Triplets in House Fire in Bethesda--Install Fire Detectors

[Anonymous]

I thought the father was napping...nowithstanding he probably didn't want to be bothered with having to tear himself away from the computer to deal with the nanny or kids and yes, there are parents who are exactly like that. If I had a nanny, who used the word FIRE in a sentence and I wasn't clear on what else she said, I sure as hell would make her show me what she was talking about right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.petrucellirelieffund.com/

Okay. I was one of the nicest posters above. But now I've read the Washington Post article and read this "relief fund" site. And I have two questions: why doesn't the family acknowledge the injuries they caused the firefighters, and why in the world do they need money???

I was already asked for clothing donations from a friend who didn't know all the details of this situation. And I have to say that there are millions of Americans right now (including thousands of families in our immediate area) who are DIRE NEED of financial help. Before I saw the shameless "relief fund" website (complete with little boys dressed in smocked overalls), I was going to help. But now I am going to give clothing and money to the people who really need it.

And again, I might also give a donation to the incredibly brave firefighters who were injured saving the lives of these toddlers - because their father didn't call 911 for more than 15 minutes - a fire that was put out in thirty minutes by firefighters. Time is everything in these situations.

I won't get into the irony of the Dept. of Homeland Security situation. And I don't appreciate the "relief fund" website's pathetic argument that it's okay not to have working fire alarms - because many of the neighbors also had non-working alarms.

This website is VERY slick.

[Anonymous]

They were apparently upgrading their smoke detectors - please let's not judge.

I used a crib tent with my son - he had ASD, was very active, and it was a matter of daily safety - he would have been out at night and hurt himself - and I don't want to think about how I would have been judged about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were apparently upgrading their smoke detectors - please let's not judge.

I used a crib tent with my son - he had ASD, was very active, and it was a matter of daily safety - he would have been out at night and hurt himself - and I don't want to think about how I would have been judged about that!

I'm judging their "relief fund" website. That, along with all the questionable judgement calls, is really scary.

Why do they need money??? Do they need it more than all the families in SW DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.petrucellirelieffund.com/

Okay. I was one of the nicest posters above. But now I've read the Washington Post article and read this "relief fund" site. And I have two questions: why doesn't the family acknowledge the injuries they caused the firefighters, and why in the world do they need money???

I was already asked for clothing donations from a friend who didn't know all the details of this situation. And I have to say that there are millions of Americans right now (including thousands of families in our immediate area) who are DIRE NEED of financial help. Before I saw the shameless "relief fund" website (complete with little boys dressed in smocked overalls), I was going to help. But now I am going to give clothing and money to the people who really need it.

And again, I might also give a donation to the incredibly brave firefighters who were injured saving the lives of these toddlers - because their father didn't call 911 for more than 15 minutes - a fire that was put out in thirty minutes by firefighters. Time is everything in these situations.

I won't get into the irony of the Dept. of Homeland Security situation. And I don't appreciate the "relief fund" website's pathetic argument that it's okay not to have working fire alarms - because many of the neighbors also had non-working alarms.
This website is VERY slick.

Where does it say that?

[Anonymous]

Upgrading Smoke Detectors?
Only in Bethesda would someone use this lame excuse.
Last time I heard, the freebie the Fire Station will give you with a battery works and works well. But God forbid they would want to have that cheap junk in their house.

And the relief fund is disgusting. They should be ashamed and so should the people collecting. I wouldn't be suprised if the insurance company hasn't cut them a check yet.

[Anonymous]

You people are so nasty..... total lack of compation.

The family did not start the relief fund: "Parents of Multiples, which has about 400 member families, had already organized a trust for the Petrucellis and have collected mattresses, cribs, and other items the family would need in the wake of the fire. The group has also started a fundraising Web site to provide financial support for the family (...)"

[Anonymous]

There is no excuse for a $1M house not to have smoke detectors- I wonder if it had a burglar alarm.. but I do feel for the family- but in no way enoudh to give to a fund- why- since they overlooked a fundamental safety issue???

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. I wanted to share this story as a way to illustrate how important it is to check and maintain smoke detectors. I feel for this family and I'm certain that if they were given the chance to go back in time, they would have reacted very differently.

I don't think blame is a worthwhile response for anyone. I think kissing your own children, and learning from this experience, is the best you can do.

The Petrucelli Relief website that a pp posted states the kids are in critical condition but are stable. It also states that the fire detectors and carbon monoxide monitors were being upgraded from hardwired to remote use, so they were not active at the time of the accident. The family also does thank the firefighters on this site.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I'm another PP who was not inclined to judge at the outset, but the relief fund and the story about upgrading the smoke detectors strike me as totally appalling. How long does it take to hardwire new smoke detectors? Why would you remove the simple battery operated devices that us ordinary people use before you had new ones working? As for the relief fund, it may be the product of the multiples' group, but no one would set up a web site and solicit donations unless the parents OK'd it. I don't doubt this family loves their children, but it's just shocking that people who presumably should know better - the father used to be a senior official at Homeland Security, for pete's sake - would spend so much money on a house, household staff, etc... without doing the most basic obvious things to protect their innocent children. There is just something grossly wrong about this scenario.

[Anonymous]

Something that I have been wondering after reading the Post story - what was the nanny's husband doing? Why didn't he help to get the kids out or help the father? Maybe it just wasn't mentioned, but there were 3 adults present as this tragedy unfolded - and those 3 boys are lucky to be alive.

[Anonymous]

Practical question: we have smoke detectors and change the batteries, but aside from that, how does one know for sure if the smoke detector really works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Practical question: we have smoke detectors and change the batteries, but aside from that, how does one know for sure if the smoke detector really works?

bring a bad cook in and let them burn dinner!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the Washington Post said that she speaks "imperfect English" it also said he told her to get the children and get them out. Where the hell was she? What was she doing? Why did she not, as a smart, responsible, proactive adult **nanny**, grab the children after she told the dad about the fire? Was she not even smart enough to know he didn't get what she was trying to say? THIS is why people should not hire this type of Nanny (non-english speaker, not smart, etc...). I can not lie, that part of the story really hit a nerve. I am not excusing the Dad's trying to use a bleeping hose to put out the fire before getting the kids out himself, although what a stereo-typical man thing to do, but he did at least tell her to get them out, but what the hell was she doing during this time frame???

(* I use the lable very grudgingly)

I really do hope all three come out of this perfectly healthy and happy and ok.

No one person can carry three infants, let alone three two-year-olds. There's a reason the cribs in day care centers have wheels - a staff member can put multiple kids in one crib and wheel them out. Don't blame the Nanny for not being super-human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.petrucellirelieffund.com/

Okay. I was one of the nicest posters above. But now I've read the Washington Post article and read this "relief fund" site. And I have two questions: why doesn't the family acknowledge the injuries they caused the firefighters, and why in the world do they need money???

I was already asked for clothing donations from a friend who didn't know all the details of this situation. And I have to say that there are millions of Americans right now (including thousands of families in our immediate area) who are DIRE NEED of financial help. Before I saw the shameless "relief fund" website (complete with little boys dressed in smocked overalls), I was going to help. But now I am going to give clothing and money to the people who really need it.

And again, I might also give a donation to the incredibly brave firefighters who were injured saving the lives of these toddlers - because their father didn't call 911 for more than 15 minutes - a fire that was put out in thirty minutes by firefighters. Time is everything in these situations.

I won't get into the irony of the Dept. of Homeland Security situation. And I don't appreciate the "relief fund" website's pathetic argument that it's okay not to have working fire alarms - because many of the neighbors also had non-working alarms.

This website is VERY slick.

I plan to make a donation to Children's Hospital. They extend the same level of outstanding care to kids with excellent medical insurance and family resources, and to kids who have nothing. They really could use my donation.