The house next door burned today

- we had a terrible lightening storm earlier in the day - and evidently it hit a tree that collapsed through the roof of the house right next door.

We'd heard the strike - scared the bejeezus out of us - looked out the window and thought wow - that was LOUD. About 10 minutes later, my phone rang. It was a friend of mine asking - "are you at home?".

Of course I'm at home I answered the phone, duh.

"Well - my husband is knocking on your door and ringing your doorbell."

"huh? No he's not. Why would he be doing that?" (As I look outside in the pouring rain...)

Calmly she says, "Well, he called me and said your house was on fire..."

WHAT?????

I see his truck next door - he had the wrong house - and my son and I ran outside - the house next door was in flames. My son totally freaks because he thinks the dogs are in the house - he starts throwing rocks through the window- after he figures out he can't break down the door (he's 12) - I ran around back to look through the back door - but the dogs weren't anywhere to be seen. The neighbors are away on vacation - normally *we'd* be watching the dogs but with our impending move, she said she was going to get a family friend to watch them instead.....

At least the firemen "rescued" the classic corvette" from their garage - and tried to salvage the guys guitars - he's a musician and had an extensive collection.

The entire roof is gone and the 2nd floor is falling onto the first floor. What isn't burned is waterlogged or smoke damaged.

What a freaking nightmare.

We've still not gotten in touch with them. We've left messages everywhere we can think of but still have heard nothing. I can't imagine coming "home" to this. What a travesty.

I just needed to share - and to let people know -

A) Make SURE your insurance is UP TO DATE;

B) Make SURE your neighbors have EMERGENCY numbers for you, for your family, and/or where you're going or something!

They were on vacation with their 4 kids and their home burned down. It was tragic, especially when they got home and saw what happened. I remember them sifting through the ashes, trying to rescue anything they could.
Now, whenever I go on vacation, I think of what might await me when I return.:-(

Glad you're okay, and your tips are valuable-thanks.

I remember one time when I was a kid, we were leaving on vacation. We were about 1 1/2 miles from the house and my mother suddenly could not remember if she had turned the iron off or not. So back we head to check. She indeed HAD turned off the iron. Had she not and had we not gone back, the house probably would have been gone when we returned.

At least we were not farther away at the time.

Sorry for your neighbors. I hope you or someone can get in touch with them to ease the shock when they return.

though we - and the neighbors on the other side - worried for a while.

It seemed to take FOREVER for the firetrucks to get there and get set up. Flames were shooting out the windows not 30 yds from my house - and there are lots of trees around/between our houses! At least it had been raining like a b---- for a while so the trees were less likely to catch fire from a spark. The fence on the other side caught fire briefly but they got that out right away.

The firedept is getting ready to leave. They've been here since around 4:00. There's more storms on the way tonight - and still lightening a bit. The boys want to sleep "downstairs" like we do when it's really bad weather - so I'm thinking it's campout in the living room time. They're pretty upset by all this, too.

was real close to its neighbors. Chicago city lots are not wide. Flames like that would have taken out other houses.

Yeah, I think a living room campout tonight is a good idea. The fire next door and continuing storms would upset me, too.

I'm recommending because there may be a DUer out there that could use your advice regarding insurance and emergency numbers. Glad all is well at your house. :thumbsup:

it had a tree come thru one side of the roof from Katrina. Another tree came thru the opposite side of the roof from Rita.

We'd just gotten all of that rebuilt, buttoning up the last little bit, when an attic fan caught brush (from a squirrel's mischief) on fire in the attic. My partner caught it just as it was licking thru the ceiling sheetrock, so it didn't burn the house down fortunately, but it did do about 15k in damage.

The folks who owned the house have decided to sell, something doesn't want them in Louisiana.

even more so because this is a young couple. They have a 2 yo son. The dad was just starting his own business working out of his house! - in addition to his musician gigs.....

It really sucks.