Notice to those of us that still collect vhs tapes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stoogedog · 10-04-2010, 04:44 PM

Hi, I thought I would pass along some information that I learned the "hard way". We had a house fire last week and our house is a total loss. I had an extensive video collection (wife says I'm a hoarder in denial), which was mostly uncataloged vhs tapes. I lost alot of my collection and it can not be replaced. I had most of my collection in our house. The firemen said that the fumes in the house were toxic because of the plastic etc that vhs tapes are made of. Lucky the fire happened after we left the house for school and work. Who knows what would have happened if the fire had been while we were a sleep. I would hate to know that my vhs collection contributed to the death of one of my children or my wife. The firemen also stated that any wooden furniture etc in the house would absorb the smoke and would not be of any use in the future. So even if furniture only received smoke damage, it is still not of use because of the fumes it was in. They stated that we should not put anything in a new house that was in our house that burned. So if I acquire any new vhs tapes or am able to salvage any that I have, I will not be storing them in the house. My wife also says they will not be in the house. I would say that the same above would probably be also true for vinyl lps (also had alot of those) as well. I just wanted others to be aware of what type of situation could occur. Thanks Stoogedog

robyrob · 10-04-2010, 04:51 PM

I'm sorry you had to go through that, but luckily everyone is OK.

my mom had a dryer catch fire in her house years ago - there weren't even really any flames, but the smoke got into everything in the house, had to repaint everything and could not get the smell out of a lot of items.

wiseguy182 · 10-05-2010, 02:42 AM

oh my gosh, sorry to hear about that. Thankfully you guys are safe.

LeeBlue · 10-09-2010, 09:46 AM

I'm happy to hear that you and your family are ok.

And thank you for the heads-up about the vhs tapes. I have quite a collection and will be moving them over the weekend.

GrandGame1440 · 07-19-2011, 01:24 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about that. Glad you all are alright. Looks like I'll be converting VHS tapes soon. Additionally jeffcool has been doing that in an endless number of threads, bumping up old ones even. Cut it out.

Hazel Anyday · 08-09-2011, 04:39 PM

I'd rather go down in flames than part with my album and tape collection. No way I'd get rid of it. I'd say adios to my funny little honey before I removed my collection.

Regulus · 08-09-2011, 08:15 PM

And what are DVDs mostly stored in? (As well as made of) -

PLASTIC!

So guess what happens if they catch on fire?

Hazel Anyday · 08-10-2011, 03:58 PM

And what does that have to do with the price of beans?

Whoever said DVDs weren't plastic? So what, I know that. Back now to my point, my statement about sticking by my collection goes for DVDs, comic books, tapes, albums, 45's and it's all quite flammable. I never said it wasn't. What isn't anyway? Looks like I'll have to walk around the house in my asbestos underwear and wrap all my valuables in asbestos too. Now I'll be safe.

10-04-2010, 04:44 PM	#1
stoogedog Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 18, 2003 Posts: 747	Notice to those of us that still collect vhs tapes Hi, I thought I would pass along some information that I learned the "hard way". We had a house fire last week and our house is a total loss. I had an extensive video collection (wife says I'm a hoarder in denial), which was mostly uncataloged vhs tapes. I lost alot of my collection and it can not be replaced. I had most of my collection in our house. The firemen said that the fumes in the house were toxic because of the plastic etc that vhs tapes are made of. Lucky the fire happened after we left the house for school and work. Who knows what would have happened if the fire had been while we were a sleep. I would hate to know that my vhs collection contributed to the death of one of my children or my wife. The firemen also stated that any wooden furniture etc in the house would absorb the smoke and would not be of any use in the future. So even if furniture only received smoke damage, it is still not of use because of the fumes it was in. They stated that we should not put anything in a new house that was in our house that burned. So if I acquire any new vhs tapes or am able to salvage any that I have, I will not be storing them in the house. My wife also says they will not be in the house. I would say that the same above would probably be also true for vinyl lps (also had alot of those) as well. I just wanted others to be aware of what type of situation could occur. Thanks Stoogedog

10-04-2010, 04:51 PM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,230	I'm sorry you had to go through that, but luckily everyone is OK. my mom had a dryer catch fire in her house years ago - there weren't even really any flames, but the smoke got into everything in the house, had to repaint everything and could not get the smell out of a lot of items.
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10-09-2010, 09:46 AM	#4
LeeBlue Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: NYS Posts: 871	Notice to those of us that still collect vhs tapes I'm happy to hear that you and your family are ok. And thank you for the heads-up about the vhs tapes. I have quite a collection and will be moving them over the weekend.

08-09-2011, 04:39 PM	#6
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	I'd rather go down in flames than part with my album and tape collection. No way I'd get rid of it. I'd say adios to my funny little honey before I removed my collection.
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08-09-2011, 08:15 PM	#7
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	And what are DVDs mostly stored in? (As well as made of) - PLASTIC! So guess what happens if they catch on fire?
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10-05-2010, 02:42 AM	#3
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	oh my gosh, sorry to hear about that. Thankfully you guys are safe.

07-19-2011, 01:24 AM	#5
GrandGame1440 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 558	I'm so sorry to hear about that. Glad you all are alright. Looks like I'll be converting VHS tapes soon. Additionally jeffcool has been doing that in an endless number of threads, bumping up old ones even. Cut it out.

08-10-2011, 03:58 PM	#8
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	And what does that have to do with the price of beans? Whoever said DVDs weren't plastic? So what, I know that. Back now to my point, my statement about sticking by my collection goes for DVDs, comic books, tapes, albums, 45's and it's all quite flammable. I never said it wasn't. What isn't anyway? Looks like I'll have to walk around the house in my asbestos underwear and wrap all my valuables in asbestos too. Now I'll be safe.