I got a frantic call from my wife today just as I was getting on my truck. She said her parents house was on fire. I hurried home and picked up the kids then headed up there. There wasn't much left of the house. Mom was ok but she had lost 3 out of her 4 dogs. She said that she was starting a fire in the fireplace about noon. She emptied the old ashes from last nights fire into a trash can outside next to the house, like she has done many times. Well they caught the can on fire and then the outside of the house, which was a log cabin type.
That spread to the back bedroom. She didn't realize what had happened until the smoke started filling up the living room. By then, it was too late.
A few weeks ago, my father-in-law had bought a nice, big and proper gun safe. He was working on clearing a spot in a back room for it. He didn't put all of his guns in it yet because "I'd just have to take them all back out when we move it." He lost a several very valuable guns. A Colt Python, a 1947 Winchester pump .410, 2 Anshutz Woodchucker bolt action .22 rimfire rifles (one that my boy took his first shots with) and a beautifully engraved S&W 44 special model 24. Also lost were his newly built AR, several shotguns and polymer pistols, a 1911, a S&W J-frame from the 1960's, a TC Encore and a Colt Single Action .22lr convertible.
The Python
The Winchester .410 before and after.
He really regrets not having everything in the safe. Trying to save about 10 minutes of work cost him all of those guns.
So now the process of rebuilding their lives starts.
That spread to the back bedroom. She didn't realize what had happened until the smoke started filling up the living room. By then, it was too late.
A few weeks ago, my father-in-law had bought a nice, big and proper gun safe. He was working on clearing a spot in a back room for it. He didn't put all of his guns in it yet because "I'd just have to take them all back out when we move it." He lost a several very valuable guns. A Colt Python, a 1947 Winchester pump .410, 2 Anshutz Woodchucker bolt action .22 rimfire rifles (one that my boy took his first shots with) and a beautifully engraved S&W 44 special model 24. Also lost were his newly built AR, several shotguns and polymer pistols, a 1911, a S&W J-frame from the 1960's, a TC Encore and a Colt Single Action .22lr convertible.
The Python
The Winchester .410 before and after.
He really regrets not having everything in the safe. Trying to save about 10 minutes of work cost him all of those guns.
So now the process of rebuilding their lives starts.
Last edited:
