Chip Schram and his wife Judy experienced a trauma that could bring anyone to their knees when they had no choice but to watch their home and all their possessions burn to the ground this past February. Chip shares with us the experience and how we should prepare ourselves should such a disaster threaten us.

From: Chip Schram <schramhokie@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chip & Judy Schram's home fire
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:15:18 +0000

     On Feb 11th, just after 0600, our smoke alarms went off and I found the oil furnace room on fire. The room stands alone off of our front porch. Our oil furnace was serviced every summer and was bought new in 1995. I had earlier in the week had two different oil furnace service men come to our home because the furnace kept cutting off.

     Fire calls were made to 911 by Judy and I went to the kitchen to get a fire extinguisher. I fought the fire until the extinguisher was empty. Judy got her 80 year old Mother out of the house along with one of our three cats and with our dog and a dog that we were keeping for a cancer patient who was in the hospital.

     Judy got in our Ford Explorer and drove it across the field over the cattle guard so that fire trucks could use our driveway. I then got in my Ford pick up truck and joined her in the field. Her one owner 1965 Mustang remained at the home because the keys to it were hanging separately in the kitchen. Later, her Mustang rear end was scorched before the fire department broke one of the rear windows and moved it away from the fire.

     All we had were our PJs, robe and slippers. We had just experienced a bad ice storm the week before the fire and the last quarter mile of our one mile drive way faced north and was still icy. Only one four wheel fire truck made it to our house. Once it ran out of water, water was pumped up hill by a fire department pumper truck from a creek but the water lines froze. It was eight degrees that morning

     It was too late. Even my sailboat on the other side of the house was burned and of course all the sails and associated sailing equipment was in our basement. Two of our cats perished.

     There is some good news. No fireman was injured and the woods on our north and west side did not catch on fire. Woods are 30 and 40 yards, respectfully, on the north and west side of the house. It is pasture for a mile on the south side of the house and 200 yards of open pasture on the east side of the house.

     All was lost in the fire to include my 1961 year book, Jack Billingham's baseball cards (I had every one) and my 1961 alumni roster of names and addresses. We are dealing with the insurance adjuster and associated paper work now.

     Best advice for classmates......take an audio visual camera and photograph every part of your house inside and outside and then store in in a safe deposit box or at your office, etc. Also, when you complete upgrades to your home, notify your insurance company and adjust your coverage. Lastly, buy the biggest fire extinguishers you can find at Lowe's, etc., and place them in your kitchen, basement and at the opposite end of your house from the kitchen. Fire does not care when it comes and who it comes to. My address book burnt up but our mailing address is still the same as always.

Thanks for caring,

Chip & Judy Schram
POB 1392
Lexington, Va 24450