How life can kick you in the guts.

**bob10** · 14th April 2017, 09:22 PM

Half time of the Broncos game, had a knock on the door. Next door neighbour saying can you ring the fire brigade, my house is on fire. Rang the brigade, ambulance, police. On questioning, found out his wife and daughter were not home, the old dog was outside. Went down the side of his house, the kitchen and ceiling was well ablaze. All we could do was stand outside and wait. The brigade arrived, and what a good job they did. He was in a state of extreme shock. The Ambo's sorted him, the police did their job with compassion, very impressed. Turns out Ed, his name, left his job to work alone. this meant he worked odd hours, with not much sleep. The one day he could have a beer, Good Friday, he had a couple with his mate, then put the chip oil on, sat in the comfy chair, fell asleep. The alarm woke him, the rest is history. They are renting, and we have offered a couple of rooms if needed, but their best friends are down the road. The point is, this has just about done my head in how your situation can change, so quickly. In your head, always have a plan B.

**V8Ian** · 15th April 2017, 05:46 AM

Life can be a bit of a bugger sometimes Bob, but when it gives you a kick in the guts you might also see how good it can be.
Old mate can be grateful that the alarm woke him, his family and dog are safe. Houses can be repaired.
He can see the care and compassion offered by strangers and above all what a fantastic and generous neighbours he has with you living next door.

**JDNSW** · 15th April 2017, 05:55 AM

Yes, reminds me of about three years ago - my son phoned me to say "my house is on fire". Saturday morning he and his wife went down the street to get stuff for lunch, leaving four kids, a dog and a ferret in charge of the teenage daughter. Came home to find the twelve year old had called 000 and organised evacuation after the smoke alarm went off. (fifteen year old in charge panicked!) The house and nearly all contents were destroyed. Cause of the fire was never confirmed, but an eight year old playing with matches is the prime suspect. It started inside a built in wardrobe in the main bedroom.

**bob10** · 15th April 2017, 08:05 AM

My wife and I were just wondering how he stood legally. Last night he gave a statement to police he had a couple of beers, put the stove on, then fell asleep. It's a rental property, can the owner sue him? He remains in hospital under observation.

**V8Ian** · 15th April 2017, 08:19 AM

I don't think so Bob, there was no intent. The property will be insured and if the insurance company tried to sue, the adverse publicity would probably cost more than they recovered.

**bob10** · 15th April 2017, 08:45 AM

Hope so, his head isn't in a good place at the moment. His wife seems to be strong, the little girl I'm not sure. They would have lost most of their stuff from smoke damage, I think. The owners haven't turned up yet. Or the real estate people. I'm off to buy some more smoke alarms for our house this morning. Talking to my other neighbour, Dennis the truckie, he made a valid point. Young Ed has been working his guts out, trying to get ahead, and the arsehole one up from him has upset everyone in the street, involved in drugs, ferals and the rest, Ed cops this, arsehole just rolls along as usual. He rolled up whilst we were waiting for the fire truck, I wasn't in the mood for him, told him exactly what was going to happen to him if he didn't scurry back home. He scurried, and didn't show his face again.

**bob10** · 16th April 2017, 07:37 AM

Things are looking brighter. Ed's wife had organised insurance, and insurance is paying for 7 days in a B & B at Shorncliffe.The owners of the house actually live next to the wife's sister, that's how they got the rental. All good there. I believe the owners insurance is organising cleaning and repair of the house. So, the best of a bad situation, and life goes on. Oh, and Ed is banned from the kitchen. For good. Found out what he does for a living- he is a concrete tester. New one on me, he says there is more work than he can handle. Another thing he said, was a lot of the houses built about 10 years ago had inferior foundations, the builders cut corners with the quality of the concrete. Costing people a lot of money to get it fixed. He's been working at the Airport, testing at the new terminal site, down the coast, up the coast, all over. Concrete tester, whoda thought.

**incisor** · 16th April 2017, 08:30 AM

good to hear it should be a reasonably happy outcome...!

you fitted those new smoke alarms Bob?

**87County** · 16th April 2017, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by bob10

.......... Concrete tester, whoda thought.

..... an important job when money is concerned - too easy to add extra sand and water to the mix.

Good to read that things look like working out for Ed

**trog** · 16th April 2017, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by 87County

..... an important job when money is concerned - too easy to add extra sand and water to the mix.

Good to read that things look like working out for Ed

Cheap imported steel ang local concrete , disposable buildings to match the rest of our stuff. I certainly hope the smoke detectors are manufactured with a degree of longevity. What ever happened to the ads reminding us to replace the betteries every year , April first I think ?
Tested mine the other night when the breeze blew the bbq smoke in for a bit. A new battery WILL be on the next shopping list.

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