Update on Michael Collins Piper’s housefire

 05/14/2015

TUT readers,

On the evening of May 12, a serious fire broke out in the house where MCP has been currently staying for the last month 5 months, the likely result of a breach in the pipe from the wood stove below. Serious structural damage was done to the roof such as featured in the pic above, which gives only a smidgeon of detail as to how extensive the damage was/is.

This event has not mentioned up until now because, quite frankly, I am in too much shock and despair and am putting it out of my mind as much as possible so as to just function. The house is ours, we have been building it stick by stick for the last 10 years and only finished it right before Mike’s arrival here last December.

In order to head off any undue speculation, please know that there is nothing to suggest that any foul play was involved. We had a series of earthquakes up here a few weeks ago and it is thought that the jarring might have loosened some of the pipe joints, thus providing an opening through which sparks and heat could escape.

The damage is estimated to be somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000 and there is no insurance. One section of the roof (approximately 1/3) will collapse in very short time if emergency repairs are not done to replace the rafters/collar ties and other supporting members.

The purpose of posting this is not to solicit any money, but rather to address the situation since I am receiving emails from people whom Mike has contacted and who want to know what happened.

Mike is presently staying in a Motel nearby, as the house has basically become uninhabitable.