2014 house fire
| “ | FIRE! 2:00 AM. 911 arrived ten minutes later. Did everything they could; started downstairs; bathroom; electrical; made it to the roof. Considering EVERYTHING, but my mom, both dogs, me, and Lucy and my iPhone, shoes, clothes, whatnot on our backs made it out... Considered physically lost. | ” |
| Chris, 10 January 2014 | ||
On 10 January 2014, 14 Branchland Court, Ruckersville, Virginia was devastated by an early morning fire. Chris first mentioned it on Facebook, and it was confirmed later that day when Charlottesville's local CBS affiliate WCAV-TV broadcast a brief news report on the incident.
| Fire at 14 Branchland Court | |
| Search for video | YouTube, archive |
The Fire
Shortly after the fire, leaked emails and Facebook posts from Chris helped set up his version of the timeline of events that fateful night. Naturally, what we heard from Chris and what was written in the official fire report obtained months later were quite different. Chris initially claimed that the fire started around 2:00 A.M.; however, the official report states that the 911 call wasn't received until 2:44 A.M. This is in line with what WCAV reported as well.
Chris's Timeline of Events
- 2:00 EST: According to Chris, this was approximately when the fire began.
- 2:00-2:10: Chris claimed that a fire extinguisher was present or was retrieved, and that there was an attempt to extinguish the fire, which ultimately failed. After the failed attempt to extinguish the fire, Chris evacuated the household, along with Barbara and the Chandler pets. Sometime during this period, emergency services were called.
- 2:10: Local firefighters arrive at the scene.
Actual Timeline of Events
The official fire report states that Chris's 911 call was actually received at 2:44 A.M. and that fire personnel were on scene about 15 minutes later. WCAV stated the fire started around 3:00am. Almost immediately, the fire department asked for additional support to help fight the fire. The fire was put out by 6 A.M., and the scene was cleared by 7:00 A.M.
- 2:45: Dispatch tones 4 fire stations (Dyke, Ruckersville, Standardsville Fire, and Greene County Rescue Squad.) Dispatch relays "Fire in the downstairs bathroom."
- 3:01: Dispatcher relays that a lot of smoke is coming from the basement and flames are visible at the top of the steps.
- 3:01: Engine 11 requests Orange Company provide additional manpower.
- 3:05: Engine 21 is on scene and reports heavy smoke.
- 3:06: Engine 11 is on scene.
- 3:13: BVille (Burtonville?) Fire has been called for support.
- 3:37: Command requests dispatch contact the power company.
- 3:45: The fire has been burning for at least an hour at this point.
- 3:47: Station 2 is called for additional manpower.
- 3:53: Station 1 is called for additional manpower.
- 4:05: Heavy fire coming through roof.
- 4:07: Command requests Hollymead for additional manpower.
- 4:45: The fire has been burning for about two hours at this point.
- 4:47: Madison County contacted for additional personnel.
- 5:00: Rescue 401 leaves scene to transport one patient (Probably the injured firefighter) to Martha Jefferson Hospital.
- 5:22: Chris first breaks the news about the house fire on Facebook. He commented twice on the post in quick succession, lamenting the loss of personal belongings and the memories of his home, as well as stating he was able to salvage his mother's medication and his wallet. At the time of the posting, he was boarding with a generous neighbor.
- 5-57-7:11: All the remaining units on-scene are cleared to return to their stations.
- 7:10: Chris posted an angry comment on Keurig's Facebook page, producer of the coffee brewer, blaming faulty wiring in the product for creating the spark that created the fire. Chris then admitted to operating the coffee brewer within the bathroom after responding to a comment from his friend William Elliott Waterman, who vainly tried to calm Chris down and not seek vengeance so soon after the fire.
- Later: An e-mail from Chris is released giving more information about the event. It is revealed that Chris and Barbara were allowed to enter the house and retrieve necessities for living from the house, and are currently receiving accommodation from their insurer while investigation and "repairs" are conducted.
| Fire Report |
|---|
There is no official word as to the cause of the fire, but the person who leaked the above fire report documents claims that it was caused by a spark from an extension cord run through the bathroom door, the plastic coating of which had worn away.[1] Chris admitted to Catherine that he was using an extension cord in the bathroom to plug in a Keurig coffee maker located in an adjacent room. The cord was looped over the top of the door, and the friction caused by the motion of the door had abraded the cord, starting the fire. Chris claimed that the brewer was off when the fire started, although he admitted that it wasn't unplugged. Why the Chandlers had an extension cord running out of the bathroom to plug in a coffee maker is anyone's guess, but it probably has something to do with Barb's hoarding. It is worth noting that in Chris's recent video tour of his home, coffee cups are spotted around his bathroom sink, suggesting that the bathroom has become the primary source of water. Said video also shows the blatant fire hazard that was his home, with piles of paper and plastic inside a barely standing structure of dry wood.
Victims and survivors
Chris reports that he, his mother, and his pets Clover, Snoopy and Lucy escaped the blaze unharmed. Unfortunately, one of his cats was killed in the blaze, and was discovered by the cleaners. Chris buried it in the backyard. It is unknown whether this was Scamper or Kitty, or what happened to the other cat before the fire, but it is likely that this death gives Chris nowhere near as much pain as the death of Patti did.
According to the news report, one of the firefighters suffered minor, unspecified injuries while putting out the fire. Considering how difficult it had been for Chris to navigate his junk-ridden hallways, it is likely that, in the rush to fight the fire, one firefighter may have tripped over the clutter or initiated an avalanche of navy-coated bric-a-bracs. Chris told Catherine and Al that firefighters were unable to enter the house through either door because of the hoard, and had to climb in through windows.
Firefighters
Unlike the local police departments of Greene County, Chris has historically been ambivalent towards firefighters. However, in the aftermath of the house fire, Chris and his mother both apparently blame the "greedy firefighters" for the absence of some of their personal possessions (which included a cheap knock-off painting and Barb's purse), effectively accusing them of theft. This information was revealed in an email leak after the incident. Insinuating that one of the brave and selfless firefighters who saved his home openly stole from him, especially when there were no grounds whatsoever for his implications, was a new low even for Chris. Once again, Chris showed complete ingratitude for anyone who tries to help him. Only time will tell if the Ruckersville Fire Department will again play a major part in Chris's pathetic life.
Extent of destruction
It can be rightfully assumed that the Chandlers escaped with little more than the clothes on their backs. Chris wrote that he was able to save his wallet, Barb's medication, some clothes and shoes, and his iPhone (as shown in a later video uploaded through YouTube Capture). Soon after the fire, Chris was also observed on Miiverse, suggesting that he managed to save his Wii U and possibly at least one of his 3DS's. He was also seen on his PSN, showing that he either still had his PS3, or that he promptly acquired another. He even had his old PSEye.
Chris stated on Facebook that everything else was "considered physically lost." However, he later revealed to Catherine that his mother had rented a storage unit to hold items which had been recovered from the house. Al and Catherine also noted that the rental house was piled high with boxes and trash. As is typical of hoarders, Barb probably decided that much that was burned or water-damaged was actually salvageable.
A troll visited the house two days after the fire, and found that while the exterior structure of the house appeared largely intact, there was apparently sufficient damage to the roof that it had to be covered over with plastic cladding. Some of the exterior wood paneling had also warped and twisted, presumably due to being near where the fire was burning at its strongest, though due to the house's exact layout being unknown, it's hard to say where exactly this was. The house's windows had been boarded over (as is standard in house fires of this kind), making it impossible to get any exact details on the house's interior condition.
It is unclear to what extent Chris's personal possessions survived the flames. The Lego High School escaped only partially melted, and he was able to use some of the smoky pieces to reconstruct the structure. He also employed his creative geinus to build an original sculpture out of the damaged pieces. Two copies of his high school yearbooks survived, albeit with smoke and water damage. At least one of his Pixelblocks creations and a medallion survived. In reply to a comment on his eBay auction of his autographed photos, Chris confirmed that the "Classic" shirt was lost in the flames. He also confirmed that his Nintendo GameCube was a goner as well. No word yet on the original Sonichu comics and Chris's other art, the Wall of Originals, the Scrapbook of Fail and Crumple-Lope, the Megatron pistol, the Sailor Moon poster, the portal to CWCville, the Attraction Signs, the Heart Torch, and the Plush Breasts.
Over his year in exile, Chris bought multiple Lego sets to replace those lost. He also bought uncut Sailor Moon DVDs to replace the ones he gifted to Megan some seven years prior.
Aftermath and reaction
In one of the most interesting and significant events regarding Chris's fantrollbase, a care package was put together from online donations, initially pooling a few hundred dollars in a matter of hours. The total amount in donations was worth almost a thousand american dollars[2] and consisted of basic necessities with a few amenities throw in (markers, paints and modeling stuff).
After being sent an incident occurred when a troll used the tracking number that was posted on the Internet to have the package returned midway. The package was eventually held at a post office in Charlottesville and withdrew by the Chandlers. Chris made a polite Facebook post about it in which he expressed his distaste for the CWCki. A note was sent alongside the goods:
Hey Chris!
Your Sonichu friends have heard about the house fire, and to help you out we put together a care package as CWC as we could! In a few days, 34 donated and collected over $900 towards getting this stuff out to you! Since your bathroom is where it started, I’ve focused on buying toiletries and hygienic stuff to keep you clean and healthy as you recover from the damages. I could not spend all the money collected, so I’ve also included a money order for $500 that you should give to your mother. She can cash it out and buy whatever you guys need to keep chugging. Don’t forget to get something nice for your pets, too!
I know you often feel that life is hopeless, but there’s good in the world and in people. I hope this package helps you see that. No person on the Internet can ever take away your right to be happy. You must find reasons to enjoy life, even when there are enemies trying to bring you down.
I’ve included some arts and crafts to help you take your mind off things. I think your fans would really like to see what you come up with, because it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen anything new from you. Try to create something that makes you happy and that you can be proud of.
Good luck with everything, Chris. Keep hate out of your heart and look forward to each day. We will be around if you need us.
Care package.
Its contents.
Note.
Chris's update on Facebook.
The Return of Chris's House
On 3 December 2014, Chris announced that 14 Branchland Court was being reconstructed, and by January 2015 he was safely moved back in. Between those dates, however, he was forced to briefly stay at Albemarle Regional Jail.
See also
- January 2014 Facebook Posts - Facebook posts Chris posted about the house fire.
- Misc E-mails - E-mails exchanged between Chris and his classmates about the house fire.
- Rental House - The Chandlers' temporary household after the incident.