Hi. I just need to vent a little...

Last Monday about 130pm. I left my house for 4-5 minutes to ship some stuff at Post office...2 blocks away. I came home to my house on fire. I ran in and up the stairs to find my cat on the bathtub looking into the smoke (fire in bathroom)...I really didn't see fire just alittle glint of orange...Waist up full of black smoke. My dogs (Lab/Fox Hound & Golden Retriever) were in our bedroom...Complete opposite of bathroom. (2 rooms between them)...I called them & called them...They woldn't come..I couldnt see. I ran out called 911...Went back in for them and screamed and screamed. I went in the house at least 4 times until water started coming thru kitchen ceiling (bathroom above).

Fire chief said it took them 9 mins. from call to them being there...I live 5 houses from fire hall. Basically we lost everything that mattered to us...My 2 beautiful dogs died as they slept from smoke poisoning under my bed. I am sick. I am beside myself. My daughter was at school. My husband was at school/work.

I had 2 candles burning. 1 in bathroom 1 in dining room. I blew out bathroom & put lid on dining room one. They were both Yankee. When I lit it it was pretty close to being 'out'...I figured I would just let it burn itself out then throw it away. How i wish i would have just thrown it away and didn't light it. Here is another whole thing... that candle was about 5 yrs. old and i never lit until just recently..I don't know if the glass could have weakened over that time????

The fire chief said, after I blew it out it was probably still so hot it broke out the bottom of the glass...the wax dripped onto our towels and that is how it started. There is totally no bathroom but the whole upstairs is smoke damaged. 1st floor & basement water damaged.

If you ever think of all the chemicals you have in the bathroom...My husband has a cool water cologne collection going on, I had a couple perfumes. My daughter has braces so she has that special peroxyl mouthwash.

I did get my turtle out of the tank in the dining room. The cat was later found in the basement. But no one can make me feel better about my dogs. I can't believe they have been gone a week now. i can't shut my eyes at night. I cry whenever i think of them. It makes me sick. They were both only 2 yrs. old. I feel so bad I did this to them. I wish I would have been home. I knew where our fire exstinguishers are. Even if it started and we still lost everything...Maybe the I could have gottne my dogs. They like to nap as any dog does...So I just hope they never knew what hit them. I love them so much. They are missed very very much.

We do have a pet funeral/cremetory here. We got to view them on Wed. They were gorgeous (they weren't burned or anything like that-fire never left the bathroom). They were later cremated. They are now back with me.

We lost all our clothing...Next to the bathroom was our computer room. (1 desktop). I sell on ebay...So it had many many items in there...(we lost our home and business). My daughters door was shut so she has smoke damage on many items, but her room is the only room upstairs that is not black. Our bedroom was destroyed. Our window was open and probably pulled the fire right thru the house. We had a flat screen tv, blu ray player, ps3, directv tivo box, and 2 laptops in our room. Mine was open and basically right in the doorway since I had been working on ebay and was only leaving for a few minutes. My daughters laptop & desktop made it (we think). You don't know what you got going until you are living out of garbage bags and boxe of stuff that is just ruined. You can't touch anything without being black.

My hands will still not come clean. We have been tyring to get out of the house what we can.I am 27, my husband 29 our daughter 8. My mother owned the house...She had ins. on the house and appliances. But we didn't have renters ins. So we have nothing. Our bedroom furniture is gone...as is our couch. We have the dining room set, china cupboard, dishwasher, fridge, & oven left. and Cal's bedroom set.

Everyone wants to help us...there is nothing they can do. They want to give us money and stuff and I just don't want it...I jsut want to go home. I just want my dogs. I shut my eyes and I can see them or I relive that day when I was screaming for them.

My poor cat is like a vampire now. He only comes out of the basement at night. He lost his 2 best friends. He now lives with my moms toothless cat who growls at him. He was once a very vocal loving playful cat. He is just a baby too...They all grew up together...They were all 2 yrs. old.

My poor dogs trusted me to protect them and love them forever and i'm the idiot who lights the candle and they die. Everyone tells me not to blame myself...but how can't you? I just want them back. Why did I have to leave at that time? They say God does everything for a reason...But why this? what did i do so wrong that He had to take my dogs away? So beautiful and playful and lovable. They meant the world to all of us.

All of my duaghters Webkinz (about 35 that still had tags got ruined in the coputer room -the covetted Love Puppy & Sherbert Bunny that I wold never let her register) are now black. I ruined all of our lives.

We are staying with my mother...She is making me more than crazy. I have been washing clothes that were in the dressers...The smell won't come out..i'm washing the same things at least 3 times.

Anyone know what I can do to get the smoke smell out? I know certain fabrics it just in't going to come out of?

We had tickets to see the musical Wicked on Wed. night and just didn't go. We had Steelers tickets for tonight..I made my husband go and he took his brother. I just want my dogs. I know i've said that so many times...but the pet owners out there understand.

My daughter goes to a small private school and they are absolutely wonderful. They have been very supportive and I'm very glad we have htem.

sorry this is so long..But it is good to get it out...

Everyone please pray for us...We need it right now.
~Christy

Christy-- You and your family are in my prayers. I'm so sorry about your beloved dogs! Please don't blame yourself - no one else does.

I'm so sorry to hear about this. It's a very tragic and stressful time right now. Don't blame yourself though. Accidents happen and it sounds like you did what any of us might have done. Be thankful that you have your own life, your husbands and your daughters! Family friends of ours lost their 4 or 5 yr old daughter (I was only 7 or so at the time) when her mom stepped out of the kitchen for a minute and little Janie pulled a chair up to the stove and her nightgown caught on fire. She lived a few days in the burn unit. Very sad. So hang in there! Things will get better and try not to blame yourself. I will say some prayers for you and your family!* I'm sure this is pretty similar to the stress felt by all the flood victims here in the midwest. Some friends of mine had two hours to try to get as much out as they could before they lost their house and everything that was left. I understand your stress! God Bless You and keep us posted on your progress!

Oh my gosh - I don't even know what to say. I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. At least the dogs were with each other and not alone when it happened. It's not your fault but guilt is part of the grieving process. You'll likely have lots of ups and downs in the weeks to come. I will keep you in my prayers.

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Hi Everyone. Thank you for the nice words...The dogs (Cesar-Yellow Lab/Fox Hound Mix) we had since he was a puppy. Roxy (Golden Retriever) was my friends dog who moved far away and didn't want to take her...At 1yr. she had lived in 4 houses. I think ours was her 1st real home and believe me we treated them like best friends. We always picked them up something when we went to the store, they went for rides, they went to grammas for sunday dinners. They were our babies. I am glad they are together like igotscammed said. I would have horrible if I could have only gotten 1 out.

Why couldn't they have been downstairs eating? or even awake to know something was wrong and get downstairs? Why didn't I leave them out in their run to go to the bathroom. It just kills me. At least they are home now and I will always have them with me...Butwe all know that isn't how it is supposed to be. Breaks my heart so badly.

Well...We do have a kind of update...We were already in the process of remodeling a house 2 blocks fromhouse fire house. It is across the street from my moms (she bought this one too--so i have to make sure to get renters ins!). Um. there is only 2 bedrooms (our house had 3)...So we were goin gto do an addition for 3rd bedroom & make kitchen below larger...So now they are speeding up our remodeling...We may be in the hous eby Thursday. on blowup matresses. but it will be good to be out of a house with 3 more people when you are used to doing things your way. It will never be the same...We always talked about how they would sit at the bottom of the steps and watch grammas house.

I don't know what the cat thinks is going on--poor guy. Like I said before...He lost his best friends. His playmates. I don't think i'm rushing it...but I want a dog by christmas time. I would take one right now if i could.

The next day (Tues)...I loaded up their treats and their iams food and took it all to the Humanes Society. Those guys need it more than I do. I walked in and cried. I couldn't talk.

I had to get the cat groomed from the smoke on his fur...the groomer cried cause Cesar & Roxie had just been there on Thursday..I can't believe it has been a week and my babies are gone. I just do know I gave them above and beyond how some people treat others. My dogs were well loved and I hope they passed knowing that. I hope they are running and are happy. I can't wait to be with them again. I hope they are waiting for us when we get there. I'm sure Cesar is growling cause Roxie is touching him. I think of them and smile...or I cry. I try to go to sleep at night and I see their beautiful baby faces...Or I relive screaming for them.

I have to just move on...i'm not getting them back. Our hearts will be broken for awhile.

Thank you everyone. I will let you know what is goin on as I figure it out...

What a horrible day that must have been for you, and probably the days to follow even worse. So sorry for your puppies-that is very sad. Just give your daughter an extra hug and be thankful that this didn't happen in the evening when you all would have been home together. Also, accept the help that ppl are offering you. They wouldn't offer if they didn't want to, and they are probably feeling a little useless right now, while you have so much going on. I am not fussing at you, but also use this opportunity to "shout out" to the world to get renter's insurance. It is so cheap. I am glad that you have a new house to move into so soon. Just take it one day at a time. Lynne

OMG.. I am so sorry Christy!!

Your tragedy make me think of our yellow lab that died in our car (it was an accident, he was shut in there by my then 5 yo) very late one night and we didn't know he was in the van until the next day...

It is so heartbreaking. I can truly understand your pain. This has been almost 9 years and I still feel Buddy at my feet when I am in bed. He was totally my dog. The only thing I wish is that we had either buried him in the back yard or brought his ashes home from the vet when we brought him there. I do not have any where to go to mourn him or to remember him (only my memories).

I hope that things get better for you and that the road to recovery is easy to begin and endure for you all. (((((HUGS)))))

Christy,
I am so sorry this has happened to you and your family. I do know what you are going thru. My DH and I had a fire in our home not long after we were married and we lost pretty much everything. The things that were salvaged smelled so much like smoke, they were hardly worth keeping. We also lost our puppy. She was found with her head up against our bedroom door trying (I guess) to breathe in fresh air. That was over 30 years ago and still to this day, I hate the sound of a fire truck.

As for the smell of smoke in things, we ended up throwing away all our clothes. No matter how much we washed them, the smell was there, especially after it rained and dampness was in the air. Unless it's something you really want to keep, most things that are cloth really aren't worth the effort. We did salvage our wedding album. (it was in the closed bedroom).

I know your heart is breaking. If you need someone to talk to, IM me. I really do know what you are going thru.

P.S. As for candles, yes, when it stays never leave them unattended, they're right. Not long ago, I was sitting at the computer with a candle burning in the kitchen. I noticed a huge flame. (It was a Home Interior candle). The candle had gotten to the bottom of the glass container but for some reason, instead of going out, it was fueling itself by the wax somehow, I don't know. I jumped up and put a cooking lid over it and the flame died out. It had gotten so hot that it had already burned my countertop. Had it been near something cloth or had I been out of the room, it would have caught my kitchen on fire. Now I put something like a heat protective plate on the bottom of a candle and blow it out when I leave the room. You just never know.....

Christy...my prayers are with you and your family. What a horrible thing to go through.

Oh Christy, I am so sorry for your loss. I wish no one ever had to deal with a house fire and losing all that is dear to them, especially beloved pets. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

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I went through this a year ago this November. I had a candle lit in the evening. Blew it out before dinner & then went to bed. I woke up to the fire alarm, opened my bedroom door and realized my house was full of smoke. My DH was away on business and thank God my 3 children were all sleeping in my bed so we were able to go out my window. We too lost everything but it has been a year now and we have been able to recoup. We rebuilt our home and little by little things are normal again.
I know your feelings of guilt as I felt like I had done this to my family also. It was an accident and people have them all of the time. You are okay, your DH is okay and your DD is okay. I am sorry about your dogs, they wouldn't blame you though and they know that you love them.
I am looking into being a volunteer for people who have had fires to just help them out in those 1st few weeks to try and get a handle on everything. I totally relate to the living out of bags/boxes with everything black. It will get better. PM me if you wantto talk.

I am so sorry for the loss of your house and pets. I can't imagine what your going through. Accidents happen and that's why we call them accidents. It wasn't your fault anything can happen at any time. I am sorry.

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You and your family are in my prayers.

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Brenda

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I am so sorry. One of my DD's classmates lost their house not too long ago. They left for a short while and came back to a house engulfed in flames. The investigators determined it was due to a bathroom fan being left on and overheating. I have heard of this happening with ceiling fans too. You just never know. My heart goes out to you. Hugs.

Sending my prayers out to you and your family.

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We're off to never never land

Sending out prayers to your family.

peapie

That is just horrible. I am so sorry. It just amazes me how quickly things can go downhill. Be thankful for what you have , and know that you have alot of prayers being said for you. Wish there was something more I could do.

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I am so sorry!

I can't even begin to imagine what you and your family are going through

My prayers are with you all.

On a positive note, you have no idea what a service you have done by sharing your story. I'm sure all of us will be a little more careful with candles burning in our homes.

HOney your in my paryers . I wish I could hug you right now.

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Christy,
I am so sorry to read about your terribly sad mishap. I, too, would be devastated with the loss of a beloved pet. I know you feel a sense of guilt, but try hard to let that go as it was an accident. I think you need to go out and get a puppy to help ease your healing process. I try to put myself in your shoes, and I think that it would help me.

Very recently, we lost half of our house due to a flood. It has been devastating, but thankfully, no one was hurt and we didn't lose our dog. As bleak as it looks at times, I try real hard to look at the positive. Take it day by day; slowly things will get better. Keep us updated on your move to the other house.

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Christy
I am so sorry to hear about what has happened to you and your family. There are no words that I can say to make things better but know this that there are people out there in the world that you will never meet that are thinking about you and lifting you and your family up in prayers. May God bless you.
Robin

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Christy...I am sorry to hear about the recent events in your life. Know that we are all praying for you and your family.

HI Everyone.

Everything is still upside down...We are kind of 'moved in' to the house we were renovating. Air mattresses & borrowed dressers, stand up closets (those $20 ones with the zippy plastic).

Stuff everywhere...Stuff still down the other house that is "junk" to my mother & everyone else & just throw it away...Just throw away the dog beds (which are fine), throw away their puppy blankets. They just want to throw away everythign...and I swear my mother likes my fiance way more than me...if it is mine it gets thrown away, if it is bob's he gets asked. Same thing with him. He is all for throwing all my stuff away and keeping stupid crap from high school like some old Wheaties box or even freakin golf balls that are a dime a doz. & he hasn't golfed in a few years. But they'll throw all my stuff away. Who know what got thrown out when his family was helping us the day house caught on fire. Yes, glad they showed up...But come on, you just don't throw peoples stuff away...And no, I can't be in 4 different rooms at once when people are just tossing...Stuff got thrown away from the computer desk that who knows what it was. Just throw it all away.

(yes, I know i'm complaining--and i"m sorry==but everyone is making me crazy).

My mother has taken anything in her house that was ours and threw it in bags and dumped it in the living room of the new house...yeah i know she don't want her house a mess but come on.

I still miss my dogs terribly. I hope they are being good dogs up in Heaven. I hope they are watching over us and know how much we miss them.

I just want to 'go home'. They dug the basement for our addition yesterday...Hit the basement wall and it knocked a nice size hole...that they left for us to board up.

I have the school bakesale coming up and i'm in charge. I have to start getting that in order. My life is so crazy. Tomorrow will be 2 wks. I can't believe my dogs have been gone for 2 wks. I would give anything I could to have them laying beside me now. I miss them so much.

I don't even know what else to say right now. My life is just crazy and I want to run away.

My prayers are with you and your family.

It sounds like you are extremely traumatized. Perhaps you can look into counseling, too. I am saying this because I care. I hope things get better for you...

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