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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:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 17:16

Always have good insurance too.

Ihatethenewlook · 09/06/2022 17:19

I’d have to choose which of my many pets to save. Most of them I’d probably have to leave behind :/

AmberLynn1536 · 09/06/2022 17:21

I would grab my dog, phone, iPad, car keys and purse, all of these are always beside me pretty much but my dog would be saved above anything else.

LittleMissCee · 09/06/2022 17:21

I’m sorry this has happened to so many. From experience I took my mobile and as I called 999, I put shoes on grabbed my handbag (always next to my bag at night) and a blanket to cover myself.
I have never been so grateful to have so much random stuff in my handbag it was all very useful.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 09/06/2022 17:22

My dogs everything else can be replaced

Simonjt · 09/06/2022 17:24

Assuming all the living things are out, my sons life story box. Nothing else is important and its the only thing that couldn’t be replaced.

blue421 · 09/06/2022 17:25

Sorry, that must be horrendous.

My computers with photos and videos of the kids on.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 17:25

It was one of the most traumatic things to happen to me.

It sounds nice being able to redecorate your house all at once, but it’s really stressful. Things you don’t even think about like door handles or hinges or carpet runners. DH and l argued non stop for 6 months.

l remember one particularly vicious argument in B and Q about bathroom taps. That was on the third visit to there on that day😣

blacksax · 09/06/2022 17:27

People, pets, handbag, photos on the shelf near the front door (the photos are irreplaceable and are kept where they are precisely because of this possibility).

MarshaBradyo · 09/06/2022 17:29

Another question, how do you state what you want to replace? I assume you don’t need receipts

PollyEsther · 09/06/2022 17:37

Son's medication also (we really wouldn't cope without it, in fact this thread has made me think I should keep a small pot in the car just in case). Other than that, kids, dog, phone (for documents). A friend lost her home to fire when we were around 12 and she was utterly traumatised, her poor family lost absolutely everything. Her Mum even ended up losing her job because of it!

BlackAndPinkNose · 09/06/2022 17:42

God how awful for those that have experienced this. Flowers

A sobering reminder to check smoke alarms.

People and pets would be my priority, everything else can be replaced.

SamMil · 09/06/2022 17:44

How did the fire start?

Were the insurance company easy to deal with or did they try to get out of paying for things?

Glad you are all safe x

racquel86 · 09/06/2022 17:44

Gosh, just wanting to say how sorry I am and send love! That's awful. I had to leave a house due to fire damage from the adjoining terrace and that was traumatic enough.
Thoughts are with you xxx

AdoraBell · 09/06/2022 17:47

Really sorry this happened.

I think I would grab my passport, phone and handbag.

Realistically I would just get the dogs out, a hat - always by the door- because I have solar keratosis and dog leads if they were by the door.

SweatyChamoisPad · 09/06/2022 17:57

Family photos as I am the last one left. They are in a carry box in the hall for this reason. I keep meaning to digitise them but there are a lot. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have photos of my lovely mum - she died when I was 23.

blue421 · 09/06/2022 18:00

It can happen so easily. My son had a White Company towelling robe hanging by its tag off a heated towel rail which burst into flames. In fairness they investigated it although couldn't explain why it happened.

Luckily we were in and I could throw it out of the window but it was quite sobering.

blue421 · 09/06/2022 18:02

(I mention the brand only as it wasn't a cheap item that might not meet safety standards).

Sweetpea1532 · 09/06/2022 18:03

I am so very sorry to hear of those of you who've been through a house fire.Flowers

I live in a high wildfire risk area and it has been suggested to us to go around our home and take photographs of the contents of every room so that in case our home is destroyed in a fire, we will have photographs to give to the insurance company.

I also send relatives lots of family photographs that we take...this way I don't have to worry about grabbing tonnes of photo albums in case of a fire.
And have a meeting place established outside your home so that every family member will know where to go. This way you won't have to worry that there maybe someone still in the burning house.

minipie · 09/06/2022 18:05

Gosh OP how awful.

DH and I would get the kids (their rooms are top floor 😬) and run.

I have to admit I wouldn’t go searching the house for our cat - she is much loved, but chances are she’d be out somewhere as she isn’t locked in and likes to roam, so I couldn’t afford to spend much time looking for her.

DH phone is always with him 🙄 so guess we would be able to grab that at least.

Hope you have rebuilt your life now OP and any others this happened to.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 09/06/2022 18:08

It’s the speed it spreads at that is so terrifying.

Titsflyingsouth · 09/06/2022 18:15

I'd grab my son, my dog and the folder with insurance details. Not worth risking my life for anything else.

I'm so sorry, Op.

HappilyHadesBound · 09/06/2022 18:16

Before I say anything else, I would say to anyone (and have to people who think this is silly!) get smoke alarms, get good insurance, get a fire safe, and regularly go round the house taking videos of the contents of every room- including opening drawers and cupboards!

What I would take would depend entirely on where I am and where the fire is.

How long did it take you to get set back up OP? I know it can take years x

chiffchaffchiff · 09/06/2022 18:21

My phone (which is always beside me so not hard) and my two cats. One roams so I wouldn't panic too hard about her. The other is a house cat and couldn't get out the cat flap if he wanted to (huge Maine coon).

veggiesupreme · 09/06/2022 18:23

That is just horrendous, you poor thing, the shock must be awful.

Our neighbours house burnt to the ground, and all she had to her name was the nightie and slippers she was standing in. She lost everything. She didn't fair so well in terms of realising it was just stuff, much of her things had very special memories from her deceased parents. She had the house rebuilt on the same plot, it took a very long time but looks better than ever now.

It was a chimney fire, and it is not that unusual around here.