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Big m fire
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luedi
Posted 2023-05-14 2:52 PM (#629545)
Subject: Big m fire



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https://gofund.me/571be6f3
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ronbo97
Posted 2023-05-14 5:14 PM (#629549 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: RE: Big m fire


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Location: Connecticut

A bit more descriptive:

One of the main suppliers of Mopar parts for our hobby, John Fowlie of Big M Auto, had a structure fire at his place. His house was destroyed, as well as a number of project cars. He and his wife, M'Lisa, survived, although M'Lisa needed to be hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.

Here is a link to the GoFundMe page to help John and M'Lisa rebuild:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-fowlies-of-big-m-auto-home-lost-to-housefire?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Ron

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Lancer Mike
Posted 2023-05-14 8:19 PM (#629554 - in reply to #629549)
Subject: RE: Big m fire



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Location: The Mile High City

Oh, no!  I'm glad John and M'Lisa are relatively ok.  Tragedy!

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Mope R. Geezer
Posted 2023-05-15 11:48 AM (#629563 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: RE: Big m fire



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Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds

That same post and pic are on Big M's facebook page.  Has anyone talked to John or M'Lisa?

UPDATE:  I just spoke to John by phone, and the fire happened last week near dusk.  Apparently started by cotton fluffs/leaves from cottonwood trees falling into compost pile near house.  John tried to put fire out with hose & fire extinguisher, but failed.  House was totally consumed quickly, but fortunately M'Lisa & her sister were able to escape.  Besides the house, about a dozen project cars were destroyed.  The other outbuildings were saved.  Go-fund-me is legitimate - started by John's nephew. Since all of the California wildfires in past years, John has been unable to obtain insurance due to wood stove heat and distance from fire hydrant/fire department.



Edited by Mope R. Geezer 2023-05-15 12:39 PM
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Powerflite
Posted 2023-05-15 3:44 PM (#629569 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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How much money does gofundme take? I'm going to give directly to his paypal instead.
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Mope R. Geezer
Posted 2023-05-15 4:43 PM (#629572 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: RE: Big m fire



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Posts: 2098
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Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds

I was wondering the same since I've never used gofundme before.  According to their website, they charge a 2.9 percent payment processing fee and $0.30 per donation.  I will be sending mine directly to John via snail mail.

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mikes2nd
Posted 2023-05-15 8:07 PM (#629576 - in reply to #629569)
Subject: Re: Big m fire


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yeah just make sure it specified gift, he wont want to pay taxes or fees on it

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LostDeere59
Posted 2023-05-17 9:48 AM (#629615 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: RE: Big m fire



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Funds sent to his Paypal could be construed as business income . .

Perhaps we could post a currently viable mailing address in this thread so donations can be sent directly, and discretely, to John?


Gregg



Edited by LostDeere59 2023-05-17 9:49 AM
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Powerflite
Posted 2023-05-17 9:54 AM (#629616 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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His info is on his website.
http://www.bigmauto.com/
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big m
Posted 2023-05-17 11:18 AM (#629617 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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It's all true.
I was just finishing unloading two cars from my trailer, and putting the forklift away, when I noticed a random car seat next to a rack of hoods on fire. I ran over to the well, and filled a bucket to douse the fire. that's when I noticed smoke at the front of the house. I have a garden there, and using the hose was my first though. I came around the corner, and a woodpile I keep there was on fire, but my concern was the house. Fire was under the front porch, and flew up the honeysuckle vines into the eves. the power line above crackled and sparked, I threw the hose down and yelled at my wife to get the hell out, the house is on fire. Her sister has been staying with us, but luckily was not sleeping, and they made it out. Not more than five minutes since I noticed the smoke, the entire house was engulfed. We moved our daily drivers away, but my sister in law's keys were in the house, so it was left behind. There were about a dozen fire trucks that arrived to help put out the fire, it had spread to the project car area by then. M'lisa was admitted to the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, and I and M'chel [her sister] stayed with our nephew, Allan Benavidez, in Yuba city, 40 miles away.
The next day, I drove over to see what all might have been left, we stayed far away from the firefighters so they could do their job the night before, so we had no idea. Miraculously, they saved all the outbuildings where the restored cars were, and my barn. The entire house and contents were destroyed. M'lisa is out of the hospital and breathing better, we lost our pet cats, but saved our black lab.

The fire chief, after doing his investigation, surmised that it could have started by spontaneous combustion in a leaf pile, or sunlight shining through a half filled water bottle, or a cigarrette. The last one is unlikely, as we don't smoke, and nobody was there that day other than us 3.

---John
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jboymechanic
Posted 2023-05-17 4:41 PM (#629621 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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This is terrible news John, but I"m glad to hear that you and your family are ok.
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Powerflite
Posted 2023-05-17 7:15 PM (#629623 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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I hope you can get something new built as soon as possible. It stinks to live away from your family business. If it were me, I would take my revenge out on that tree and remove it from mortal existence.
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57plymouth
Posted 2023-05-18 7:03 AM (#629632 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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John, for those of us that would like to make a contribution to you directly would you post a mailing address for us to send a check?
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mstrug
Posted 2023-05-18 7:35 AM (#629633 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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Big M Automotive Classic Car Dismantler

(530) 473-2225

271 N. 7th Street

Williams, Ca 95987

http://www.bigmauto.com/

Edited by mstrug 2023-05-18 7:36 AM
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big m
Posted 2023-05-18 2:04 PM (#629642 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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Location: Williams California
Thanks, Marc!!
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ttotired
Posted 2023-05-18 6:34 PM (#629643 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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Sorry for your disaster John

I am glad to hear that you and your family are OK

Always a silver lining to these things, so I hope yours shows itself soon

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Chrome58
Posted 2023-05-23 9:00 AM (#629781 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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I was shocked to discover the extent of that fire at John's place.
And, reading the story, I was stunned at the fact that they had only 5 to 10 minutes to get out of the house before it was engulfed in the flames.

John has always been very helpful during the long years of restoring my car.
And I still have fond memories of the incredible 4 days I spent in California in 2011, just to attend his annual pig roast.

All my thoughts are with you and your family, John.
I'll gladly make a contribution.

Vincent



Edited by Chrome58 2023-05-23 9:01 AM
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ToMopar
Posted 2023-05-30 6:54 AM (#629882 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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I got this bad news while i was traveling in italy without internet. I was glad to hear that nothing happened to you personally. Losing your home and all the memories associated with it is still painful. I am particularly affected because I know the house on the Salvage site and the space available and of course the proximity to the barn, at least the restored vehicles survived, which makes me particularly happy. Not that the cars are more important to me - it's more that I'm glad that the fire didn't spread to the whole site. Thus, at least the working basis of the bigM and of course the financial value of the vehicles have been preserved.

All my thoughts are with you and your family, John.
I'll gladly make a contribution.

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bad58mike
Posted 2023-05-31 11:37 AM (#629903 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: RE: Big m fire



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Hi John, I just read the tragic news! So terribly sorry this happened to you and your family. Thank goodness you guys are ok! Hang in there, it will all be ok.

I'll be making a contribution! Good luck John!

Mike
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westaus29
Posted 2023-06-01 10:17 AM (#629933 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire


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Sorry to hear about the fire and the effect on your family, John, but glad to hear you are ok.

You have given a helping hand to so many over the years and hopefully it is time for you to receive in return

Jim
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DVjohn
Posted 2023-07-05 12:31 AM (#630615 - in reply to #629545)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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Just heard about this, holy crap.
Im glad you and M'Lisa are OK..
you guys have always been so good to me and a
the gang at ICC that its the least we can do to help you out.
Donation sent, I wish I could get hold of everyone and hopefully
get more donations heading your way.
The forum is down so I dont know where everyone is.
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firedome
Posted 2023-08-06 9:49 AM (#631194 - in reply to #630615)
Subject: Re: Big m fire



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Whoa!! I've just read this as I'm not on here much anymore due to no FL cars at present, but John! thanks be that you and your family are OK!
Hope your business will be able to recover, hopefully your personal FL cars you've put so much of yourself into are OK too! Big M has been a huge help to me and many others with our old car work over so many years. Best wishes from NY!!
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