House and everything in it ( including 68 camaro ) burned down...

[1Bad68camaro]

Well guys, things have taken a terrible turn for the worse. I woke up at 0530 on 3 Nov with my house on fire. Was able to get my wife and 2 year old daughter out but the house is destroyed, along with my 68 camaro ss, 2007 mustang gt vert, 2011 explorer, 03 Honda VFR 800 streetbike, 2003 Ktm 450sx dirtbike, all tools, and of course most of the stuff in the house. It's a crazy time for us. I'm writing this from my iPad that was in my vette (only thing I had a chance to pull out of driveway) because my laptops and desktop are gone. We are now staying in a extended stay hotel between Conroe/woodlands. Insurance says at least 6 to 8 months to rebuild the house. The worst part is that the only thing plugged in in the garage where the fire started was my car charger on the camaro battery. Spent 7 years restoring that car, and was two weeks from it being ready to drive. Will upload pics when able. But the roof is melted to the seats and it was a coupe... Billit boyd rims all melted off, even the billit coilovers on the 4 link rear melted off. Just completely destroyed. The army is letting me take 15 days of permissive leave, followed by up to 30 days emergency leave. But I can see its going to be a long road ahead.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/11/camaro22-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/11/camaro24-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/11/camaro25-1.jpg

[Hugger67RSSS]

Wow sad to hear. At least your family is safe. Cars and houses can be rebuilt, good luck

[SparkyRnD]

glad to hear that you, your wife and especially your daughter were able to get out unharmed. Sorry about the rest of your possessions, but the most important things were saved.

[BlackPearl]

Sorry to hear of your loss but I'm glad to hear your family is safe.

Best Regards to you and your family,

Bob

[devwil68]

Glad everyone made it out ok! Sorry to hear.

[spacepirate]

Wow!

[sr73bu]

So sorry to hear this... glad your family is ok.. in the end,,, thats all that really matters.. Good luck with everything

-Sean

[Widetrax]

I am very sorry to hear about your misfortune!! Glad all of your family is safe!! To everyone else this should be a reality check to look into our own garages and unplug all of those unneeded appliances that could do the same thing to us!!

[1Bad68camaro]

Yes, I totally agree. I woke up to shotgun shells exploding in the garage. The first one shook the floor (our bedroom is directly on top of the garage) and I thought my daughter had fell out of bed again. So i jumped up to go check and immediately smell smoke and a battery acid smell. That told me exactly what it was and I ran downstairs and opened the garage door to find everything fully in flames and so hot it almost knocked me down from the reaction to jump back. The thought went thru my brain to grab the kitchen fire extenguisher or water hose but with how big it was (entire 2 car garage) I knew I had no chance and ran back up and grabbed my daughter and wife and ran downstairs. Tried to go out the front door but the flames were so far out the garage that the cars in driveway were on fire so I took them out the back door and around the other side of house to the road out front. Gave me daughter to a neighbour and ran back in the back yard and back door and grabbed my keys off the key holder/hook. I actually ripped the whole thing off the wall and took it all with me. I moved the explorer first as it was beginning to catch fire. But the front end was melted all the way to the rear view mirrors. Then I moved my corvette which was the only thing not hurt. The 07 mustang parked in front of it burned down witout a chance. Looking back we had less than 5 minutes after we got out to when the fire went to the attic thru our room. Thats a crazy thought.... I went back in a 3rd time and grabbed my glock off the fridge and my uniform off the kitchen table on my way back out. Luckily I had left my wallet and everything in my uniform the night before when i got home late. So I ended up wearing my army flight suit for the next 2 days. Until I got my uniform I had been doing all that in my underwear, and it was mid 40's that morning in conroe, whats crazy is i didnt even notice it until I sat in the neighbours front yard for 25 min waiting for the fire trucks to get there...

[1Bad68camaro]

Fire inspector called me today with his report. He is blaming the Black & Decker VEC 1093 battery charger. USAA also told me they are serving notice to B&D for a lawsuit of some sort. But at least now the insurance can start moving forward and start getting stuff done. I'm nearvous as all hell to find out what they are going to value that camaro for. The other stuff is all easy to put a price on. But that camaro is going to be a long fight i'm sure.

[newmexicosaint]

WOW, Man, I am sorry for your loss! Everyone is right, your family can't be replaced but everything else can. I am sure your head is still spinning. I will say some prayers for you and your family.

[andrewb70]

Sad news. Glad everyone is safe. Everything can be replaced, even the Camaro.

Andrew

[muthstryker]

Sad for sure, its to bad you lost everything, but its just "stuff" and can be replaced a lot easier then a life. Glad to know you're all safe and made it out alive.

[gmachala404]

Just awful! I will have to always make sure I am more careful with my battery charger. I have a basement house just like yours with bedroom
directly above the garage. It will be a long road but you will get back to normal. Lady luck was on your families side it could have been much
worse that was a close call. Best wishes to you all! And a happy Veterans Day too!

[newbe60]

sorry for your loss..did you pay for most of the parts for the camaro with a credit card? also check and print out the sale ad"s on this site for similar cars as well as fleming and barrett jackson.. if you are prepared for the fight with the insurance company,, they will back down and do the right thing.. everything has a comp.. there are plenty of finished camaro"s for sale that will be close enough..if running into problems with them post here and we can help

[tylers88]

that sucks to hear, GL with the house, now you can build it to your prefered layout, about the only good thing from a house fire

[shortrack]

Wow!.....dont even know what to say...but you're right....there's a long road ahead.....time to be strong for your family:(:(

[1Bad68camaro]

They told me to start looking for a comparable car. So i'm looking for a completely rebuilt 68 Camaro. LSx powered, 6 speed, 4 link with coilovers, new paint, 4 wheel aftermarket disks, full autometer gauges, billit 17in wheels or bigger, all new interior, Ricks stainless tank with fuel injection conversion built in. Thats just the highlights to give an idea. Car was finally done and was about to start driving her. Cheapest car i've found comparible so far is $35k and they all sold fast. Most are around $40-$45k. Does that sound right? The insurance guy said they would be trying to find comparable cars for pricing as well, but I prefer to find my own references if I can find one set up the way I want it. Who knows, maybe they would pay for it... I want something basically like the list above, with high hopes of mini tub or backhalfed cars but with 18 or 20 inch wheels on back to keep the pro-touring look and not pro-street. I plan to drive it on weekends and someday on a power-tour. Thanks, T.

[67speedfreak]

Sorry to hear of your loss ! Glad you and your family are safe !

[67 ls1 vert]

Wow, this all sounds so familiar. Lost my house and cars too. Hard part of life. Remember to keep a cool head and stay close to your family as they need you to support them more than ever. GL

[MrQuick]

sorry to hear about your loss...glad you are all safe. I wonder about the batteries on all the stuff we recharge, something everyone should be aware of.

[Yelcamino]

So sorry to hear, especially since the source of the fire was a harmless battery charger! You're really fortunate the shotgun shells woke you up because a bad, inconvenient event could have been much, much worse! Good luck getting everything back to normal, hopefully USAA takes care of you without too much hassle!

[Gitter Dun]

Wow, sorry to hear. Glad you and your fanily are safe.

[Martin71RS]

glad to know you and your family got out safe!! things can be replaced..... still must be one of the worst things that can happen (besides health/life)...loosing everything you have....things like pictures that can't be replaced.... man, thinking about it gives me the creeps....

good luck, I hope the insurance won't make it even harder than it already is.
Martin

[John Wright]

Good grief, that is awful news. Glad that you had time for everyone to get outside. I'm sorry to hear about your house and everything else, just glad that you and the family were able to get out without any harm. <taking notes about keeping an eye on my battery chargers. I also have several cordless drill battery chargers hooked up so that I will always have a charged drill...I'm thinking twice about having all of that hooked up on a bench in my basement.

[surnufz]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I'm glad you were able to get your family to safety. Thanks for sharing your unfortunite experience with us. It made me think about times I left my garage with the battery charger going. I won't do that again! The best of luck to you and your family. I wish I could help in some way.

[CruizinKev]

OMG!!!! sorry to hear of your loss but glad to hear you all are safe!!!

[rocketrod]

Glad to hear everyone made it out safely!

[shortrack]

just to be clear, was the batt charger charging a battery overnight?????

maybe a lesson for us all

[Bryce]

Sorry for your loss, let us know if we can help.

[Bryce]

My wife's family is in Lake jackson. I might be able to coordinate something if needed.

[BuddyP]

time and time again I hear about house/garage fires starting from chargers.

Very horrible to hear, am at 8 years on my project and couldn't imagine all that time being waisted.

[Tango68SS]

They told me to start looking for a comparable car. So i'm looking for a completely rebuilt 68 Camaro. LSx powered, 6 speed, 4 link with coilovers, new paint, 4 wheel aftermarket disks, full autometer gauges, billit 17in wheels or bigger, all new interior, Ricks stainless tank with fuel injection conversion built in. Thats just the highlights to give an idea. Car was finally done and was about to start driving her. Cheapest car i've found comparible so far is $35k and they all sold fast. Most are around $40-$45k. Does that sound right? The insurance guy said they would be trying to find comparable cars for pricing as well, but I prefer to find my own references if I can find one set up the way I want it. Who knows, maybe they would pay for it... I want something basically like the list above, with high hopes of mini tub or backhalfed cars but with 18 or 20 inch wheels on back to keep the pro-touring look and not pro-street. I plan to drive it on weekends and someday on a power-tour. Thanks, T.

One Bad, as a fellow aviator, I am glad to hear that you and your family are safe! I will have you all in my prayers this Veteran's Day. ... Kinda funny how we Operators don't empty our Flight suit pockets, huh??

Anyway, I know USAA will take care of you. Is the Camaro insured w/ American Collectors via USAA? That is who I am with. They are the classic car insurer for USAA. They will cover you totally for your loss.

Tango Charlie

[Gandalf]

Sorry to hear of your loss and like others have said already - really glad to hear you and your family got out ok. I cannot imagine what it must be like. Wishing you all the very best.

G.

[68400BIRD]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Family is the most important thing right now. I'm glad everyone made it out safe. I know firsthand how it feels to loose a car in a fire. I lost mine but I did not have it insured for the latest bunch of upgrades and the new paint job. Don't rush into anything, just take your time and it will all work out in the end. Good Luck.

[ryeguy2006a]

I couldn't imagine what you are going through right now, but what is certain is that someone was looking out for you. A 5 minute time frame is cutting it pretty close. Good luck.

[85coupe50]

Sorry to hear about your loss... Glad that you and the Family got out safe. I am in Houston and if there is anything I can do to help PM me. I have a 5 year old and I know the first thing would be Wife and Daughter for me too.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Very sorry to hear about the loss but you got what was important out of the house 1st.. Hopefully the insurance will take care of you..

[analyte]

So sorry to hear this, especially this close to the holidays. Take care in knowing your family got out safe, all else can be replaced.

[BayouSS]

Sorry to hear about this, but very glad your family is ok.

[solarguy09]

I am so sorry for your Loss, and I am glad you and your family are Safe and Alive.

You know the mission is to be strong for your family and Look forward..

I have left chargers overnight. Many of us have. Know that with your story, your Beautiful car did not die in vain...You are saving someone else..

So as tragic as it is, thank you for your story.. It humbles me to my core, and remindes me of the electronics I leave unattended..

You have what is most important....The car would be nothing without them...

Glad you are OK...

[jr4452]

Sorry for your loss. Thank god you and your family made it out ok! Hopefully between insurance and B&D you'll get clos to what you have lost.

[cefboy]

Sorry for your loss.

[David Sloan]

So happy you an the family are safe, as others have said the other things can be replaced.

If we can help in any way just let me know.

[GaRys69]

So glad that you and your family were able to make it out safely.
I can not know what all your family must be dealing with or stressing over right now.
We will keep you all in our prayers.
Not sure what kind of help that I might be able to offer you,
we live in Montgomery are willing to help your family as needed to make it a little easier.
Real meals, transportation (going to be hard w/just the Vette), food or any other living supplys.
Stay strong, BUT Please let us know.

[cobragt]

Happy to hear your family is OK. The rest is replacable.

[tazzz25906112]

Wow glad to hear the family is OK because in the end that is the only important thing... I trust the future looks brighter knowing the family is OK and knowing it's just going to be dealing with the monetary loss you just experienced....
Lets hope the insurance doesn't do the usual "well this is worth this but because the cat fluffed the dog, and the dog looked at the pig....." we think it's worth that....

Seriously I hope the cars and house were well insured and they do the right thing here so that you and your family can get back to a normal life sooner than later.....

[SRD art]

Man that's too bad! Glad to hear the important things, i.e. your family, are safe. My best friend went through this about 3 years ago. Same thing, the garage started it all. He lost 3 vehicles and a bunch of stuff in the house. Looking back it all worked out and life was soon normal again. He's got a much nicer house now too. ;) Sorry you have to go through it but all will be well in time.

BTW He was there when the wrecking crews came in and he collected a bunch of the wiring and other things that he could recycle and made a few bucks before they hauled it all off.

[johnny68]

im very sorry for your loss but thankfull your family is safe , we went through the biggest fire in california about 8 years ago it was the cedar fire my inlaws a mile down from us lost everything. my house made it due to a neighbor staying and saving it but i had 3 fires on my property and my 3 neighbors lost everything. my inlaws have a list of important things to do if you go through a total loss ill try and get it for you .things like get a lawyer,never settle with insurance company at first they will low ball everything if you had one wrench say you had two etc.. also if your able to put a trailer on your property they will buy one and make the payments for a year or put you up in a rental house for a year, etc... ill find the list for ya.
john

[sixgunsblazing]

Glad to hear you and your family made it out safe.

Just something to remember when you are fighting with the insurance company, at least you are alive to do it and not someone from your estate.

[sanman]

DAM, breaks my heart to hear such a terrible scenario. You must think of what was saved! You would not trade your family for the lost stuff!! Life sure can throw us curve balls from time to time. Remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!! Good luck to you and your family. Keep us posted on your progress. And thank you for serving HAPPY VETRANS DAY. As happy as it can be right now.

Chris
Yorba Linda, CA

[robin93784]

So sorry for your loss!

[454bug]

Sorry to hear about your bad fortune... First priority is the safety of the family. I'm so glad to hear everyone got out safe.

My next door neighbor experienced the same thing about 4 years ago while charging one of his radio-controlled airplane batteries in his garage. He lost all of his toys as well as his whole home. Between the violent explosion of the LiPoly batteries and the burning of his RC airplane Nitro fuel, they also only had about 2-3 minutes to get the 5 people out of the front door in time! If you have good insurance, everything else (other than the pictures and keepsakes) can be replaced. Actually, my neighbor, 4 years later, has a much nicer house and more toys than ever!

Stay strong for your family and I'll say some prayers for you!

[shortrack]

Actually, my neighbor, 4 years later, has a much nicer house and more toys than ever!

Stay strong for your family and I'll say some prayers for you!

Yes to continue with this my ex brother & sister in laws 6 yr old daughter got a hold of a lighter & ended up burning the back half off the house...they were put up in a hotel for the better part of a year (it did become very tedious) but in the end every tv, lamp, piece of furniture, carpet, bed spread you name it was replaced because of being burnt or smoke damage and when done the house was totally fresh & never looked better!!!......so much so that they sold for top buck and moved to a nicer house......stay strong butha'!!!

[craigs73]

wow very sorry to hear this. atleas you all got out of the house. stay strong you will be in my prayers..... all the toys and other stuff can be replaced.. hope the insurance takes car of you guys... keep us updated

[SVTforme]

It is amazing how life can change in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Glad to here that everyone is OK. Definitely keep us posted.

[ModernMuseum]

Wow, that is terrible! I'm almost finished with my project and shudder to think of that happening. I am down near Sugar Land if you need help of some kind.

[rockytopper]

Our Local Fire dept burned to the ground last year with all the trucks inside. It was said that the cause was a Battery charger.
That sucks glad you and your family are ok.

[MonzaRacer]

OK first and fore most congrats on everyone safe. Second of all if you rebuild also look at sustainable, and newer tech for rebuilding like concrete walls. If you look at a show online, see if you can find Holmes On Homes Lien On Me. The house they replaced with was poured walls, in floor heat, solar water heater to lower costs, battery back ups.
ALSO in your shop treat it as if you were starting a business, chemicals in heavy fire proof cabinets, sprinkler system through out house, etc. REBUILD smart if you can over simply rebuilding same way.
Also make sure when you rebuild they build in FIRE BREAKS in the construction, these are dead spots that can be built into areas so section can only cause other sections to catch if some thing real bad like gas leak or extraordinary circumstances happen, then if it happens again, you may only loose a car or garage. Saw a house in California, sun porch gone, back room gone, one room upstairs nest to old tree burnt, garage burnt. Rest of house smelled of smoke but was liveable after a good clean and pain and one upper room blocked off. And this was through wild fires, also guy had drilled well so his house had a wetting system on it, oddly enough installed BEFORE he bought and he had been told reroof was gonna be $10k more if he kept it. Fire happened 3 wks later before he decided to remove it,,,now whole house has it.
Good luck on car find, honestly, find solid car base and replace all parts then have someone like Frank at Prodigy oe someone put it together so its fresh. you buy another "done "car then its not yours, its something you bought, and this time you could go back for more unique of you want.
How ever it goes good luck.
Lee

[DirtShark]

Sorry to hear this, family is ok that is the main thing. Material items can be replaced...

[AKlowriderZ71]

House fires are scary, good news that nobody got hurt. You've lost a lifetime collection of family photos & heirlooms that can never be replaced. Cars, trucks, and toys can. Hopefully the insurance company takes good care of you and your family.

[mc84_zz4]

Damn, sorry to hear about your losses, I am relieved to hear you have USAA, they take good care of their customers! With a bit of legwork, it should work out to your satisfaction.
The hard part is having the patience of a saint with all the little details.
I wish your family the best in getting things back to a routine.

[Motown 454]

I just saw this I'm sorry about your loss. Like every one said it can be replaced. You got the most important tihng out, the family.

[2nd Gen.Camaro_lover]

Sorry to hear about this, Im in Conroe and can help with transportation and if needed I have a empty 3000 sf building if you need storage for a while.

And if nothing else, im always looking for lunch conversation. Id be happy to buy if you need to vent.

Richard