OT: Fire is coming. What do you grab?

[raulus]

The fires in SoCal reminded me that we had a similar scare a few years ago. Hopefully everyone in the vicinity has been able to evade the fires, and any losses are insured. In a personal note, my sister who lives in Santa Rosa has had her place burn down twice over the last few years. So I’m definitely familiar with how devastating it can be.

A few years ago when the blaze was approaching our house, we got to the point where the authorities advised us to gather our stuff and be ready to leave.

What do you include on your list to take with you? Does the cardboard make the cut? All of it, or just the stuff that is hard to replace? And to what extent do you tell your wife?

I had planned to take all of my valuable cardboard, and leave the cheap stuff. Naturally, when I shared my plan with the wife, she was less than enthused about my priorities. And not because she wanted more love for the commons!

So now it’s your turn. What’s on your list to grab and go?

[BRoberts]

Joe T.

[jingram058]

The most important things...pets, papers (deeds, titles, insurance, checks, etc.), clothes, toiletries. Maybe a few irreplaceable cards.

[BigfootIsReal]

Nothing......all valuables should already be in a fire safe

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by BigfootIsReal

Nothing......all valuables should already be in a fire safe

All my cards are in a fire safe. They protect for about 90 minutes at 1400 degrees. That isn't going to cut it for a sustained fire. That's good for holding off until the fire department puts out a house fire.

If I have advanced notice and don't have to be worried about rushing my family out of a burning house, I have the irreplaceable cards in a carrying case inside the fire safe. I can quickly open the safe and grab that case and run.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

All my cards are in a fire safe. They protect for about 90 minutes at 1400 degrees. That isn't going to cut it for a sustained fire. That's good for holding off until the fire department puts out a house fire.

If I have advanced notice and don't have to be worried about rushing my family out of a burning house, I have the irreplaceable cards in a carrying case inside the fire safe. I can quickly open the safe and grab that case and run.

The UL fire ratings refers to the amount of time the the interior temp stays below 350 degrees at exposures of 1700 degrees. A house fire with enough fuel can burn in excess of that. Paper might not char until closer to 400 degrees but most plastics melt under 200 degrees, which is not great for slabs.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BRoberts

Joe T.

Too funny. You must add your touch to the Memory Lane thread too.

[Eric72]

If time was extremely limited, my wife and I would grab our two cats. Knowing those two, we wouldn't be able to hold anything else. So, unless the item fits into our pockets, it's getting left behind. I'd grab keys, phone, wallet...and that's about it.

[Casey2296]

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My collection, by design, fits in 4 samsonite strong cases about the size of carry on luggage, so those 4 cases, a fifth with cash and gold, and my trusty canine companion Orlando. A knife, a plate, a bowl, a fork, and two blankets.

if I had more time I'd grab some artwork, all pertinent financial info is at the office so I'm good there.

If I had even more time I'd grab Halle Berry and just keep driving.

[theshowandme]

I once asked a question on Instagram and captured the responses on YouTube

“Your House Is Burning Down, The One Card You Would Grab?”

https://youtu.be/AcJfW2WRD5c?si=fzIE_TX3RZZRx-N5

[Yoda]

And don't forget your passport.

[todeen]

My mother has had to evacuate twice from wild fires in 30 years, living in WA state. Both times we had hours to pack. My baseball card collection is not so significant that I couldn't rebuild. Maybe I have 5 items on display I could throw into a pocket. What I am worried about is family heirlooms. My dad's watch collection, for instance. It's got a separate rider on our insurance, but he loved watches and it is sentimental to me. He has a 1950 Rolex that has been handed down. I'm the 4th owner. Maybe my wife's Mikimoto pearl necklace, right next to my watches.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[IndyDave]

I have often wondered how bank safe deposit boxes hold up in these type fires?

[ALR-bishop]

I know from first hand experience they are not always water proof

[bnorth]

The dog and nothing else. We only have them for a short time but they have always been my most prized possession.

[Chris-Counts]

After having lived through a number of wildfires in Big Sur, CA during the 1990s, I constantly worry about fire. While a home that I was living in never burned down while I was living in it, four different homes that I did live in burned down AFTER I lived in them. For many years, I kept everything of value in a large safe deposit box at the bank, but over time, I've added more larger display items to my collection, so it's no longer possible. Eventually, I moved out of a high-risk neighborhood — it's nice to live so close to nature in California, but risk just wasn't worth it anymore for me. Now I live in the flatlands of a metropolis, where I worry less about fire, and more about theft.