoration. And new clothes.

Shes 15 now, and was sobbing about GCSE’s last night. She was still stroking her rabbits ears, and even briefly sucked her thumb. I’m really glad l rescused them.

Nightmate though. The inventory was 39 pages of Excel…

Fuck, 6 minutes.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 16:54

I would second medication,

Trying to explain 111 that you needed medicine and no you don’t have a pen because you have nothing as your house burnt down is not something ld like to go through again.

JustTheOneSwan · 09/06/2022 16:56

It must be devastating.
I'd grab the cats and run, I'd be terrified.
What would be your recommendation to save if it's safe?
Did your insurance help properly or cause issues?

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/06/2022 16:56

Apart from people and my dog I'd need my phone as it has access to all my bank accounts etc.

PeterPomegranate · 09/06/2022 17:05

PlantingTrees · 09/06/2022 16:54

Fuck, 6 minutes.

Show quote history

Fire can spread so fast. Please don’t stop to take things. Honestly even medication. That can be replaced.

hashtagjubilee · 09/06/2022 17:08

Poor you.
Like other posters I just want to know that you're oKay and how it started and sending you a hug

Dalekjastninerels · 09/06/2022 17:08

I'm so sorry OP

I think I would just make a run for it .

Dalekjastninerels · 09/06/2022 17:09

PeterPomegranate · 09/06/2022 17:05

Fire can spread so fast. Please don’t stop to take things. Honestly even medication. That can be replaced.

Show quote history

Very true

JellyBellyNelly · 09/06/2022 17:09

PeterPomegranate · 09/06/2022 17:05

Fire can spread so fast. Please don’t stop to take things. Honestly even medication. That can be replaced.

Show quote history

My sons medication could be picked up on the way out the exit in a particular room. Due to his disabilities we live with ‘what if’s’ the whole time and in an emergency his medication would be part of something bigger. Also, people can be harmed in the time it would take to replace specialized medications. Even 8 hours without one could be harmful.

Moosake · 09/06/2022 17:10

Literally would just grab my child and get out of there

TabithaTittlemouse · 09/06/2022 17:10

Are you okay now?

museumum · 09/06/2022 17:12

I think the only thing I’d grab is the keys for the campervan and then if possible move it off the driveway to safety. It would be really comforting to have our van if we lost everything else.

RoseslnTheHospital · 09/06/2022 17:14

I'd just get the kids and get out. Nothing else. I might have my phone on me but I wouldn't go looking for it.

When I was a child we had a chimney fire in the middle of the night and we all just went outside in our night clothes and slippers with nothing at all apart from that. Thankfully the house wasn't significantly damaged so no personal possessions were lost.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 17:15

think the only thing I’d grab is the keys for the campervan and then if possible move it off the driveway to safety. It would be really comforting to have our van if we lost everything else

After a fire soneone comes round with a camper an for you to sleep in. It has toothbrushes, toiletries and nightwear in it, in case you have nowhere to go.

l slept at my brothers then we moved into a hotel.

wonderstuff · 09/06/2022 17:16

I was in a house that caught fire once, didn't even put my shoes on, it happened so quickly we just left. We were very close to the fire station and they arrived within a couple of minutes, they were amazing and saved most of the building. We were in a room downstairs with the door closed and the fire started upstairs, thank goodness my friend left the room to go to make tea I think, she noticed smoke coming down the stairs, as we were leaving the electrics blew and as we got outside an upstairs window blew out.

Always have a working smoke detector. So important.