randy 13
Member
We came home Friday night to our smoke detectors going off and the smell of smoke outside our home. We called 911 and 40 minutes later the volunteer fire department showed up (that's the big disadvantage to living out in the country).
Another fire department (not volunteer) also arrived.
The fire was already out by the time we got home.
I had a 90 gallon reef in my office (3rd floor) and the power strip (won't say which one right now until the fire investigator determines that is for sure what caused it) caught fire and never flipped off. In fact, when we went into that room after the fire, the power strip was still in the reset position and not the off position. The fire spread through the office and blew out the window, which in turn caused the door to shut (which kept the fire from spreading). The aquarium (acrylic) melted away and put out the fire.
The office is a total loss. We have holes in the floor, fax/printer is melted, tv melted, plastic floor protector melted to carpet, light switches melted, desk burned, etc.
The rest of the house has extensive smoke damage. New carpet needed through entire 3 floors, and they're not sure if any bedroom or living room furniture is salvageable. The cieling in the living room (2nd floor) is black, kitchen floor is black, furniture is black, shower and bathtub are black, etc.
They will pack up all my belongings and take them to their warehouse for cleaning. We will not be able to move back in for 6-8 weeks. My youngest (7) daughter's room was next to the office. She hasn't seen the house and I don't intend to let her. She doesn't need to see it. She's already very upset that her stuffed animals will not be able to be cleaned.
My oldest daughter (14) is hoping for new clothes. Typical teenager.
The power was off for about 20 hours. We only lost a flame angel out of the other 90 reef. But we only had 4 fish at the time anyway and all were very small. We lost several frogspawns and possibly both fleshy limpets.
The 55 fish only looked worse because it had a black skim on top of the water. We lost all 5 green chromis and a couple of firefish. But our breeding tomato clowns are good.
We added magnums filled with carbon and a filter pad to both tanks and they did much better.
I know my insurance policy says "animals" are not covered so I am thinking nothing in the demolished tank is going to be replaced. But I know they'll replace the tank, filter, etc.
At first the fireman said the powerstrip was overloaded. But I asked my husband (who is an electrician) and he said that in no way was it overloaded. Not only did we only have 4 items plugged into an 8 item powerstrip but those items don't pull a lot of juice. Plus the strip never flipped off. Instead, our breakers flipped.
If the investigator does determine it was the powerstrip, I will let you all know because this is powerstrip was manufactured by an aquarium related mfg. company.
All other pets are fine - which shocks me because when we opened the door the cat came running to us from upstairs where the worst of the smoke was...and the white on him is now dark grey. The dog was accidentally left outside so he wasn't in and he has breathing problems so the smoke would have really hurt him. The two baby bunnies were in the basement behind a closed door so they are good too. But the poor fish and corals boiled to death in the burned out room.
Thank God for insurance.
Another fire department (not volunteer) also arrived.
The fire was already out by the time we got home.
I had a 90 gallon reef in my office (3rd floor) and the power strip (won't say which one right now until the fire investigator determines that is for sure what caused it) caught fire and never flipped off. In fact, when we went into that room after the fire, the power strip was still in the reset position and not the off position. The fire spread through the office and blew out the window, which in turn caused the door to shut (which kept the fire from spreading). The aquarium (acrylic) melted away and put out the fire.
The office is a total loss. We have holes in the floor, fax/printer is melted, tv melted, plastic floor protector melted to carpet, light switches melted, desk burned, etc.
The rest of the house has extensive smoke damage. New carpet needed through entire 3 floors, and they're not sure if any bedroom or living room furniture is salvageable. The cieling in the living room (2nd floor) is black, kitchen floor is black, furniture is black, shower and bathtub are black, etc.
They will pack up all my belongings and take them to their warehouse for cleaning. We will not be able to move back in for 6-8 weeks. My youngest (7) daughter's room was next to the office. She hasn't seen the house and I don't intend to let her. She doesn't need to see it. She's already very upset that her stuffed animals will not be able to be cleaned.
My oldest daughter (14) is hoping for new clothes. Typical teenager.
The power was off for about 20 hours. We only lost a flame angel out of the other 90 reef. But we only had 4 fish at the time anyway and all were very small. We lost several frogspawns and possibly both fleshy limpets.
The 55 fish only looked worse because it had a black skim on top of the water. We lost all 5 green chromis and a couple of firefish. But our breeding tomato clowns are good.
We added magnums filled with carbon and a filter pad to both tanks and they did much better.
I know my insurance policy says "animals" are not covered so I am thinking nothing in the demolished tank is going to be replaced. But I know they'll replace the tank, filter, etc.
At first the fireman said the powerstrip was overloaded. But I asked my husband (who is an electrician) and he said that in no way was it overloaded. Not only did we only have 4 items plugged into an 8 item powerstrip but those items don't pull a lot of juice. Plus the strip never flipped off. Instead, our breakers flipped.
If the investigator does determine it was the powerstrip, I will let you all know because this is powerstrip was manufactured by an aquarium related mfg. company.
All other pets are fine - which shocks me because when we opened the door the cat came running to us from upstairs where the worst of the smoke was...and the white on him is now dark grey. The dog was accidentally left outside so he wasn't in and he has breathing problems so the smoke would have really hurt him. The two baby bunnies were in the basement behind a closed door so they are good too. But the poor fish and corals boiled to death in the burned out room.
Thank God for insurance.
