Possible Fire Damage

Boobar · 10-30-2008, 07:23 AM

Hello all, I have a quick question to pose to the forum.

My wife and I had a fire at our home over the weekend and due to extensive water, smoke, and fire damage our home was a total loss. My humidor was in our downstairs living room during the fire. The living room itself didn't get burned by the fire but the room had smoke and water. I retreived the humidor shortly after the fire to try and save the stogies. My question is, would you attempt salvage the contents of the box and the box or would you feel that they were tanted in some way due to the fire? I have tried to smell a wide range of my sticks and I can detect no smoke smell of any kind. I am worried however because a humidor in nature will transfer humidity from inside to outside, I would think that could include smoke.

I am curious to see what you guys think. These are covered under my homeowners insurance policy but I don't want to replace them if it is not nessassary.

Thanks in advance.

10-30-2008, 07:32 AM

First I am sorry for the lose. I hope everyone was ok.

10-30-2008, 08:39 AM

Thank God everybody was OK!

As for the smokes, fire them up and test them, one at a time.

Skywalker · 10-30-2008, 08:49 AM

I am so sorry about the fire and loss!!!

As far as the stogies go... Look at that as a miracle and enjoy!

10-30-2008, 08:51 AM

I am so sorry to hear about the fire!! I am soooo glad everyone is ok. I am wondering how long were they inside the house before you got them out? If they were only exposed to the conditions for a short period of time, the chance that the smoke or toxins that were in the air were transferred to your cigars through your humi is very unlikely. So the cigars should be fine to smoke. As a precaution I would look into possibly a new humi. This is all info based on my firefighting experience!! I hope this helps!!

So what size was your humi??

GrumpyOleTroll · 10-30-2008, 08:51 AM

Check with RHNewfie he had about the same and I believe he was able to save most if not all of them.

Sorry to hear about the fire.

Shawn

10-30-2008, 09:00 AM

Sorry to hear about the fire man. I hope you manage to salvage everthing possible! I remember when my fathers house burned down. I lost everything I owned. Good Luck. Best wishes to your family!
As for your smokes I am not educated enough to know about that

dunng · 10-30-2008, 09:34 AM

Sorry to hear about the fire, but most importantly everyone is OK. I would remove them from the Humi in case it has absorbed and smoke...

Boobar · 10-30-2008, 09:59 AM

Thanks for all the kind words, both my wife and I are OK and thank God it was only property damage that can be fixed and/or replaced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefs~Wifey

So what size was your humi??

My humidor was a Cordoba and I had about 80 sticks in it. Most of the sticks we still in their cello wrappers but there were a few naked sticks, including my 1 year anniversary PAM 64 torpedo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunng

I would remove them from the Humi in case it has absorbed and smoke...

I was thinking the same thing. I am going to order a new humidor or maybe a Vinotemp. I was at Target yesterday and they didn't have any but I will check online and see what I can find.

Ms. Floydp · 10-30-2008, 10:05 AM

Sorry to hear of your loss. I've been there when my kids were little... no cigar smoking at that time though. Just gives you an empty feeling. Glad everyone is ok.

RHNewfie · 10-30-2008, 10:47 AM

Firstly I am glad that everyone was ok!!! And I have the deepest sympathy for you, its a long road after something like this. We went throught the same thing las February and they just laid our hardwood floor last week... Yeah 9 months later...

Make sure you are on top of the rebuild contractors... Check everything that they do... They are in it to make money and will do everything they can on the cheap... That's my best advice.

If the room was filled with smoke then your humi is a loss.. The cedar is like a sponge... So are the cigars.

I made a valient effort to save my cigars. I got a new cooler and got it ready, some fresh cigar boxes, an oust fan, and a couple of those arm-n-hammer stickups along with the proper humidification stuff.

Put it all together and then I put my cigars in. I changed the humidification device as it got smokey as well as the stickups and the cigar boxes periodically. Opened and aired out the cooler every day. Eventually the funk got less, some cigars neve seemed to improve so I pitched them.

Eventually the remaining cigars became smokeable, but still to this day have a funk to them. I am still looking after some of them but have no high hopes of improvement.

Let me know if I can help in any way!

Oh, the insurance co will not replace tobacco.

Mugen910 · 10-30-2008, 10:49 AM

I'm glad everyone is ok...please let us know if there is anything we can do.

bobarian · 10-30-2008, 11:02 AM

Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like RHNewfie has laid out a good plan. Let us know how everything works out.

lightning9191 · 10-30-2008, 11:50 AM

Sorry to hear about the fire....I'm glad to hear everyone is okay. One way to check if the fire affected the cigars would be to smoke a cigar that you have smoked a lot of or have smoked recently. I would pay particular attention to the pre-lit draw flavors/aromas.

Footbag · 10-30-2008, 11:54 AM

Sorry to hear about the fire. I would smoke one, and if it's bad, just plan on reporting it to your insurance company.

There is a reason you have been paying the premiums for all of those years. Don't let yourself lose out during a claim. Also remember that sales taxes should be included in your losses.

Don Fernando · 10-30-2008, 01:23 PM

Sorry to hear about the fire, hope everything is ok with you and your family.

Did the cigars get all wet due to the water, or are they 'unharmed'? That would make a hell of a difference. If they are soaked, I would toss them, otherwise I would try them. And claim them at your insurance (unless they are cc's)

Boobar · 10-30-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Sorry to hear about the fire, hope everything is ok with you and your family.

Did the cigars get all wet due to the water, or are they 'unharmed'? That would make a hell of a difference. If they are soaked, I would toss them, otherwise I would try them. And claim them at your insurance (unless they are cc's)

The cigars didn't get wet, the humidor had a little moisture on top of it but not bad and the room was not filled with smoke to the best of my knowledge. Within an hour after the fire I had the humidor out of the house and in a safe place. I have tried to smell the humidor itself and I don't get a smokey smell from it and the cigars smell OK. I just smoked a 5 Vegas Series 'A', one of my favorites, and it tasted fine. I just ordered a new humidor from CI to replace the one that I currently have. I am going to continue to smoke through the current stock of cigars in hopes that the rest of them are OK as well.

Biglizard1 · 10-30-2008, 10:33 PM

Boobar,
Im sorry to hear about your loss, I am a fireman and I imagine it is dificult to be in your position, I do think that by what you are describing sounds as though you may not have lost your smokes, they were removed quickly and if you were able able to be in the area and notice very little damage to the humi itself you may just get lucky, however I would be very careful as smoke from a house fire has a huge amount of carcinogens! If you doubt any at all, toss them all out. -david

Old Sailor · 10-30-2008, 11:44 PM

Sorry to hear about the fire, hope everything is ok with you and your family.

Prefy · 10-31-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHNewfie

Firstly I am glad that everyone was ok!!! And I have the deepest sympathy for you, its a long road after something like this. We went throught the same thing las February and they just laid our hardwood floor last week... Yeah 9 months later...

Make sure you are on top of the rebuild contractors... Check everything that they do... They are in it to make money and will do everything they can on the cheap... That's my best advice.

If the room was filled with smoke then your humi is a loss.. The cedar is like a sponge... So are the cigars.

I made a valient effort to save my cigars. I got a new cooler and got it ready, some fresh cigar boxes, an oust fan, and a couple of those arm-n-hammer stickups along with the proper humidification stuff.

Put it all together and then I put my cigars in. I changed the humidification device as it got smokey as well as the stickups and the cigar boxes periodically. Opened and aired out the cooler every day. Eventually the funk got less, some cigars neve seemed to improve so I pitched them.

Eventually the remaining cigars became smokeable, but still to this day have a funk to them. I am still looking after some of them but have no high hopes of improvement.

Let me know if I can help in any way!

Oh, the insurance co will not replace tobacco.

I would take the advise of a guy that's been though this.

Sorry to hear about the fire but I am glad to hear that noone was hurt.

10-30-2008, 07:23 AM	#1
Boobar Rubber Room Wall Bouncer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bob Location: Northcentral PA Posts: 428 Trading: (37)	Possible Fire Damage Hello all, I have a quick question to pose to the forum. My wife and I had a fire at our home over the weekend and due to extensive water, smoke, and fire damage our home was a total loss. My humidor was in our downstairs living room during the fire. The living room itself didn't get burned by the fire but the room had smoke and water. I retreived the humidor shortly after the fire to try and save the stogies. My question is, would you attempt salvage the contents of the box and the box or would you feel that they were tanted in some way due to the fire? I have tried to smell a wide range of my sticks and I can detect no smoke smell of any kind. I am worried however because a humidor in nature will transfer humidity from inside to outside, I would think that could include smoke. I am curious to see what you guys think. These are covered under my homeowners insurance policy but I don't want to replace them if it is not nessassary. Thanks in advance. __________________ Bob

10-30-2008, 07:32 AM	#2
leasingthisspace Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Possible Fire Damage First I am sorry for the lose. I hope everyone was ok.

10-30-2008, 08:39 AM	#3
SmokinAFuente Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Possible Fire Damage Thank God everybody was OK! As for the smokes, fire them up and test them, one at a time.

10-30-2008, 08:49 AM	#4
Skywalker BABOTL Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dice Location: Galaxy Far Far Away Posts: 10,168 Trading: (18)	Re: Possible Fire Damage I am so sorry about the fire and loss!!! As far as the stogies go... Look at that as a miracle and enjoy!

10-30-2008, 08:51 AM	#5
Chiefs~Wifey Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Possible Fire Damage I am so sorry to hear about the fire!! I am soooo glad everyone is ok. I am wondering how long were they inside the house before you got them out? If they were only exposed to the conditions for a short period of time, the chance that the smoke or toxins that were in the air were transferred to your cigars through your humi is very unlikely. So the cigars should be fine to smoke. As a precaution I would look into possibly a new humi. This is all info based on my firefighting experience!! I hope this helps!! So what size was your humi??

10-30-2008, 08:51 AM	#6
GrumpyOleTroll Not Crazy enuff to B Here Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Shawn Location: Wichita KS Posts: 273 Trading: (18)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Check with RHNewfie he had about the same and I believe he was able to save most if not all of them. Sorry to hear about the fire. Shawn

10-30-2008, 09:00 AM	#7
AdamC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about the fire man. I hope you manage to salvage everthing possible! I remember when my fathers house burned down. I lost everything I owned. Good Luck. Best wishes to your family! As for your smokes I am not educated enough to know about that

10-30-2008, 09:34 AM	#8
dunng MassHole Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: MassHole Posts: 4,719 Trading: (59)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about the fire, but most importantly everyone is OK. I would remove them from the Humi in case it has absorbed and smoke... __________________ MassHole Banter

10-30-2008, 10:05 AM	#10
Ms. Floydp Keeper of the Rolodex Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 33 Trading: (0)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear of your loss. I've been there when my kids were little... no cigar smoking at that time though. Just gives you an empty feeling. Glad everyone is ok.

10-30-2008, 10:47 AM	#11
RHNewfie Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Oooooh Canadaaaaa Posts: 2,007 Trading: (15)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Firstly I am glad that everyone was ok!!! And I have the deepest sympathy for you, its a long road after something like this. We went throught the same thing las February and they just laid our hardwood floor last week... Yeah 9 months later... Make sure you are on top of the rebuild contractors... Check everything that they do... They are in it to make money and will do everything they can on the cheap... That's my best advice. If the room was filled with smoke then your humi is a loss.. The cedar is like a sponge... So are the cigars. I made a valient effort to save my cigars. I got a new cooler and got it ready, some fresh cigar boxes, an oust fan, and a couple of those arm-n-hammer stickups along with the proper humidification stuff. Put it all together and then I put my cigars in. I changed the humidification device as it got smokey as well as the stickups and the cigar boxes periodically. Opened and aired out the cooler every day. Eventually the funk got less, some cigars neve seemed to improve so I pitched them. Eventually the remaining cigars became smokeable, but still to this day have a funk to them. I am still looking after some of them but have no high hopes of improvement. Let me know if I can help in any way! Oh, the insurance co will not replace tobacco. __________________ σπένδομαι

10-30-2008, 10:49 AM	#12
Mugen910 I <3 Huy Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Location Location: First Name Posts: 8,387 Trading: (106)	Re: Possible Fire Damage I'm glad everyone is ok...please let us know if there is anything we can do. __________________ I'm not antisocial, I just think people are stupid.

10-30-2008, 11:02 AM	#13
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like RHNewfie has laid out a good plan. Let us know how everything works out.

10-30-2008, 11:50 AM	#14
lightning9191 I think I'm normal... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kevin Posts: 1,007 Trading: (8)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about the fire....I'm glad to hear everyone is okay. One way to check if the fire affected the cigars would be to smoke a cigar that you have smoked a lot of or have smoked recently. I would pay particular attention to the pre-lit draw flavors/aromas. __________________ I eat gummy bears by tearing them limb from limb and eating their heads last.

10-30-2008, 11:54 AM	#15
Footbag I Need My Space Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Adam Location: NEPA Posts: 1,216 Trading: (7)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about the fire. I would smoke one, and if it's bad, just plan on reporting it to your insurance company. There is a reason you have been paying the premiums for all of those years. Don't let yourself lose out during a claim. Also remember that sales taxes should be included in your losses.

10-30-2008, 01:23 PM	#16
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,070 Trading: (29)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about the fire, hope everything is ok with you and your family. Did the cigars get all wet due to the water, or are they 'unharmed'? That would make a hell of a difference. If they are soaked, I would toss them, otherwise I would try them. And claim them at your insurance (unless they are cc's)

10-30-2008, 10:33 PM	#18
Biglizard1 LLG turned CAI Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: David Location: Earth Posts: 226 Trading: (8)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Boobar, Im sorry to hear about your loss, I am a fireman and I imagine it is dificult to be in your position, I do think that by what you are describing sounds as though you may not have lost your smokes, they were removed quickly and if you were able able to be in the area and notice very little damage to the humi itself you may just get lucky, however I would be very careful as smoke from a house fire has a huge amount of carcinogens! If you doubt any at all, toss them all out. -david

10-30-2008, 11:44 PM	#19
Old Sailor Black Ops - S.O.B. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Side Porta!! Kingsville, Ont., Canada Posts: 4,204 Trading: (22)	Re: Possible Fire Damage Sorry to hear about the fire, hope everything is ok with you and your family. __________________ Canadian Armed Forces 1976! Canadian Coast Guard, retired in 2012 after 32 years!!