my next door neighbor's house just burned down

I was sitting here like I do often, with the TV on and reading the twinstuff forums, when I heard this big thunder, and I got up and looked out the window and saw the next door neighbor's roof in flames! So scary, especially since I'm in a garden home so the houses are about 10 feet apart. Her roof/attic was struck by the lightening. What's even scarier is as soon as I saw it I yelled "THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE IS ON FIRE!" twice and my dh didn't respond, so I went to see where he was, I thought he might be in the bathroom. He was in OUR ATTIC!! To think that lightening had just hit an attic only 10 feet away is so scary, we are so lucky it wasn't our house. A single woman lives next door, she wasn't home and her house is destroyed. My husband ran over to her house with our fire distinguisher while I called 911, but it was a big fire, there was nothing he could do. There are still fire trucks and policemen all in front of my house and all down our street, along with news reporters. My husband had to leave to go back to the police academy so my parents are coming over to help me evaluate if the smoke in my house is too much for me to stay here this week. I am sort of scared to stay here alone now. I am glad she doesn't have any pets, I just keep thinking what would happen if I was gone somewhere and my house burned down. I can't believe this happened to my neighbor! And no one on our street knows her last name or any contact info for her!!!

 

Oh that is such a shame. It really does make you think, what if it had been my house.

My Aunts house caught on first last week, and her house is destroyed (they think it was burglary and arson), and I kept saying to DH what if it was us, what would we do.

Hopefully your house is okay to stay in.

 

I'm sooo sorry. We lost everything back in 2000, and my husband barely got out. It was a very emotional time for us. I would say stay with a friend for a few days till the house is able to air out.

 

QUOTE(pdxpeach @ Aug 26 2007, 08:38 PM) [snapback]381187[/snapback]
I'm sooo sorry. We lost everything back in 2000, and my husband barely got out. It was a very emotional time for us. I would say stay with a friend for a few days till the house is able to air out.



Yikes how scary. I'm sorry you lost everything, but glad your DH made it out.

 

A house fire is one of my nightmares. I seriously pray that will never happen. I had a friend when I was little who's house burned down, and I remember standing there watching it with them. I hope she is emotionally OK.

Our house was struck by lightening the other night. It only blew out the computer and part of our electricity. Thank goodness (probably because my 6 year old prayed the entire time of the storm- she's scared to death of storms.)

 

How frightening! I honestly don't know how I would cope with seeing that while pregnant. Its one of my greatest fears.

A few years ago, a house in my neighborhood burned down (electrical fire). It triggered several intense anxiety attacks followed by obsessive compulsive behavior that took me several months to get over. At the time, I was running 30-40 miles per week, and changed all of my running routes so I wouldn't have to run by the burned down house, and still I'd find myself running home in the middle of my run to check and make sure my house and my dogs were okay.

I hope your neighbor has good insurance, and also that she'll be able to salvage some of her keepsakes and memories. I will say a prayer for her today.

 

That must have been so scary for you! :hug99:

 

How scary!! I hope that your house is okay to stay in.

 

That is scary. When I was 19, my parents house caught fire. We lost everything. It sad when you think about all the heirlooms you will never get back, pictures and memories.