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, January 10 2014 | ||
On January 10, 2014, 14 Branchland Court, Ruckersville, Virginia was devastated by an early morning fire. Chris first mentioned it on Facebook and this was confirmed later that day when a local TV news broadcast gave a brief 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 are quite different. Chris initially claimed that the fire started around 2:00AM, however the official report states the 911 call wasn't received until 2:44AM. This is in line with what local media reported as well.
Chris's Timeline of Events
- 2:00 a.m. EST: According to Chris, this was approximately when the fire began. However, a local news station reporting on the blaze stated the fire started around 3:00am. Chris claimed in a leaked email that the coffee brewer was outside the bathroom, and was plugged into an extension cord, which in turn was plugged into an electrical outlet in the bathroom. Chris claimed that the brewer was off when the fire started, although he admitted that it was still plugged in.
- 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 fire fighters arrive at the scene.
Actual Timeline of Events
The official fire report states that Chris's 911 call was actually received at 2:44AM and that fire personnel were on scene about 15 minutes later. Almost immediately, the fire department asked for additional support to help fight the fire. The fire was put out by 6AM, and the scene was cleared by 7:00AM.
- 2:45: Dispatch tones four 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.
- 5:45 The fire started three hours before this point
- 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 the Keurig 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 email 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 |
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Nature of the blaze
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 using an extension cord in the bathroom to plug in a Keurig coffee maker. 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 is/was 14 Branchland Court; piles of paper and plastic inside a barely standing structure of dry wood.
Chris initially blamed the coffee brewer's faulty wiring for having "sparked my power socket" and starting the blaze.
Victims and survivors
Chris reports that he, his mother, his pet dogs Clover and Snoopy and Lucy the Cat escaped the blaze unharmed. It is unknown as of yet what has happened to the cats Scamper and Kitty; whether they were deceased prior to the blaze, or whether they were tragically lost in the fire. Many of the cats spend much of their time outdoors and could be presumed to have survived if they were alive at the time of the fire.
According to the news report, one of the firefighters suffered minor, unspecified injuries while putting out the fire. Considering how difficult it is 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.
Firefighters
Unlike the local police departments of Greene County, Chris has historically been ambivalent to firefighters. However, in the aftermath of the house fire at 14 Branchland Court, Chris and his mother both apparently blame the "greedy firefighters" for the absence of some of their personal possessions, (a cheap knock-off painting and Barb's purse) effectively implicating 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, is a new low even for Chris. Once again, Chris shows 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
From what Chris has written so far, it can be assumed that the Chandlers escaped with little more than the clothes on their backs. Chris wrote that he was able to save his wallet, medication for his mother, some clothes and shoes, and his iPhone. Since the fire, Chris has also been observed on Miiverse, suggesting that he also managed to save at least one of his 3DS's. He has also been seen on his PSN, showing that he either still has his PS3, or that he promptly acquired another. The Lego High School escaped only partially melted. Chris's Facebook posts suggests that everything else is "Considered physically lost."
A troll visited the house two days after the fire, and found that while the exterior structure of the house appears 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 at this time.
Until more information is released, we can assume that anything else in 14 Branchland Court was destroyed by the flames, including all of the original Sonichu comics and Chris's other art, the Wall of Originals, the Megatron pistol, the Sailor Moon Poster, the portal to CWCville, the Attraction Signs, the Heart Torch, the Plush Breasts and Bob's records. In reply to a comment on his eBay auction of his autographed photos, Chris confirmed that the "Classic" shirt was lost in the flames. However, at least one medallion survived.
If the damage to 14 Branchland Court is enough for it to be condemned, this could be a chance for the Chandler family to abandon the shackles of their hoarded possessions. Letting go of his items of comfort could enable Chris to start a new life, encouraging him to turn his back on the past. But knowing Chris's track record for making life-changing decisions, it is likely he will re-purchase most of his prized possessions and mope for the next year over the loss of his comics.
Items re-bought and replaced so far:
- Multiple Lego sets
- Uncut Sailor Moon DVDs (not lost in the fire: to replace the ones he gifted to Megan some seven years prior)
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.
References