10 replies to this topic

[Miller192]

I know we have a few here on the board but I can't remember who is.

 

Here's my question:

 

We lost our house to a fire on October 27th.  We're all ok but the house suffered a lot of damage.  The basement was completely burned out but the rest of the house sustained a lot of smoke damage.  Thankfully our insurance company has been awesome.

 

My wife and I want to do something for the fire departments that arrived that day.  Things could've been a lot worse if they hadn't moved so fast.

 

What's the best way to show our appreciation?  We are thinking of making a monetary donation but don't want that to get caught up in some red-tape and never see the firehouse.

 

 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Damn man, very sorry to hear that - and glad to hear everything is OK all things considered.

 

I know Mike Randall (BSLMikeRandall) is a firefighter, or used to be, not entirely sure. But he'd know.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Aww man, I'm so sorry...   but also respect the hell out of your for the mindset, and wanting some good to come from it.

[Mike in STL]

I know we have a few here on the board but I can't remember who is.
 
Here's my question:
 
We lost our house to a fire on October 27th.  We're all ok but the house suffered a lot of damage.  The basement was completely burned out but the rest of the house sustained a lot of smoke damage.  Thankfully our insurance company has been awesome.
 
My wife and I want to do something for the fire departments that arrived that day.  Things could've been a lot worse if they hadn't moved so fast.
 
What's the best way to show our appreciation?  We are thinking of making a monetary donation but don't want that to get caught up in some red-tape and never see the firehouse.
 
 

Very sorry to hear that. Glad no one was hurt too.

Question, who responded, or where do you live. City, County, rural volunteer company?

[SportsGuy]

Shit...so sorry to hear that!  I can't imagine.

 

Glad to hear everyone made it out safely!

[Miller192]

Thanks guys.  It's been a shitty couple of months between hotel living and this rental house they have us in.  It really could've been a lot worse though.

 

Joppa Magnolia VFC and Abingdon VFC both responded.  I think Fallston was there as well but I'm not certain.

[BSLChrisStoner]

What can we do to help you?

[Miller192]

What can we do to help you?

 

Thanks for the offer Chris.  We're good.  We should be back in the house in another month or so.

[Mike in STL]

Thanks guys.  It's been a shitty couple of months between hotel living and this rental house they have us in.  It really could've been a lot worse though.
 
Joppa Magnolia VFC and Abingdon VFC both responded.  I think Fallston was there as well but I'm not certain.

Volley houses are more willing to accept donations. The ethical issues arise in paid companies. Best thing to do is go up there one night and thank the guys and gals in person. Tell them you want to do something nice for them. They'll probably try not to accept anything and say they're just doing their job. Or having suffered what you did that you need it more than they do. But if you insist, volley houses might take a small cash donation. Maybe they have you buy a ticket to an upcoming event like a bull roast or something. So it's a donation, but you get something back. Even a couple dozen donuts or some baked goods goes a long way.

Just make sure if you pop in that you ask for the officer of the engine or truck. They will be able to assist you the best.

[RShack]

One year on my birthday, my bride almost burned down the huge beach house that I designed and built most of with my own hands... still-hot coals in a cheap Weber grill burned through the bottom,. hot coals blown by the wind up against the cypus siding, fire inside the wall... all at 2am... VFD showed up, *asked my permission* to put their axes through that wall (which I encouraged them to do), and put it out.  On-site fire chief said another 10-15 minutes the fire would have been up in the enclosed eves, and that would have been all she wrote...

 

Get this:  when they were done, they went to a lot of trouble to clean up the mess they made... including mopping the dang floor to get the footprints up from their ashy boots...  which I could not believe...

 

Anyway, each year they sent out a SASE envelope with a letter in which they'd ask everybody to donate something like $25 or whatever we decided.  We'd always give them $75.  But when the letter came that year, we gave them $1200, along with a letter recounting what a HUGE diff they made in our lives... In that letter, I explained how they're just better people than I am...breathing smoke and shit to save a house that meant everything to me but meant absolutely nothing to them... except they were our neighbors and members of the VFD.

 

I never really thought about what firemen do until that happened... they *are* better people than I am...

[Miller192]

Thanks, Mike.  We plan on stopping by both houses tonight with a donation.

 

Rshack: You are spot on.  Very easy to take these guys for granted until something like this happens.