Author Topic: Matt lost EVERYTHING in a home fire this morning. (Read 1620 times)

Graybeard · « **on:** September 29, 2007, 11:42:38 PM »

Guys I just got a call from Matt. His home just burned to the ground. He lost everything but his life, Heather and the boys. They all got out but were not able to take anything thing out with them but the clothes they had on at the time. It's a total loss and they didn't have any insurance.

I did ask about the new servers and for sure one is lost and the other is a maybe but it's entirely possible all our investment in them is gone but more importantly everything else he had is gone. All of his computers and all the work he had on them, all their clothes and furniture and all that makes up one's life day to day is lost.

I repeat Matt, Heather and all the boys got out safely. All else is GONE.

It started on the back porch and the fire department is investigating and thinks it was arson.

Victor3 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2007, 01:07:59 AM »

That's awful. Thank God they're safe. I pray for their situation to improve quickly.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2007, 01:41:21 AM »

So what are WE going to do to help?

Bill - post an address for me to send a check.

Paypal would be more convenient.

Terry C. · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2007, 01:58:35 AM »

PayPal or check, I'm in for a few bucks.

Matt · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2007, 02:15:14 AM »

Thanks guys all I can say is the most important items in the house was saved and that was Heather and the boys all the rest can be replaced.

GB was not exaggerating everything up stairs was a total loos to include one of our new servers. The second was downstairs and was away from where the water damage is. As for my personal computers they are all a wash. I do have the GBO siite backed up on an offsite server so GBO will survive.

At the moment the most important things are boys cloths ages 2 months, 3 years and 4 years toys would be great but not a necessity. I really hate to say it or ask it but at this time money is going to be the main thing we fall short on.

Will be glad to get any handme downs size 32 waist 32 inseam (mens) size nine jeans in women's and medium shirts.

Any donations can be sent to GB's house

3015 AL HWY 204
Jacksonville, AL 36265

We are going to stay with family a few days and sort through the ashes to see if anything is salvageable.

Those wishing to donate cash to help can use the GBO Server Fund pay pal button at the bottom of every page. We will forever be in your debt.

Again thanks to all of the GBO Family for your support in this time of need.

Matt, Heather & Family

Div Arty · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2007, 06:46:28 AM »

Matt. Where I live, the sun is out, but it's a dark Sunday morning. Help is on the way. Ron & Esmee

burntmuch · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2007, 07:08:52 AM »

Matt I believe your baby was born a week or so before mine. I couldnt imagine going thru what youre going thru right now. I could send you some handme down jeans, but Id have to send you a belt as well. Got some overtime on this weeks check. I ll send a couple bucks Thursday. God bless. Jay

civilcannon · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2007, 07:37:56 AM »

Mat: you would look funny wearing a pair of my 38"waist jeans ,so you can buy some that fit with my donation.

Hay I bet Tropico could fit into a 38" waist?

Best Wishes: Civilcannon

lance · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2007, 08:32:55 AM »

Matt, i'll be praying for you and your family, count me in for a few bucks too!

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2007, 08:51:42 AM »

We are very sorry to hear about this, Matt. Our sincere best wishes are sent to your family for a steady recovery from this situation. Look for some $ from Seacoast on Mike's PayPal account sent to the GBO server acct.

Tracy and Mike

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2007, 01:53:08 PM »

Matt, Heather -

Nickles sent via Paypal to the phoenix fund.

Keep us posted of needs.

Fluxion · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2007, 02:09:35 PM »

I am so sorry to hear of you loss. I am thankful that you and your family have survived. All of you will be in our prayers here.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** September 30, 2007, 03:31:50 PM »

You guys have been great so far. The response has been terrific via paypal and I'm not sure what might be coming via checks/money orders. For sure it's gonna help them get back on their feet and hopefully get into another home soon.

For now they are staying at my brother-in-law's daughter's place just down the road from him. They are on the road traveling and working so won't be back for 2-3 weeks. That gives Matt and Heather a bit of breathing room to work with until they have to find where they will move into.

We've been over there most all afternoon helping get what is salvageable out and there was some, not a lot but some. More clothes survived than at first expected. The downstairs area for the most part got only water damage and smoke. The back porch, kitchen and his office were totally wiped out really. I have some photos I'll try to get up tomorrow but I'm just too beat to do it tonight.

The living room was the room most remote from the actual flames upstairs and the damage there was quite amazing. A wall switch plate just melted, the laminate on the ceiling fan cooked off, plastic curtain hangers melted. Flames completely engulfed the hallway.

From what can be told it started out on the back porch. Why we still don't know. The firemen decided to call it an electrical wiring related fire as no accelerant was detectable. But the next door neighbor who called it in said when she first saw it there were only a few flames at one corner of the porch. She stepped inside to get a cordless phone and when she stepped back to her porch the entire back end of house was in flames. That's might fast but it was dry wood so I dunno. At this point why is moot as it's done.

Matt and my B-I-L Jimmy are there now boarding up the burned out area of the kitchen to protect whatever is left inside that might can be salvaged. Anything downstairs not ruined by water or smoke damage might be saved. That's where the bedrooms were so some bedroom furniture should be useable we think and the clothes that were there if smoke can be cleaned should be OK. Upstairs not much was left.

All but the new grandson were downstairs when the fire broke out. He had gone to sleep in the living room and they left him and took the baby monitor with them. They heard an explosion and shook the house. (don't ask me we have no clue what it was) and went to check on the oldest two. As he was leaving their bedroom he heard strange crackling and popping sounds and went upstairs. The back porch was fully in flame and smoke was filling the upstairs. He got the baby and took him to Heather and told her to get the kids out the house was on fire. She took them out the front door. Matt went back in for the baby's diaper back and his computer. He ripped it out jerking/breaking wires doing all he could to save those all important hard drives. He almost got burned up in the process as he had to go back out past a fully engulfed hallway to get to the only exit at the front door open to him. There was no chance of another return and even that one was almost one too many.

The new server that was upstairs loaded and ready to ship when the rest of RAM arrives on Monday we just have no clue the status of. It got very wet but may or may not have otherwise been damaged. The other one was downstairs and is likely OK. We'll know in a few days when he has them all dried out and can test them. No clue the damage to his main computer but hopefully at least the HDs will be OK and if so he can rebuild from there.

I'm sure Matt or Heather or both will be on later either tonight or tomorrow to update you. Both are exhausted now and likely will crash for awhile soon.

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2007, 03:34:34 PM »

Quote from: seacoastartillery on September 30, 2007, 08:51:42 AM

We are very sorry to hear about this, Matt. Our sincere best wishes are sent to your family for a steady recovery from this situation. Look for some $ from Seacoast on Mike's PayPal account sent to the GBO server acct.

Tracy and Mike

Thanks Tracy and Mike a very generous donation and much appreciated. It will go a long way toward helping Matt and Heather recover from this. You two are most kind in this time of need. It will not be forgotten.

Terry C. · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2007, 04:20:00 PM »

PayPal sent.

It's not much but I hope it helps.

Powder keg · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2007, 05:09:29 PM »

I sent some money through Paypal. I hope it helps. May your life be back to normal soon and sorry for your loss, Wes

Don Krag · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2007, 03:17:26 AM »

I have bags of little boy clothes, many only worn once, up through 3T. If you still need clothes for the boys let me know.

Tropico · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2007, 05:57:08 AM »

Money sent ( Paypal ) and we are wishing you and your family well Matt .

Matt · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2007, 08:47:14 AM »

You guys are great.... I always thought that we had the greatest bunch of folks on the net here at GBO and now I know we do.

The donation that have been given via paypal will go a long way in helping us to get a back on our feet.

As to the cloths we can still use what we can get for we have yet to get the smoke smell out of the ones we have washed. We have been given a few remedies that may help but we will just have to wait and see.

So many of you have helped and are still helping and for this I am grateful and forever in your debit. Many have gone way beyond what I ever thought possible but it warms my heart to know that total strangers can come together and help someone in a time of need. I really thought that most people had forgotten what compassion was but as I said I am glad to see it is alive and well here at GBO.

I am having to borrow computers at this time so I will not be online much for the next few days but I hope to have my system rebuilt and back up very soon.

Again from the bottom of our hearts we send grateful thank yous to everyone who has helped and commented.

Matt, Heather and Family.

Cpt Ed · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2007, 11:40:23 AM »

Matt,
Terribly sorry to learn of your great loss. PayPal $$$ sent.
May God continue to protect your and your family.
Cpt Ed

lance · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2007, 02:41:19 PM »

picked up a money order today and will send it to the address on reply # 4, not sure who to make it out to, so i left that part blank. hope it helps................

Graybeard · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2007, 06:28:08 PM »

Checks can be made out to Matt Graham or to James Matthew Graham he gets them both ways.

Heather · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2007, 07:08:15 AM »

You guys just cant imagine that your support has turned this tragedy completely around. My boys still have some of their toys, all that was lost was books and electronics. Some clothes were salvageable. We still can not tell how many because as I am washing them some are just ripping to shreds when I take them out of the dryer, but some are as good as new. The material possessions are not what has been the worst on the children. My 3 year old can not understand why we cant go home, and my four year old doesnt understand why the pictures at the house we are at arent of us. They are confused and out of their routine. Last night as I tucked them into bed I was able to promise them that this was only tempoary and very very soon we would have a new house that was ours again. I wouldnt have been able to do that without the support from you guys. I can close my eyes at night and know that everything will be ok. Not only because of the financial support that is helping us move, but knowing that there is still good in this world. I would have never iimagined that total strangers could do so much for people. Again thank you for everything.

God Bless,
Heather

Don Krag · « **Reply #23 on:** October 02, 2007, 02:14:10 PM »

You got a big ol' box of clothes on the way now. Hopefully most will fit the kids. It's an assortment from 3T through boy's 6 with some light jackets and such. Let me know their exact sizes and I probably could get another box load out to you. We had two more bags full I never even got to that probably have similar sizes. This one's coming Fed Ex and should be there Friday.

Take Care,
Don

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:30:31 AM »

Posting a needs list (with a sign-up so you don't get 15 crockpots) would be a good idea -

Santa Dave · « **Reply #25 on:** October 03, 2007, 07:42:54 AM »

I'm not knocking those who send Things but the one he needs most is $$$ send him a few! use Pay-pal! it's almost instantaneous, and protects you!The amount of cash the Red Cross and Salvation Army Can provide is limited. SO dig deep!
Remember his bills are ongoing, but his income is not.
Santa Dave
Two things for Matt:
1. you all are in our prayers!
2. The American Red Cross (I used to work for them) will replace what is needed for you to follow your trade (tools, books, a vehicle, whatever) But I am aware of situations where they did not inform the client (victim). this is but one reason I quit them.