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Smoke on the water, a fire in this guy!

mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
Frank Zappa and the Mothers had the best place around,
til some stupid with a flair gun, burned the place to the ground.

I awoke on the couch in my office at 4:00 AM a couple of Mondays ago, to the sound of a series of loud bangs. It was not unusual for me to sleep in my office when preparing for a jury trial. I have a shower, a lot of my clothes, guns, all here, so it really was my refuge as well as my workplace, and when preparing for a trial I "lived" there at times.

Anyway, as I sat up on the couch listening, I heard some bangs that turned out to be the upstairs windows blowing out from the fire. I flipped on the light and saw the room was filled with thick smoke to about 3-4 feet off the ground. From my back office I could see all the way down the hall and out the front windows. I could see the glow of fire and embers falling in front of the door and windows.

I grabbed my laptop, put on #84 "Novachek" and my shorts. No shoes, no time, straight to the door.

When I ran out the first thing I noticed were the cops, sitting in their cars, police tape blocking off the street from both directions. Looking back I saw the windows in the top floor belching out flame, in an advanced state of burn. The only trucks with the equipment for this fire were 20 miles away. It was eerie and quiet...

The police looked shocked, and asked, "Is anyone else in there?"

I said, "Do you guys have any marshmallows?" And went and sat down and watched the show.

My business burned down. The fire and water were a destructive combination, and most of my "stuff" perished. However, the gun safe rocked, and my guns were spared. After that, who cares about a few destroyed wills?

LawOfficeFire2006_29.jpg

Also, (thank you Jesus, Allah, Jehovah, Tom Landry!!) My main computer with all the accounting, and my documents survived. Having a solid desk saved the computer. It never got wet even after 1000's of gallons of water rained down upon it.

All in all, lost a lot of "Stuff" but came out with a good attitude and my life. Five more minutes I might not have made it, so I am grateful and in good spirits. You can always get more stuff!!

Anyway, I will simply open another office. The fire has become a conversation piece in my small town, and my phone rings more than ever! I am now hoping for a fire every five or so years!

Here are some before/after pics. Get the marshmallows!!

MyOffice22003.jpg

LawOfficeFire2006_46.jpg

MyOffice32003.jpg

LawOfficeFire2006_47.jpg

Reception12003.jpg

LawOfficeFire2006_28.jpg

Campbell32003.jpg

LawOfficeFire2006_21.jpg

LawOfficeFire2006_03.jpg

LawOfficeFire2006_69.jpg

Fire Marshall unable to determine cause. Who cares anyway. Have new office space set to go, so I really only lost a month and some stuff. But man, what an experience!

To make records with Motown,
We didn't have much time...
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Comments

  • DancesWithSheepDancesWithSheep Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey, Mattie, did you get that accelerator and alarm clock you asked me to send?
  • SperrySperry Member Posts: 5,006 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Found a way to deal with the clutter in your life, huh?

    Great news on the gunsafe!
  • CrittergitterCrittergitter Member Posts: 2,554 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Glad you have a good gun safe.

    It would have been soul shattering to lose that SA-85M.

    Glad you're O.K.

    <crit>
  • kyplumberkyplumber Member Posts: 11,111
    edited November -1
    smokey the bear says COVER UP...
  • matwormatwor Member Posts: 20,594
    edited November -1
    WOW, what an attitude to have after such a tragedy!! Glad to hear you are okay. What are the ratings on your safe? What brand is it?
  • GuvamintCheeseGuvamintCheese Member Posts: 38,932
    edited November -1
    Hope you were over insured. Had one about ten years ago, 2a.m. wife thought she heard water dripping. It was trusses crackling. Ran out in my birthday suit. Neighbors still call me shorty.[:D] Glad you survived.
  • kristovkristov Member Posts: 6,633
    edited November -1
    There are very few things that money can not replace (you grabbed your laptop with it's vital data) so I am just glad that you made it out alive.
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by DancesWithSheep
    Hey, Mattie, did you get that accelerator and alarm clock you asked me to send?


    Yes, and thanks for sending it FEDEX!!
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Crittergitter
    Glad you have a good gun safe.

    It would have been soul shattering to lose that SA-85M.

    Glad you're O.K.

    <crit>


    Not "that" but "them"

    FEGBorhFolderRegular2SMALL.jpg
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by matwor
    WOW, what an attitude to have after such a tragedy!! Glad to hear you are okay. What are the ratings on your safe? What brand is it?


    Don't remember the ratings, but it is the Liberty "Franklin" model. Some water seeped into the floor of the safe from the mounts in the floor I think, but the guns were great and not wet because of the shelving. My HK USC was at my side in my office and was in the fire, but the fireman brought it out at my request as soon as they entered the building, and I cleaned it that day and it is as good as new.

    The Liberty safe folks told me they would refurbish my safe free if I pay shipping.

    Shipping is gonna be high, but I think it would be worth it. The interior stinks and the floor of the safe and inner workings of the front door may have rust already.

    Piece of cake.
  • Locust ForkLocust Fork Member Posts: 32,073 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    WOW!!! So many guys have come into the store lately needing to get their gun info because of fire burning everything up....you would be suprised at JUST how many people don't know what their insurance covers. The guns are DEEPLY depreciated by insurance people who don't know what they are doing and you know the insurance companies usually don't pay anything near what it would take to replace items lost.


    I wouldn't use that computer!!!! You need to have the hard drive saved onto a new one....that is a disaster looming in the future. Just tell them in doesn't "boot up" or something all of the time. That kind of thing doesn't take well to damp, humid, dusty, smoke.

    I'm glad to hear you are O.K. and I hope to have your attitude if that type of thing happens to us.
    LOCUST FORK CURRENT AUCTIONS: https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Sort=13&IncludeSellers=618902&PageSize=48 Listings added every Thursday! We do consignments, contact us at mckaygunsales@gmail.com
  • Ox190Ox190 Member Posts: 2,782 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mateo...what city do you live in??
  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So... Mateo is taking "the bar exam" in the local drinking establishment and "preparing" for his jury trial when he meets a couple of trollops and takes them back to his office so he can impress them with all the shelves full of books he's never read.

    But.... the girls are one step ahead of him ... they slip him a mickey and ransack the place before setting him on fire to cover their escape... Luckily he awakens at the last minute, escapes and files an outrageous insurance claim for a bunch of stuff he never had, including a boob job for his secretary...

    Now you know "the rest of the story"
  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So... Mateo is taking "the bar exam" in the local drinking establishment and "preparing" for his jury trial when he meets a couple of trollops and takes them back to his office so he can impress them with all the shelves full of books he's never read.

    But.... the girls are one step ahead of him ... they slip him a mickey and ransack the place before setting him on fire to cover their escape... Luckily he awakens at the last minute, escapes and files an outrageous insurance claim for a bunch of stuff he never had, including a boob job for his secretary...

    Now you know "the rest of the story"
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hughbetcha
    So... Mateo is taking "the bar exam" in the local drinking establishment and "preparing" for his jury trial when he meets a couple of trollops and takes them back to his office so he can impress them with all the shelves full of books he's never read.

    But.... the girls are one step ahead of him ... they slip him a mickey and ransack the place before setting him on fire to cover their escape... Luckily he awakens at the last minute, escapes and files an outrageous insurance claim for a bunch of stuff he never had, including a boob job for his secretary...

    Now you know "the rest of the story"


    You can't prove that.
  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,474 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Glad to hear you are ok....been though a similar experience many years ago. It reminds one of what is really important...

    Got me thinking it is time for a better gun safe...
  • nomadictaonomadictao Member Posts: 1,310 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I pretty much lost everything in the last year myself. A combination of a unlucky (bad) business decision and car theives. I'll live, I'm still here, just move on! Sorry for your loss and glad you're in good spirits.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,518 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I am glad you got out Ok. The burned out storefront kinda looks like a miniture collisium in Rome.[8D] Rumor has it that immigrants you couldn't understand who wanted false documents did it.
  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    Glad you made it out okay mateo.

    That was a really neat office.

    Ben
  • tacking1tacking1 Member Posts: 3,844
    edited November -1
    screws the termites out of a meal huh?
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 32,038 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Glad you made it out. Would hate to have to put up with DWS without your help. Don
  • BlueTicBlueTic Member Posts: 4,072
    edited November -1
    Wow - glad you got out in time!!!! Stuff is just stuff, when you can't enjoy it....
  • rovrmanrovrman Member Posts: 1,000 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As a katrina survivor, I know your pain. I lost everything and my gun safe was under 8 feet of saltwater. All of my stuff was worthless after the flood.
    We are all safe and I'm glad you are too. stuff can be replaced.
    Joe
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Probably want to get a decent attorney when the arson investigators come around.

    Cops roasting hot dogs and no one checking to see that no one was inside? How inspiring.
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    Took this right after running out of the building with my camera phone.
    Just figured out how to get the picture out of my phone.

    This one captures the mood nicely...

    05-01-06_Fire1.jpg
  • COLTCOLT Member Posts: 12,637 ******
    edited November -1
    ...oh man, sorry to hear it, but heh, your ok. If I were you...
    get a lawyer and bring a LAWSUIT!....don't matter against who, YOU know how lawyers are...[:D](he he)




    ani-texas-flag.gif
  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    mattie - Glad to hear you and the HK's are safe and sound!

    My oldest daughter set her curtains on fire (playing with her Moms lighter) on 01/06/86 ... the fire department got there before the roof caught on fire, we lost everything inside except the contents of my gun-safe and my Snap-On Tool Box, and they took quite a scorching.
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by select-fire
    Well I am glad you got out Ok. The burned out storefront kinda looks like a miniture collisium in Rome.[8D] Rumor has it that immigrants you couldn't understand who wanted false documents did it.


    Actually, I was thinking the burned out building looked kinda like the Alamo. Are you sure it wasn't mexcians under Santa Ana that burned it down?
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,518 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hughbetcha
    quote:Originally posted by select-fire
    Well I am glad you got out Ok. The burned out storefront kinda looks like a miniture collisium in Rome.[8D] Rumor has it that immigrants you couldn't understand who wanted false documents did it.


    Actually, I was thinking the burned out building looked kinda like the Alamo. Are you sure it wasn't mexcians under Santa Ana that burned it down?


    That's a good one ! [:D][:D] But I think there is income potential for Mateo... Being he was SCARED and now has NIGHTMARES,I feel it fitting the owner give him the building and he make a Taco Bell out of it.
  • WranglerWrangler Member Posts: 5,788
    edited November -1
    Mateo, glad you're OK.[:)]
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    I'm glad to hear you made it out OK!...and your guns are alright. We all know you've got a nice collection.
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    The building was built in 1894.

    112 years and I had to be there on the night it burned down...
  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo

    The building was built in 1894.

    112 years and I had to be there on the night it burned down...




    The stone/arch work is just too cool. Was your office entirely down stairs?

    I sincerely hope that you didn't lose any cigars.

    Ben
  • dlrjjdlrjj Member Posts: 5,529 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Glad to hear you got out OK and that the harder to replace stuff survived.
    Tax evasion is illegal, tax avoidance is an art form.
  • The LawThe Law Member Posts: 2,287 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:awoke on the couch in my office at 4:00 AM a couple of Mondays ago

    Heck...I'm jest curious who y'all billed for that time...[:X]
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,518 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo


    Took this right after running out of the building with my camera phone.
    Just figured out how to get the picture out of my phone.

    This one captures the mood nicely...

    05-01-06_Fire1.jpg





    What an explosion... Details at 11 on the news... Local Attorney has LARGE amount of ammo...
  • ZERODINZERODIN Member Posts: 6,338
    edited November -1
    I'd think that executed wills and framed diplomas would be the toughest to replace. Lots of work and hoops to jump through on those. Glad you got out with all relevant body parts intact (mind notwithstanding).
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 32,038 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ZERODIN
    I'd think that framed diplomas would be the toughest to replace.

    He will just print them up like he did the first time. Don
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishermanben
    quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo

    The building was built in 1894.

    112 years and I had to be there on the night it burned down...




    The stone/arch work is just too cool. Was your office entirely down stairs?

    I sincerely hope that you didn't lose any cigars.

    Ben


    Yes, my office was entirely downstairs. Beautiful stone arches and priceless old windows.

    I lost a few cigars. Some really nice Romeo y Juliettas. Torpedoes.

    Thank God the liquor cabinet survived!!

    DCON is right, but my printer and copiers were destroyed so I can't print any new diplomas yet....
  • mateomasfeomateomasfeo Member Posts: 27,143
    edited November -1
    The icon of the folder on this post just caught fire.

    RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!
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