While the shell of the house appears largely intact, the roof is a jumble of charred rafters and twisted tin tiles. The interior is a damp, sooty mass of piles of ash and soggy wallboard.

On Tuesday, Marty said the builders were working on an assessment to send to the couple’s insurers.

“One of the guys was a little confident about holding up the exterior walls, but I’m not too sure. We’re also considering a payment, just throw it in and go…but that’s all up in the air at the moment.

Two weeks after the fire, he said the couple had gotten over the initial shock, but were still processing things and had a lot more to do.

He thought a rocket might have lodged in a valley on the roof and spewed flames under the sheet metal.

“The fire department said even if we proved it was a firework, they couldn’t do anything unless we had video of the guy doing it.”

The disaster had only hardened his opinion on the public sale of fireworks.

“I used to hate them because we have cats… There is a lively “Pawtition” for all pet owners against fireworks and I signed it a week before Saturday. Ironic, isn’t it? We have a bit of PTSD now, every time we hear fireworks we are up and alert.

Megan initially thought a popping sound was rain falling on the roof, he said.

“Later I remember a downlight in the living room that came down and looked in. You know, when you burn wood for a long time, it has this almost wrinkled appearance, I saw that all the rafters were like that and I thought it was sacred…”

The couple were not alerted by their smoke detectors because the smoke exceeded the alarm sensors.

As an electrician, Marty said he has since spoken with an electrical supplier about whether a smoke alarm could be effective in the rafters of a home.

“This seems like a perfect idea that we should now promote for new construction. But he wasn’t sure they would handle the general daily heat there.

He said his own efforts to put out the flames were ineffective.

“The garden hose was squatting, because the fire was below the box, so the water was just running over the roof. I really needed to go in and blow some water inside where the spots had fallen out.

Firefighters also did not begin to act until they entered the garage and directed the water upward through the access hatch in the ceiling, he explained, and then proceeded to smash holes in the soffit.

Surprisingly, the garden around the house had remained remarkably intact.

“It’s our pride and joy. This is the most devastating part, we were looking forward to summer, we had everything we wanted, we had the pergola in place, we had all these plans for having friends over.

However, he acknowledged that the fact that the couple escaped physically unscathed was a saving grace, as were some hard copies of photos, protected by soggy Gib.

“And the cats, the cats are our children. Good thing these guys came out… We were remarkably lucky. Megan and I are both positive people, but this kind of thing can take a toll on you.

Marty said another positive was the response from their neighbors on both sides.

“They were amazing, offering electricity and water until we got settled. We were even using their WiFi and were offered to use the shower and bathroom. They were incredibly generous afterwards and wonderful that evening.

Certainly, he retained his sense of humor, laughing that if he had thought ahead he would have charged those who came to watch at night and are now giving tours.

“If I didn’t have that, I’d be curled up in a ball, crying in a corner somewhere. »

Megan’s sister Lorien Bainbridge started a Givealittle page for the couple House fire caused by fireworks – Givealittle to help cover the couple’s belongings destroyed in the fire.

“You never think you will have to use your home insurance or the full value of your contents insurance, so the cover will never be enough,” Lorien explains on the page.

“They’re going to need more to pay for temporary accommodation while the house is rebuilt and everything is replaced, down to their underwear.”