Hello all,

Well, I no longer have a 1976 Ford F-250. What I do have is a pile of molten metal, black ashes, and an interesting looking skylight in what used to be a slide in camper.

I came home from work today, and was not able to park in my usual carport because the parking area was blocked by a fire truck. I did not think anything of it because this is a low rent, welfare apartment complex and the Police and Fire are here almost on a daily basis for one reason or another.

However, when I turned the car around to back up and park on the other side of the parking lot, I noticed what was left of my F-250. It seems 3 kids who have a felon for a mother (she is wanted by Police according to the fire dept person I spoke with) and who just roam the apartment complex with nothing better to do, decided to find out what would happen when you light a vehicle on fire.

According to the Fire dept person, it started at 6pm, (I got home about 7pm) and they had the people responsible. I was expecting teenagers or adults or whatever, however, I was not expecting an 8 year old boy, 10 year old boy and 10 or 11 year old girl to be the ones responsible. On top of that, they have no parents in the area, and the Police are currently trying to find a responsible adult to take them in.

In any case, the truck is ruined, and of course, now I cannot sell it on ebay. The auction ended last Thursday, but the bidder who won has failed to pay for it, and at this moment has not emailed me since Sunday morning. I was supposed to drive it down there Sunday, and complete the transaction. Now, that will not happen.

I don't know how to attach files to this thread, so I will just put the two pictures I took of it tonight in my gallery. Mecinoid, the drivetrain technically is in good shape but the engine has had all the wiring and rubber burned off of it. Since I can't drive it up to you now, I would say just yank the motor out of the Cougar and put that in your F-150, or if you want you are more than welcome to the drivetrain if you can get it up to you cheap enough to make it worth it for you.

I have the Buick to drive to and from work, however, the only place this truck is going now is to the junkyard. It would cost more to fix then it would to buy another one. I think I will look for an '80-86 next time though. Or just bring my brother's Ranger down here, and settle for that. After all, can't beat the price.


The aluminum wheels and the tires did not get burned at all in the fire, (the fire station is only a half mile down the road, I am sure they got here within a few minutes of the call) so if anyone wants them they are welcome to them. They are 8 lug wheels, and you would need to bring something to put on the truck to replace them as ican't have it sittign on the ground. I don't know how long the manager will let it stay here, so if anyone wants them, let me know and I will see what I can do. If mechinoid does not want the drivtrain and anyone else does, let me know.

 

Its dead Jim....
Sorry I couldnt resist...but good sweet God they did a number on your truck. I hope they find the gaurdians to start talking about re payment of damages...at the very least press charges on the kids...as harsh as it sounds...arson is nothing to mess with.
-Chris
PS heres a pic so you wont have to click on his gallery right away....

[IMG][/IMG]

 

Yeah, the apartment manager says our renter's insurance may cover it. My neighbor's Mustang convertible was fire bombed, and they gave him a check for $3,500. It was parked in a carport space about 3 or 4 spaces from mine. I will take more pics of it tomorrow when the sun is out.

I will definitely take the parents to court, if they are ever found. I can't believe kids this young are running free with no supervision. I hope CPS keeps them until they are 18, but that is only wishful thinking on my part. Thanks for posting a pic, I kept trying, but it kept asking me for a URL for the location of the picture.

One of my neighbors says he was trying to put the fire out when it was only in the cab at the time. the apartments had just replaced the stolen fire extinguishers and he was using that. But he heard hissing and knew there was a propane tank in the camper, so he decided to back away.

The propane tank is the original and I doubt it has had propane in it for the past 10 years, however, my neighbor did not know that.

 

Jim,
I am sorry for your loss. It was a great truck. At least you have options on what you want to do next.

I am glad nobody was hurt, including the kids. I hope you get fair justice too.

Karl

PS- After reading this post, I put my truck behind the locked fence in my driveway and put my fully insured Subaru on the street.

 

Dang that sucks Jim...that truck was pretty clean and I hate to see it and my old camper come to such a sad end. Don't blame the kids, blame the parents (or whatever they are.)

BTW, that tank was indeed empty but it's only been about 3 years since it last had propane in it. I used it for my BBQ which had the old style valve on it till that tank ran dry and I had to convert the BBQ to the new style...

 

I don't blame the kids. I know it sounds strange, but considering how young they are, and with no supervision, they don't know any better. I blame the parents. There is no reason for kids that young to be running around with nothing to do. The boys are brothers, and the girl is their cousin according to the fire dept.

The truck was clean, and very reliable. It never left me stranded on the three trips I took with it. My only complaint with it was the gas mileage. I drove it every Sunday to keep the battery charged, and fluids flowing. I needed the money more than I needed the truck, and that is why it was being sold. Now, of course, the deal has fallen through. Not much market for a burned out truck.

I too am glad nobody was hurt, not the kids, not the firefighters who responded, nor the neighbors who tried to put out the fire with the small extinguishers. I was mad as he** when I first saw it, but after I calmed down I figure it is not the end of the world. I still have a daily driver for going to work, getting groceries, etc, and the apartments, and carport were not affected by the fire (unlike my neighbor's Mustang fire, which damaged the carport, and took out all the carport lights due to the wiring melting)

I guess I COULD possibly save the truck. The camper however, is totally destroyed. There is nothing in the camper that was not consumed by the fire. Only yesterday did I take out my tool box, air compressor, vacuum cleaner, and folding chairs. I was getting it ready for the new owner, and ironically decided to leave the fire extinguisher and smoke detector in it, as well as the spare tire/rim Mike gave me. The only thing I did not get out, that I wanted to was a floor jack my dad had bought me as a Christmas present many years ago. He has been gone 5 years now, and every time I saw that jack it reminded me of him. I have not checked for sure, but it was behind the bench seat in the front, and since that is where the fire was started, I doubt it survived.

The drivetrain is still relatively untouched, the wheels and tires are good, but it would need a complete new interior. The hood is scorched from the heat, and bent from where the fire dept pried it open. The battery looks like a big block of rubber goo. The radiator hoses are burned off, as are the plug wires, wiring, and heater hoses. if I lived in my own house, and had a yard or garage to store it, I would consider keeping it, and just fixing it up as time and money allow. However, since it is an eyesore, I know the management company will not tolerate it staying on the property any longer than necessary.

I seriously doubt I will get any results by taking the parents to court (assuming they are found) or filing charges against the kids. However, I will look into that. I am hoping the renter's insurance will cover it like they did my neighbor's Mustang. Because it is a total loss, I should be able to get something back. The fire dept estimated it at $3,500 but if I get $1,500 to $2,500 I will be satisfied. I don't know how long it will take to get here, but at least I have something to look forward to.

I don't think I will buy another full size pickup though. I will just settle for my brother's Ranger. And see if I can get my neighbor's friends '88 Turbo coupe for $400. Then do an engine swap and have one quick little Ranger. That would be cool.

Thanks all for the kind words. And pardon my long posts, just in a typing mood I guess.

BTW, it is all Dan's fault! He told me he never wanted to see the camper again, so now he gets his wish!

 

That is just wrong, it's one thing to not have enough income to afford daycare/etc for your kids, and if they're latchkey kids, you'd hope the parents would at least be responsible enough to instill some good values in them.

Bummer Jim.

 

Too bad Jim. Another fine Ford truck gone. Maybe the junk yard will be able to find some new owners for the parts and pieces. Kind of like transplants. Good luck with the insurance and I hope you like your Ranger. Jag

 

I talked to the manager of the apt complex and she says I could possibly go after the parents since they are residents of the complex and also have to have renter's insurance. The same insurance company covers both of us. And since it is a total loss, I don't see any problems filing a claim and getting compensation. I just don't know how much it will be. However, it should be more than enough to cover what I had in it, plus the ebay fees for listing it, and the tow fee.

I have added more pictures to the gallery under Krispy Kritter in case anyone wants to see them.

 

Man, that sucks Jim. I liked that truck. Such a shame to see a terrible thing like that happen to a nice old truck.

I don't know if I'm with you on not blaming the kids though... I think there's plenty of blame to go around.

 

Yeah, I am thinking they are old enough to know better. I mean why were the fooling around with my truck in the first place? And now my neighbor tells me that when he got his check from the insurance company regarding his Mustang that was fire bombed in the carport, that they told him he got lucky in that they normally don't reimburse for that. So I may end up getting nothing from them. I will try and sue the parents, but I doubt that will yield any results. If they had money they would not be living here.

I was out sweeping up the ashes, and trying to get it looking better, and after looking at it in more detail, I can definitely say it would cost far too much to restore than one is worth. I could buy another one of the same vintage for much less. So whenever the management gets tired of looking at it, they can tow it away. The manager tells me I am responsible for towing it out of here. However, since she is evicting the mother of the kids, I am going to see if she can just take it out of her deposit. Don't know if they can, but it does not hurt to ask. I am hoping the kids were taken by CPS too. No reason to allow them to continue roaming the complex.

 

The main thing is that nobody was hurt.

You can always replace ''things".

I never saw the truck, but it sounds like it was a nice one.

EDIT: After seeing the photos in your gallery, it kind of reminds me of the scene
in the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; where John Candy and Steve Martin
are driving in that burned out car on the highway.

 

Just saw the kids responsible for the fire last night in the parking lot again. I could not believe it. They are still roaming the complex! I am going to have to call CPS myself. Seems the Police will not do it.

Found a phone number for Victim Assistance, they gave me a phone number for an attorney who may work on contingency (not get paid until the case is won) in Visalia. I will contact him on Monday, my next day off. Will also call the FD and PD to find out what the case number is. I am going to press charges if need be in order to get them kids taken away.

I have been told by my Pastor, that the Police will not call CPS, they try to find a relative. Well in this case, the relative is not doing anything if they are still roaming the parking lots.

 

Jim...if total loss is less than 5K(I think that's the current limit), just file in small claims.

 

Negligence on the parents' part certainly wouldn't be hard to show.

Getting them to pay would, though. CA allows you to seize property as long as it doesn't interfere with income.