Okay ... I'm freaked out now ..

[ScantyNebula]

I went to look out the window just then (its 1 am) and saw 3 fire trucks outside our apartment So we went out and the house like 2 feet away from us was on fire! Nothing serious happened, but I mean .. its scary. The houses in downtown St.John's are really close together and we are living next to a lot of old houses - i mean houses over 100 years old. I knew that fires were greater in this area .. but this just totally freaked me out. I think its about time I consider getting fire insurance!

[rg_girlca]

Oh I know exactly how you feel. We have had a few fires also that were a little two close to home, and it is a scary feeling.
I'm so glad that is wasn't anything too serious.
I hope you were able to get back to sleep.

[Cataholic]

Scanty...you rent, right? I do think you need renter's insurance, to cover your personal belongings, and give you some protection if you inadvertently are responsible for something....just to be safe. Fires are very scary...and really, not just because they are fires...but, also because the damage from the water used to extinquish even 'small' ones can be so devastating. It isn't like the fire people say, "well, we will just use a tiny amount of water to put this fire out"...they go in full force (as they should). Glad it wasn't any closer than it was!!

[Barbara]

Oh I know that feeling. One night 20 years ago I woke up because I had a strange feeling (I slept very deep). I looked out of the window -and all those firetrucks were there and the house opposite was on fire. A real horror feeling although nothing happened -the house was a shop and it was empty and it was said the owner set in on fire to get the insurance

So glad you're ok Did the kitties notice something strange going on?

[ScantyNebula]

Renters insurance .. yes, we really need to insure our stuff. We have a lot of things in this house. Do you have any idea if its very expensive to get?

The four of us were in the computer room, I just went out to get something to eat, and saw lights flashing. What bothered me was the fact that nobody even knocked on our door to tell us that the house next door was on fire ... I am very curious to know how this fire happened.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Renters insurance in the US is relatively cheap. A few years back I think I paid about $112.00 a year - and that was for replacement cost which is what you should get otherwise they give you the value of things based on what they feel they are worth, then you have to use that reduced money to go out and buy all new - at new prices.

Smoke is also very very damaging in fires. A few years back we had a fire at work in one of the apartments upstairs. My office was almost a total wreck from all the water, but the bulk of the apartment wasn't actually burned, but everything in it was a total loss because of all the smoke. Everything was absolutely, completely black sooty, oily, icky....ugh!

And I think the minimum coverage back when I had it was $25,000.00, and there was no way I had $25,000.00 worth of stuff at that time, so I kinda liked it that I had a used couch, but they would pay me replacement cost if anything happened to old thing.

[kingrattus]

I know fires all too well.

I was about 3-4, I was a kid who noticed everything different, or new, or missing. Well I was watching the fireplace & noticed that the pipe had turned bright red. I yeled for dady & pointed to it & asked why is it red? Dad rushed us out, called the fired department, & I was sent up north for 2 weeks to cool off from the house catching on fire.


& almost 2 yrs back, I was walking a shelter dog & swore I saw a fire ontop of the neighbours house. I look a bit longer & went closer to the house. It was a fire!! I looked around to see if the old couple were outside cause of the fire & it dawned on me, S@!% their still inside! I dragged the dog upto the house while running & started non stop banging on the door. Well the old man opened the door with a pissed face & I yelled ur roof os on fire & pointed & looked & ran back inside & killed the fireplace & I told him to call the fire dept. asap to make sure it was really out (he never did). But I felt like a hero that day

[Sevens]

The renter's insurance that my husband and I have is very similar to what Tubby&Peanut's mom posted. Actually, I think ours is currently $112 for the year. We are covered for $25,000, which would replace most of our stuff, I think.

Actually, we have it set up so that our insurance company automatically deducts it from my bank account once a month. This works out, because I think it only comes to $9 a month and they take it on the same day I get paid, so I don't even miss the money. It's so nice to have peace of mind about my stuff and it costs us less than a dinner out or a new toy for the pups.