Millrise condo Complex on Fire

[4X4]

You're famous, Burninator.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Hahaha! Yeah that was me. I got interviewed by a CBC reporter on my way out of the building this morning. I haven't heard the clip, I'll have to find it somehow. I didn't think that would actually make it on the air because I am sure no one cares about my dinner.

Damn fire took your mac and cheese from you!

3/18 Nevar forget!

[Burninator]

I just heard myself on the radio. I hope I don't come across as a selfish jerk worried about his small problem. Like some jerk I read about in the Sun comments that said the police don't care about creating traffic jams because they closed off nearby roads and he was stuck in traffic. During the interview I did express my sadness for the people that lost their homes.

[4X4]

Nah, you sounded stunned more than anything.

[Burninator]

I hope so. I would hate it if someone who lost their home and possibly their pets were listening and think I am an arse for talking about my stupid slow cooker. I honestly didn't care about it. I was little paranoid about fire yesterday (who wouldn't?) and leaving that thing plugged in for 24 hours. Although I am sure it couldn't do anything but burn food when plugged in that long. Of course it's too bad they play that dumb part and not the other parts where I express my sadness and how awful it was for the people who lost their house and belongings.

[Finny61]

You need a new profile pic of a slow cooker. Just so we can all remember.

[Jordan!]

What's wrong about being concerned that your Mac N Cheese may ignite and burn another building down? If someone is offended by that. Eff em

[REDVAN]

Thoughts and prayers go out to Burninator over his slow cooker.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I hope so. I would hate it if someone who lost their home and possibly their pets were listening and think I am an arse for talking about my stupid slow cooker. I honestly didn't care about it. I was little paranoid about fire yesterday (who wouldn't?) and leaving that thing plugged in for 24 hours. Although I am sure it couldn't do anything but burn food when plugged in that long. Of course it's too bad they play that dumb part and not the other parts where I express my sadness and how awful it was for the people who lost their house and belongings.

A slow cooker shouldn't cause any fires in 24 hours. It never reaches a very hot temperature. Maybe if you left it on for months on end, still not likely though.

Not nearly as scary as the pot of water I turned on to boil just before bed (to use to mix baby formula), that I discovered had been left on all night.

[Daradon]

I was just wondering if anyone here lived there. My mom and sis live about a block away, I walked by there today on the way to their house.

Glad to know you weren't in the other building Burn. A sad situation to be sure. Good thing no one (pets included it sounds like) was hurt.

[Methanolic]

Officials say at least 19 pets were found in the condo building after the fire. Firefighters have been double checking suites where they know pets lived.
Along with the rescue of cats, dogs, fish, and birds, firefighters have also rescued a hedgehog and a bearded dragon.


One cat was taken to a local vet clinic for treatment but should be reunited with its owner on Friday.




It could have been worse...........

I was very Happy to stumble across this piece of news on the CFCN Site:

"All-Millrise-Pets-Found-Alive"

To add the loss of a loved pet to all that has happened would be devestating I'm sure, Thank Goodness the pet owners among the displaced resisdents of the Millrise Condos don't have to add greiving a Family pet to their long list of troubles.

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Methanolic

Officials say at least 19 pets were found in the condo building after the fire. Firefighters have been double checking suites where they know pets lived.
Along with the rescue of cats, dogs, fish, and birds, firefighters have also rescued a hedgehog and a bearded dragon.


One cat was taken to a local vet clinic for treatment but should be reunited with its owner on Friday.




It could have been worse...........

I was very Happy to stumble across this piece of news on the CFCN Site:

"All-Millrise-Pets-Found-Alive"

To add the loss of a loved pet to all that has happened would be devestating I'm sure, Thank Goodness the pet owners among the displaced resisdents of the Millrise Condos don't have to add greiving a Family pet to their long list of troubles.

Really glad to hear that, I had heard from someone on site Thursday night that the cat that was taken to the vet's wasn't going to make it. I'm a resident in the building, and I've been feeling fortunate that I was there when it started and able to get our pets out. We're on the first floor in the SW corner, and we were able to go back into the unit for the first time late yesterday afternoon. Between the smoke and water damage, a lot of things are going to be ruined, but we'll be able to keep most of our valuables (although some of them will be a little smokey). The main thing that we've lost that can't be replaced is my girlfriend's pictures, mine were still mostly in storage. It's all so surreal though, walking through the hallway down to the unit was like a bad movie, slogging through water, no lights except for the one emergency light that would occasionally flash and the firefighter's dying flashlight, I wish we'd had the presence of mind to take pictures but we both forgot about our cameras after we got inside.

Sooo.... anyone have any good tips for clearing out smoke/dealing with insurance companies?

[Ducay]

Thoughts and prayers are with Hedgy the hedgehog

[Huntingwhale]

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Considering rental insurance is dirt cheap I don't understand why noone gets it.

As a cautionary tale regarding insurance...

I've had two clients who bought in Canvas call me about insurance in the last couple of days. Even though we recommend that all condo owners get insurance, these owners felt that because they were renting out their units and the tenants would insure their own belongings, there was no need for them to get their own insurance.

Here's the probems with that..

Neither the tenant's insurance, nor the builing insurance covers any of the following:

1. Owner Improvements (i.e if you add hardwood floors, or upgrades)
2. Appliances
3. Lost Rental Income.

The worst is probably the last one. These owners will likely have to keep making mortgage payments even though they have no rental income coming in until the building can be rebuilt. If they can't make the payments the bank will come after them....


EDIT: Ooops mini-fata. I missed fundmark19's earlier post. Still the lack of coverage fro rental income is important to note...

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

EDIT: Ooops mini-fata. I missed fundmark19's earlier post. Still the lack of coverage fro rental income is important to note...

Stop stealing my thunder!!!! It would be a rough time covering that second mtg for most people. I hope everyone can get through it. Might be some cheap foreclosure half built condos in the future.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Madrox

Really glad to hear that, I had heard from someone on site Thursday night that the cat that was taken to the vet's wasn't going to make it. I'm a resident in the building, and I've been feeling fortunate that I was there when it started and able to get our pets out. We're on the first floor in the SW corner, and we were able to go back into the unit for the first time late yesterday afternoon. Between the smoke and water damage, a lot of things are going to be ruined, but we'll be able to keep most of our valuables (although some of them will be a little smokey). The main thing that we've lost that can't be replaced is my girlfriend's pictures, mine were still mostly in storage. It's all so surreal though, walking through the hallway down to the unit was like a bad movie, slogging through water, no lights except for the one emergency light that would occasionally flash and the firefighter's dying flashlight, I wish we'd had the presence of mind to take pictures but we both forgot about our cameras after we got inside.

Sooo.... anyone have any good tips for clearing out smoke/dealing with insurance companies?

That really, really sucks to hear Madrox. I hope you two can recover as much of your belongings as possible. Good thing you were home to save your pets as well. I also hope you are getting information. I wasn't effected, but the only information I am getting has been from the news. And I am sure right now all you want is information of what is going to happen. I saw from the City of Calgary's website that the amenities building is now an information centre. I read on the Heralds website that insurers and the condo board are meeting today so hopefully something comes out of that. They are also suppose to announce the cause of the fire today.

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by Burninator

That really, really sucks to hear Madrox. I hope you two can recover as much of your belongings as possible. Good thing you were home to save your pets as well. I also hope you are getting information. I wasn't effected, but the only information I am getting has been from the news. And I am sure right now all you want is information of what is going to happen. I saw from the City of Calgary's website that the amenities building is now an information centre. I read on the Heralds website that insurers and the condo board are meeting today so hopefully something comes out of that. They are also suppose to announce the cause of the fire today.

Cause of the fire was an irresponsible smoker on the 4th floor.

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber.../13310271.html

[Russic]

This has probably been mentioned before, but this would be an excellent time for everybody to look into off-site backup of their important digital files. Many people have irreplaceable images of their wedding, kids and other important life happenings backed up in their house. Great if your computer dies, not so great if a tragedy like this hits.

Two options are:
http://www.dropbox.com
http://www.carbonite.com

[amorak]

Originally Posted by dubc80

Cause of the fire was an irresponsible smoker on the 4th floor.

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber.../13310271.html

I am not an insurance adjuster or anything of the sort, but I recall the following when I bought condo insurance a while ago:


I bought $1MM in general liability-type insurance, which the insurance agent told me was for "situations like if you accidentally burn down the building, the other owners and the condo board will sue you" - aka if I am at fault for damage to common property / other units, I need some liability insurance.

That concern prompted me to purchase several million dollars in a general umbrella policy, so that it would also act as additional liability coverage on my cars as well (ie if I accidentally killed someone while driving, $1MM in liability might not cover the total settlement - Plus I'd want that person's family to get as much as they could). It also added to my $1MM in liability coverage on the condo.


So, my point is this: If they've determined it was a particular person who caused the fire, can't all the other owners and the condo board sue him and his insurance for some restitution? I realize he likely has no insurance or only has $1MM in liab at best, but that's better than nothing?

Plus, I assume the Condo board's general insurance will cover the rebuilding / payout for the units, so I would hope that the smoker's $1MM liability policy would cover owners loses that the Condo board policy doesn't?


But I don't know the nitty-gritty of how this sh*t works, so I am just hoping that there's some more money available from this twits insurance.