Tragedy in Stamford: House Fire

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much to the PPs who offered their own personal experiences - we don't have a fireplace (which usually bums me out) but I will look at this tragedy as an impetus to get backup smoke alarms and think more carefully about fire safety.

To the PP who questioned whether the interest in this story is class-oriented: I don't think so. I think the details of this awful event, with a woman's three children AND her parents killed, would have drawn attention no matter what. Add to that the fact that her father was a Macy's Santa AND a safety expert, and it's totally understandable why there is such interest.

[Anonymous]

We just moved into a house in DC with a fireplace. We came from a house in California with a faux fireplace which you turned on with a switch. Once we got here it was pretty clear the owner's before us never used the fireplace. My husband was so excited to use it but I just haven't felt comfortable with it -- now I never will. Horrible story.

[Anonymous]

7:58, I'm glad you and your family were able to make it out unscathed. Thanks for sharing your story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:58, I'm glad you and your family were able to make it out unscathed. Thanks for sharing your story.

Ditto!

[Anonymous]

my father once collected 2 day old ashes in his hands, put them into a paper bag and put them in the garage. several hours later, he said he felt a need to open the door to the garage - not for anything in particular - just felt a need to check the ashes. and the bag was on fire. we had a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and he was able to put the fire out.

[Anonymous]

There are tragic fires all the time in row houses in DC and Baltimore, and no one starts threads about those incidents. Sure this one in Stamford is awful, but no less devastating than the ones around here. Once again this incident is garnering more attention from the press simply b/c those people had money.

[Anonymous]

something is really messed up with this whoe situation. When it is all over, someone is up to no good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much to the PPs who offered their own personal experiences - we don't have a fireplace (which usually bums me out) but I will look at this tragedy as an impetus to get backup smoke alarms and think more carefully about fire safety.

To the PP who questioned whether the interest in this story is class-oriented: I don't think so. I think the details of this awful event, with a woman's three children AND her parents killed, would have drawn attention no matter what. Add to that the fact that her father was a Macy's Santa AND a safety expert, and it's totally understandable why there is such interest.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:something is really messed up with this whoe situation. When it is all over, someone is up to no good

I understand your skepticism, but I think this is one of those situations where someone made a tragic and innocent mistake for which the mother is going to be suffering for the rest of her life. So unspeakably sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why would anyone attempt to remove hot ashes from the fireplace? What reason could there have possibly been? You let the fire die in the fireplace and remove the ashes when they accumulate periodically, when they are cold. Is this tragedy the result of stupidity? Am I missing something here?

I did it. I actually ran my fingers through the ashes to make sure they were cold before I put them in the trash. And I burned our garage down. Thankfully, we had fire alarms and everyone got out of the house quickly. The fire department was at our house in two and a half minutes. Had it not been for their quick response, our house would have been a total loss.

I had used one of those chemical starter logs to get the fire going. According to the firefighters, pieces of those logs can stay hot for more than 24 hours. When I ran my hand through the cold ashes, I just didn't feel the lone piece of still hot starter.

It was horrible. If anything had happened to anyone in the house, I'm not sure how I could have gone on living. The guilt from the fire alone just about destroyed me for a long time.

I can't even imagine the families pain. I pray they all somehow eventually find peace.

scary story, but still pretty stupid (no offense meant). Please, never ever ever remove hot ashes from a fireplace unless you are burying in a firepit in your yard. Fireplaces are NOT dangerous, they are wonderful. Keep the chimney swept periodically, get smoke detectors, practice normal fire safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The house is new construction and cost $2 Mil!!
New houses burn much easier than old houses.
I cannot help but wonder if this would have made the news if it had been a smaller income family in a smaller house. I guess when something happens to those with money it becomes front page news

It was an old house undergoing renovations. My brother was high school friends in the early 80s with the son of the previous owners and has spent many nights in the home. It 's a tragedy. It's a good reminder to learn fire safety and check your home's smoke detectors and CO monitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And you know what? I bet this poor woman read about the tragedy involving the woman who drove the wrong way down a highway in New York, killing herself, her daughter and her three nieces and thought, "wow, that is tragic but that will never happen to me." Folks, smart people do dumb things all the time. So, thanks to the pp who took the time to tell us about smart fire behavior.

Um, the lady who drove the wrong way down the highway didn't make a dumb mistake. She was blind drunk and high. The situations aren't remotely comparable.

[Anonymous]

Very sad story...

And remember to have your chimmney swept...and use good wood!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The house is new construction and cost $2 Mil!!
New houses burn much easier than old houses.
I cannot help but wonder if this would have made the news if it had been a smaller income family in a smaller house. I guess when something happens to those with money it becomes front page news

Don't forget that they are white. That counts for a lot here. The story would have been on the news 24/7 if the victims were young, attractive, wealthy white people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The house is new construction and cost $2 Mil!!
New houses burn much easier than old houses.
I cannot help but wonder if this would have made the news if it had been a smaller income family in a smaller house. I guess when something happens to those with money it becomes front page news

No, that is wrong, why do you make such statements? The house was 2600 square feet and from the 19th century!!!!
So much for 'new houses burn easier'!! I suspect a new house would have had a gas fireplace most likely anyway.
It was 1.7 mil due to location. 1.7 mil does not buy the perfect move in ready home in that part of CT. They were doing major remodeling for months and had not finished.

Also of course it would have made the news if 5 ppl tragically perish on christmas morning, no matter their size house or income ir whatever, are you that bitter or naive? Really?

What a horrible tragedy.