That's terrible, Frank. I'm so sorry about your landlord. Please give us updates when you can and remember you always have a virtual home.

There is a process to remove the smoke smell. When my friend's house burned, the fire took out the kitchen and den, but fortunately spared her books. They reeked of smoke, though, and her insurance paid for thousands of books to be desmoked.

God Frank, how terrible. I am so sorry about your landlord, but so glad you are safe. Take care.

Frank, how scary. I'm glad you're okay.

Oh my god, Frank. I'm so sorry about your landlord, and all of it. Like Ginger said, you always have a virtual home here, and if there's anything we can do to help, just shout.

Frank, I'm so glad you are okay.

A friend just had a fire that caused major smoke damage to her house (her brand new Kia Sorrento was parked in the garage and had a short in one of the lights - it went up in flames, destroyed the garage, but the fire barrier kept it contained so it didn't spread to the house) and she tells me that anything plastic can't be saved, but a lot of the rest can. She's hoping they'll be back in their house with what could be cleaned in about 4-5 months.

Frank, that is terrible. I am so glad you are OK, but I am sorry to hear about your landlord.

Thanks everyone. This is about the worst thing that's happened to me in my life, and yet I still consider myself fortunate. If it had gone up completely, I would have been left with a bathrobe, two shoes, no wallet, no phone, no eyeglasses, and a car I wouldn't have the keys to. In those circumstances? I'd probably be wishing the smoke had gotten me.

I'm also glad you have a good temporary place to stay!

Oh, Frank, I'm so glad you're OK, and so sorry for the rest of it. Rosemary had to desmoke some of her mom's possessions after the fire that took the mom's life, so I can ask her how she went about it and if she has any resources she'd suggest.

Holy hell, Frank. That's awful. I'm glad you got out ok at least.