Yesterday my brother and sister-in-law’s house burned to the ground and they literally lost everything. He saved the dog by tying her collar to his belt and crawling out of the house on all 4’s. There is literally nothing left and they have their dog and the clothes on their backs. They don’t even have one set of car keys.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to start over. Yet they have their lives, and their dog, and my other brother and I did not lose a sibling. We are very blessed. It could have been so much worse. Much was lost that cannot be replaced. He was the family historian. Raymie and Kathy live in Bloomington, Indiana.
The fire was started by a faulty gas grill. No details yet.
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/gallery/n/1664
This will be a long recovery process. Not only will your brother mourn the loss of his posessions, but the family archives will be mourned by you and your brother. I am relieved your family is alright, but my heart does ache for the material familial losses that can never be recovered.
Your outlook on the result is more than admirable, Moon!
A lot has been lost, but not lives. Warm thoughts to you.
Thanks Elena and Punchak.
I guess the fact it isn’t my stuff that got burned up probably helps the outlook. We are just glad our brother is ok and that he was able to save the dog. Bella was so important to both of them.
He rescued his wife’s dog…it was a matter of priorities..he didn’t even get his car keys or cell phone out of the house.
although emotional, it is wonderful that your Brother’s and SIL’s loss was tangible and memorable items. You will be able to create new memories with him, instead of the alternative.
You are certainly correct, Pat.
Happy to hear no loss in life. Prayers to your family.
Thanks, Marin. We feel like we were very fortunate. Funny how one one day, all you thought previously important really wasn’t. Priority altering day.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I am so happy to hear they all made it out okay!
Thanks, Red Dawn. Just my bro and the pooch were home. He was starting dinner. There was some sort of grill malfunction. I don’t know what the fire inspectors will determine.
My other brother and I feel sort of helpless being here. Not sure what we would do if we were up there though.
Moon, ask your local fire station how you can help most effectively from long-distance. Sometimes its the simple things – stamps, envelopes, a Walmart gift card, a phone, a notebook computer – tools for getting back on their feet.
Once they are in their own place, you can send them an album with copies of cherished family photos that you might have to help restore some of what they lost.
Sending prayers for your family.
Thank goodness they are okay. If there is anything established to help them, I would be glad to contribute.
Thank you Twinad. They have a strong support system at Indiana U. They already have their accommodations and have mrt with their insurance agent.
So sorry to hear about this, but thank God no one was hurt.
I’m sorry your brother’s family suffered this loss. Thank goodness no one was hurt. Fires spread so quickly that it’s good your brother thought of the best way to get himself and his dog out of there.
If there’s anything we could send them or give to you to send them, let us know. Cindy has some good suggestions.
great ideas Cindy! I second Censored, anything we can do to help, please let us know.
I am so sorry to hear this! They will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks everyone for your support. I will pass along your words of support to Raymie and Kathy tomorrow. Thank goodness they weren’t hurt. There is no possession worth losing your life over.
They have a large support system of friends at Indiana U and they are grateful. I feel they are in good hands.
So very sorry to hear this, Moon. So glad that they are safe. Things can be replaced, pets an people can’t.
Moon, please accept and pass on our sympathies from both Mrs. NTK and me. This is an awful thing to happen. Echoing what others have already said, it’s a blessing that no one was hurt. They can rebuild.
Thanks to everyone for kind words and offers to help. Raymie and Kathy are very fortunate to have a supportive group of friends out in Bloomington. There have been collections taken up for incidentals etc and cash does seem to be about the only thing they have left.
Insurance is already involved and I think they will be ok. They will have to reconstruct their entire lives at a not so young age. They have their lives and that is the important part. Maybe they can become minimalists.
Thanks again to everyone. It gave us quite a scare.
Check those gas grills. I am not sure for what but that is where this all started. Steve T suggested a bad regulator. That would seem to me like a napalm flame thrower.
M-H Glad to read your brother and sister-in-law are OK- that was a close call.
My prayers to your family.
Thanks Pokie. They seem to be getting along better and my younger brother is flying out today.