My apartment building caught fire yesterday.

[Dial H For Hero]

I was taking a nap when a neighbor pounded on my door, yelling “Fire! Get out!”. I rushed outside.

Thankfully no one was hurt (although my cat was quite vexed), but there’s now a rather sizable hole in the ceiling of the living room (I’m on the top floor). Between the smoke damage and the water pouring in, I suspect the place is pretty much a total loss. So much for the book collection.

Still, silver linings: I have renter’s insurance, and as some here may know, I also have a rather substantial gun collection. They were in multiple safes, and not harmed in the slightest. I would have lost tens of thousands had they been destroyed. The police didn’t want them in the building under the circumstances, though, so asked if they could take them down to my SUV for me to secure somewhere else. That took a couple of hours, since I couldn’t help and they ran the serial number on every one of them.

I’m crashing at my sister’s for the night. It could have been far worse. It was just stuff.

[brewens]

1. Sorry to hear that. Good going on the renters insurance. It's pretty cheap for anyone that doesn't

know. Mines I think $125 per year. I had a meth using alcohol junkie for a neighbor years ago that made me start carrying it. He almost burned the place down two days before Christmas.

[Dial H For Hero]

11. Thanks, I'm glad it's required at my complex.

[Demovictory9]

2. wow... glad you are ok

[Dial H For Hero]

12. Thanks!

[Blue Dawn]

3. I am so glad you and your cat are safe, Dial H for Hero.

Good that you have renter's insurance. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

Again, let me just say how glad I am that you are okay!

[Dial H For Hero]

13. Thank you! Making call after call right now.

[2naSalit]

4. Glad you and your cat are okay...

And yes to renter's insurance. I hate insurance companies but sometimes when you need something like that, they actually help you. Mine costs about the same as yours. I hope you find a new place to your liking soon.

[Dial H For Hero]

14. Thanks! I was intending to move at some point because of the stairs. All for the best in the end,

perhaps.

[2naSalit]

23. Perhaps. ...nt

[KT2000]

5. That is awful

and frightening. I am so glad you and your cat are OK and good for you for having renter's insurance.

[Dial H For Hero]

15. Thank you!

[Ligyron]

6. Dude, I'm glad you are alright.

You have a great attitude. Stay safe.

[Dial H For Hero]

16. Thanks!

[GPV]

7. Yikes! Glad you and kitteh are ok.

[Dial H For Hero]

17. Thanks! She's cranky right now, but she'll get over it.

[secondwind]

8. Sorry for the hole in the ceiling! Yikes!

But you sure have a good attitude about what’s important in life!!!!!

[Dial H For Hero]

18. Thank you. Stiff upper lip and all that.

[CentralMass]

9. I am glad that you a d your cat made it out safely.

[Dial H For Hero]

19. Thanks, it was scary!

[cally]

10. So thankful you are ok

It is so scary when there is a fire and you are told to leave Just a heads up, I was fairly calm during evacuation but once I knew I was safe then I had strep problems for a few weeks Take care.

[Dial H For Hero]

20. Thanks, and that's good advice.

[mitch96]

22. I'm curious... does the renters insurance cover the pop guns? nt

[Dial H For Hero]

24. Only up to $2500. Thankfully not an issue.

[Dial H For Hero]

25. Update: finished salvaging what I could.

Managed to get 90% of the ammo and all of the magazines. My Donald Duck figurine collection was largely all right, and I was able to get about a fifth of the the vintage roleplaying games and 5% of the books. All clothes ruined. All furniture, bed and bedding, anything in the kitchen gone as well. Computer, hard drives, ipad, laptops are toast. Original “Revenge of the Jedi” movie poster destroyed.

Later today they’re throwing everything left into a dumpster.

I had a vacation planned to Thailand leaving today. Initially I was going to cancel, but I’ve decided to go ahead and take it. The only thing left to do is fill out an Excel spreadsheet listing destroyed assets that add up to al least $20K. I can do that in an afternoon on the laptop I just bought. I could really use a couple of weeks on the beach, eating delicious food and getting my back and legs pounded and kneaded. I’ll look for a new place when I get back.

BTW, the Red Cross is awesome.