AMA
Our house burnt down
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.
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.
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😣
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!
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.
Sweetpea1532 · 09/06/2022 18:03
I am so very sorry to hear of those of you who've been through a house fire.
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.
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
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.
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