Rough night for my neighbor

[sandman2234]

Last year one of my neighbors put on a fireworks show that rivaled the city's show downtown. We were hoping for a repeat this year, as it was nice sitting by the window upstairs looking over our yard like front row seats.
I think he was getting ready for the show, and I heard a few preliminary pops of rockets. I looked out the kitchen window, and realized there was a problem. His barn was engulfed in flames, and I don't mean like a sparkler.
The entire building is a loss, including the nice JD tractor and his zero turn mower. I am sure going to miss that JD, as I have used it several times when I needed a front end loader.
Thankful that the fire was contained to his barn, and left his house alone, and that nobody was hurt.
For all of you, please be extra careful during this fire season.
David from jax

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I hope that his insurance will cover it all. They may want to give him a rough time if they hear about the fireworks part.

 

[Matt_Jr]

That's too bad. A shop around here had a fuel tank out of a vehicle and the gas vapor got to the hot water heater. The whole building was engulfed in seconds. Tool boxes were nothing but a pile of slag afterwords. The insurance company didn't cover anything. They claimed that it was caused by negligence. Many techs lost tens of thousands of dollars in tools, cars parked outside, and the building. It's really sad to hear when people lose stuff that takes years to accumulate, their livelyhood and all, but at least it can all be bought or worked for again. Lives can't. Let's hope it works out for him and they cover everything.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

i think about this all the time, i built the garage about 4 years ago and i've yet to tell the insurance company.....most of my net worth is in that garage. i've always figured they'd blame my wiring, my coal stove, my fuel cans or something....

That's too bad. A shop around here had a fuel tank out of a vehicle and the gas vapor got to the hot water heater. The whole building was engulfed in seconds. Tool boxes were nothing but a pile of slag afterwords. The insurance company didn't cover anything. They claimed that it was caused by negligence. Many techs lost tens of thousands of dollars in tools, cars parked outside, and the building. It's really sad to hear when people lose stuff that takes years to accumulate, their livelyhood and all, but at least it can all be bought or worked for again. Lives can't. Let's hope it works out for him and they cover everything.

 

[EddieWalker]

That's just depressing. Sorry to hear about stuff like that.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

I have quite a few fireworks left over from July 4th, but my county has a burn ban and I refuse to bring out the fireworks in unsafe conditions.

This is not to say your neighbor was unsafe, David, there are many things that can happen with fireworks. Last year I had a shell explode as soon as it came out of the tube. It sprayed me and all the spectators with sparks. Next year, the spectators will be back much further from the show. Nobody got badly burned this year, but we were all lucky. I wish your neighbor good luck with his insurance claim.

 

[brandoro]

Hopefully insurance will cover it but, even if it does there are always little things that you gather up over time that are difficult to replace or put a value on.
One of the most entertaining fireworks shows I have seen around here was watching one of my neighbours get chased down the beach by a rocket that fell over just as it was launching. No harm done so it was pretty funny, took him a little longer than the rest of us to see the humour in it. Still, lots of potential for something like that to cause a fire if it ended up against a house or shed.
I bought a 20 foot container last year mostly so I could get things like propane bottles and fuel cans out of my shop. Never liked having them in there but if I leave them outside they have a tendency to wander off.

 

[sandman2234]

Not your average John Deere colors. I much prefer the green and yellow.
Fire Marshall determined that the electical had suffered from the effects of rodents compounded by his leaving the lights on for the last 24 hours, which started the fire. The origin of the fire was right on the other side of the wall from the tractor, and was the last part that the fire department put out. The Deere had no chance...






David from jax

 

[DWCox]

Good to hear no one was hurt. Sad to see a nice J.D. end up like that though. I hope everything works out for your neighbor.

 

[irwin]

That is one sad picture......

 

[AchingBack]

Put it in the yard, and plant some flower around it. That's what I'd do.

 

[Midsouth]

sad to see any tractor looking like that. At least no one was hurt. Things can be replaced sadly people can not.

 

[pitt_md]

Not your average John Deere colors. I much prefer the green and yellow.
Fire Marshall determined that the electical had suffered from the effects of rodents compounded by his leaving the lights on for the last 24 hours, which started the fire. The origin of the fire was right on the other side of the wall from the tractor, and was the last part that the fire department put out. The Deere had no chance...






David from jax

It could have been worse...That could have been a Kubota!

 

[Redbug]

When a tractor has been in a fire like that...is there anything that can be salvaged? Or is the whole thing ready for the scrap man? Seems like the bucket, wheels and the like can be reused.

I know your neighbor is traumatized...I would be, too.

 

[dqdave1]

Heat usually destroys metal to point it is no good.

About fireworks; in Ohio; they are illegal to have. I have a license to shoot fireworks, issued by State Fire Marshall, which required continued education. Fireworks are nothing to play with without being safe. Remeber to keep specators back 70 feet for every inch of shell you are using, and make SURE all fireworks are properly secured to prevent them from tipping over ( very important)

 

[farmboy12]

They are illegal here in MD too. It's not too inforced, but you're supposed to have a license. When I say they go easy on you, if you're doing a safe job-out in the middle of an open field, spectators away- then they probably wouldn't give anymore than a warning. However, if it is a commercial event, you need a license.


Kyle

 

[jaybrad]

It could have been worse...That could have been a Kubota!

I guess if the tractor is beyond repair, they may as well paint it orange.

On the other hand, if it can be put back into service, it's hard to beat a nice coat of red paint, with black highlights.

 

[sandman2234]

I have seen some pretty nasty vehicle fires, and the vehicles were rebuilt. Not something I would want to buy, but it has been done, and ended up looking pretty good.

Jaybrad may actually have hit something on the head with his comment about if it is dead, paint it orange...
I am negotiating with the owner to purchase the remains of the JD, and will attempt to put it on a Kubota (grey market) B6000 tractor that belongs to a friend. The first consideration will be if the insurance company declines to remove it for their own benefit. The second will be how long it takes to make a decision, as the longer it sets, the more the rust will take over. It won't take much to completely ruin what is left (which isn't much)
The rear ends and transmisson are still untouched,and don't appear to have gotten very hot, and if somebody pops a gear in the front axle, this little jewel might just be the one they are dreaming about, and wishing for. I may try to save the mower, but it had better be done quick, as there isn't much paint left on it.
More on this as time goes by...
David from jax

 

[pitt_md]

I had an 87 corvette that went up in flames. Got hot enough to melt all aluminum (wheels, intake manifold, etc) components into puddles. Nothing left worth rebuilding.

 

[kthompson]

Sandman, often the insurance company expects the person to take steps to prevent the loss getting worse such as putting tarp over hole in roof to prevent more rain. May take that attitude with the tractor but probably will not. However, if the adjuster is decent he may be able to talk with him about the salvage value if it can be released real quick due to rust issues.


Matt, and did the person or company not push the insurance company on the negligence issue? It would also seem they had to prove the gas tank was 100% the cause. Was it normal business to have a gas tank there, if so would help their case with the insurance company. But my guess is by not lawyers have been talked with based upon the size of the loss.