Latest news with #attic
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Attic Fire leaves Grand Chute family without home, cigarettes likely cause
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (WFRV) – Authorities say cigarettes are the likely cause of an attic fire at a home in Grand Chute on Friday evening that has left two adults and three dogs without a home. According to the Grand Chute Fire Department, crews were called to a home in the 2000 block of West Hiawatha Drive in Grand Chute just before 7 p.m. on July 25 after getting multiple 911 calls reporting heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of the home. Equipment fire at Fond du Lac's Milk Specialties causes evacuation, suspended operations Neighbors reportedly saw the fire first and alerted the residents, who were all able to safely evacuate the home, including their pets. No injuries were reported. With help from multiple fire departments, the fire in the attic was put out from outside the house. Crews then pulled down the ceiling and soffits in several areas to be completely sure that the fire was out. The release notes that although a damage value has not been determined, it is likely that most or all of the house will need to be rebuilt. Shawano Police remind residents about city curfew ordinance in effect for minors Authorities also pointed to improper disposal of cigarettes outside the house as the unofficial cause of the fire. The fire reportedly started on the house's siding before burning to the attic and spreading. No additional information was provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Resident escapes attic fire in St. Thomas
A fire broke out in the attic of this home on Malakoff Street in St. Thomas, Ont. on Friday, July 25, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) On a hot, hazy night, the smoke from a St. Thomas house fire could be smelled across the city. Around 9:30 p.m. Friday, the attic of a home on Malakoff Street caught fire. 'We got multiple 911 calls for a fire at the house,' said Kim Destun, chief fire prevention officer with St Thomas Fire Department (STFD). 'All the occupants were able to escape quickly and there were no animals involved.' The home is surrounded by trees, which made it difficult for the firefighters to attack the persistent blaze. 'A lot of access issues with the trees around it,' said Destun. 'It's been a tough one. It's up in the attic, so firefighters really had to struggle to get it out. Hydro had to come in, and it's a fairly narrow street and we were blocking off most of the space.' ST THOMAS ATTIC FIRE Firefighters battle an attic blaze on Malakoff Street in St. Thomas on Friday, July 25, 2025. (Source: St. Thomas Fire Department) One of the two occupants of the house was home at the time of the fire, and got out right away. Police, EMS and Victim Services were on hand to help the STFD. When firefighters arrived, the smoke was coming through the attic area, and the entire area was under a cloud of haze. 'It was very smoky and because of the wind … it was all down at street level for some reason,' said Destun. 'It's hot tonight and the firefighters really struggled with the heat. It's been a tough go for them.' With Station #1 being only three minutes away, and multiple calls for assistance they were able to get it knocked down quickly. The cause is still being determined, but it is not considered suspicious.
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Dear Richard Madeley: ‘I don't want to admit my bully of a big brother was right all along'
Dear Richard, I've always had an uneasy relationship with my brother. He is three years older than me and a bit of a bully. We are now in our 60s. About 20 years ago, he was given a nice Georgian desk by his godmother. At about the same time he moved abroad and left a lot of his stuff, including the desk, in our parents' attic, as did I with a number of my possessions. When my parents had to sell their house two years ago, I moved my things from their attic to mine. But when my brother showed up to do the same, an almighty row erupted: he accused me of taking his desk and demanded it be returned. I was absolutely certain that I had not taken it; he was absolutely certain that I had. He went overseas again and we haven't spoken since. My dilemma is this: I've just been up to the loft and what should I find but – you guessed it – his desk. Perhaps my son, who's not party to the saga, moved it – or perhaps it was a senior moment on my part. My wife is proposing various elaborate scenarios in which we photograph the desk in the window of a charity shop or simply take it to the tip. I'm in no hurry to restore it to him, but I don't like to think of it up in the attic, silently throbbing with bad vibes. I don't see an outcome where we use this to 'heal' our relationship; I just want a minimum of drama. What's your take on 'the affair of the escritoire'? — P, via Dear P, I'm afraid you're not going to like it. But however unpleasant and overbearing your brother may be, there is one simple fact here. He was right. You did take his desk. It's not relevant whether you remember doing it, or if your son got it muddled with your other things – his desk is in your attic. He called it correctly – and no wonder he was angry when you flatly and repeatedly denied it. I certainly don't think you should play silly games. And as for throwing it on to the nearest tip... I hope you're not even remotely serious, P. No. Your course is clear. Write to him and make a clean breast of things. Tell him his godmother's gift did somehow find its way into your attic, you're extremely sorry, you apologise unreservedly, and ask him how he would like it returned. He may remain the S-H-one-T you describe him as – but you're better than that, aren't you? And you'll have done the right thing.
Irish Times
16-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
How do you get rid of mould in the attic and prevent it coming back?
A few years ago, my son had a friend insulate his attic. He recently discovered that a great deal of mould has since grown as it seems the attic was never properly ventilated. What can he do to get rid of the mould and prevent it coming back? The attic is an interesting source of additional space, particularly if it has the headroom to provide for a room that complies with building regulations, namely that it has a ceiling height of 2.4m for more than half the floor area. This ceiling height requirement is to ensure adequate ventilation of the space (Part F of the Building Regulations). But even if it isn't suitable for habitable accommodation, it can be a useful storage space. For the purposes of my answer, I have assumed it is being used as a traditional attic storage facility for the Christmas tree, suitcases, kids' school copy books and the like. Due to our damp climate, mould can form for a number of reasons, namely, inadequate insulation, inadequate ventilation and inadequate heating. More often than not it's a combination of all three. READ MORE Dealing first with inadequate insulation as a cause of dampness, consider the appropriateness of the insulation your son's friend put in. For example, sheep's wool will allow some moisture movement and is good for older buildings. Vapour-resistant rigid foam boards (also known as PIR boards) are good but must be fitted correctly to prevent condensation. And don't forget the attic hatch; make sure it is well sealed and insulated to prevent warm, moist air from escaping into the attic from below. Consider also that cold bridging may be causing a 'cold spot' in the perimeter extremities of the attic space. Take care to insulate around pipe penetrations, rafters and joists effectively, using insulated board as required. Consider removing the attic floor insulation (assuming this was used) and insulating the roof at rafter level. It will cost more to heat the house with this increased volume in the attic, but worth it if you use the space. When fitting the new insulation, you must take care that if going between the rafters, the insulation does not impede the natural ventilation between it and the slate or tile roof covering. Pat McGovern, chartered building surveyor and a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland This brings us to the next cause of dampness on my list: inadequate ventilation. Perhaps the insulation that was installed has impeded the airflow from the soffit vents to the ridge at the peak. In most older houses, soffit ventilation is the most common form of attic insulation but is made redundant once quilts of insulation are packed in at eaves. A good flow of air must be maintained between the roof covering and the new insulation. Venting the attic can take many forms, including the installation of traditional open vents, fans or a mechanical ventilation system. Avoid blocking airflow with any new insulation, be that a vent or a ventilation gap. Consider gable vents if cross-ventilation is required or would help. [ Mould loves Ireland's damp climate – what can you do to fight its spread? Opens in new window ] Check that current vents are clear and free from blockage (and not stuffed with newspaper). Also check if a mechanical fan in the bathroom or en suite is simply ducted into the attic space above and not out through a roof tile/slate ventilator. The third main cause, inadequate heating, may be remedied by placing a heater in the space, ideally on a timer. The mould may be caused by warm air from the house rising and condensing in the attic insulation. In this case, consider installing a vapour barrier. This should be installed on the warm side of the insulation (facing the living space) to prevent warm, moist indoor air from reaching the insulation layer. Use an airtight seal at joints to close gaps where moisture could enter. Be sure to check for existing leaks, whether from a missing or broken slate or tile, poorly pointed or bedded ridge and hip tiles, leaking valley or parapet gutters or leaking chimney flashing. Check also that any roof timbers in proximity to these leaks are not affected by timber decay. Can these dry out properly? And, of course, check the water storage tank and associated pipework for leaks. If your insulation and venting work in unison, and there is no way for water to leak in, you should not have a mould problem in the attic. Pat McGovern is a chartered building surveyor and a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland Do you have a query? Email propertyquestions@ This column is a readers' service. The content of the Property Clinic is provided for general information only. It is not intended as advice on which readers should rely. Professional or specialist advice should be obtained before persons take or refrain from any action on the basis of the content. The Irish Times and it contributors will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on any content
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
I was unprepared to be a solo dad. I've turned the chaos into an asset.
One chilly evening in Santa Cruz, California, I was looking around my attic, helping my teenage daughter get ready for a rummage sale, when the floor seemed to drop from beneath me. I had become used to that plunging sensation after losing my wife, Amy, in March 2024. The sight of some unexpected thing — a piece of medical equipment, a bottle of old perfume, a folding bike — made me feel as if my life were buckling and crashing underfoot.
