Most of you veterens probably remember "Screwzer" here on the board, and might of been thinking, jeez what happened to that dude. Well here is a letter he just sent me. I cannot beleive what I read, it's horrible.

Jeff


Hi Jeff,
This letter has been sitting in my draft box for quite a while as it's been
hard to write. As you will read (and may have noticed), I will not be on
the
Pirate board, but wanted to let folks know why. Please share with the Pirate
board if you think appropriate. Maybe someone can learn from my mistake.
May
be a moot point anyway as I don't recognize many names on the board since
this incident 4 months ago

__________________________________________________ __________________________
______________

As you may have heard from Luke at Crawltec, I lost my Cruiser along with
my
house in a terrible fire on March 18th. It happened one chilly morning when
I decided to drain my gas tank so I could remove it and get the small leak
patched. As it was well below freezing, there was an ELECTRIC heater on
in
the garage. Thinking I was safe since there was no open flame, I proceeded
by putting a jerry can under Screwzer and removing the drain plug.

I thought
I'd be safe as the gas can was directly underneath by only a
couple of inches. I began to loosen the plug expecting it to behave like
an
oil plug and not let out any gas until right at the end. Instead, it began
to immediately begin to make a nice light little spray as the gas was pushed
passed the loosened threads. I started to spin it off quicker only to
realize the plug was about an inch long. I began to spin it back in all
the
while seeing a puddle begin to form and beginning to smell the vapors. I
knew I was in trouble and had to get out from under the vehicle to unplug
the heater. Before I could, I saw a weird flash and then a fireball that
quickly rolled across the garage to the source of the fumes... me with my
now gas soaked arm and the gas tank. As the garage exploded in flames I
quickly did the drop, tuck and roll we were taught as kids and tried to
work
my way to the door. Fortunately, my wife heard the explosion and my blood
curdling scream and opened the door between the house and garage. She
single-handedly drug me into the kitchen and put me out in her grandmother's
rug. Damn, she's a good woman.

We had just enough time to call 911 and run out of the house before it was
fully engulfed in flames. Within 20 minutes my landcruiser, and for that
matter, everything me and my family owned was gone, including the house
and
I spent the next 3 months in bandages. Fortunately, I had homeowner's
insurance so I will recover financially, but the 3 years of loving work
to
mechanically restore this vehicle to original operating specs were lost.

Three days later I went to the post office to pick up my mail. To my
surprise, there was my Landcruiser on the front of Toyota Trails from the
Pigs on the Con adventure. There's no way I can even begin to describe my
feelings as I poured over those pages and remembered "Screwzer" at it's
finest. This is a magazine I'll keep forever. It will be a while before
I'm
able to consider another FJ-55, so I ended up giving Luke the nice straight
body I had in the backyard since my priorities have obviously been reset.
I'm sure he'll build a wonderful mean machine with it someday.

__________________________________________________ __________________________
________________

Please feel free to share this letter with the readers of the Pirate board
so that they can learn from this tragic mistake. It's easy to forget just
how powerful gasoline can be and to not realize that the coils of those
electric heaters are hotter than gasoline's flash point. It was a foolish
mistake on my part that I'll never forget.

Clark "Screwzer" Staves

Don't know Clark, but my heart goes out to ya bud...what a shame to have all off the time and effort be taken from you like that...on the bright side, everything in life happens for a reason, hopefully there is a good reason for this...glad your okay...and good luck to ya.

Damn that's sad. :(

At least everyone was OK. ~dso

That sucks. Good luck in the future.

DAMN! :(

damn that is awful. He's right, That is one hell of a good woman. Please pass on our condolences on the loss of the cruiser, and best of luck in the future.

He's alive........all that other stuff, is just that....stuff.
Tommorrow is the one year anniversary of an accident in our shop that claimed the life of a young man almost as close to me as my kids.
Let me tell you, as long as life is not taken, all else can be replaced.
Screwzer, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Butch

Man, that is one hard story, life sure has a way of kicking you in the arse when your not looking!!:eek:

Stay strong brother, you'll recover;)

Originally posted by texican
He's alive........all that other stuff, is just that....stuff.
Tommorrow is the one year anniversary of an accident in our shop that claimed the life of a young man almost as close to me as my kids.
Let me tell you, as long as life is not taken, all else can be replaced.
Screwzer, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Butch


I've been thinking about that event. It's made me think a LOT more about garage safety. I remember the first time I heard about it. Also very sad.

~dso

I had heard "through the grape vine" of Clark's situation. Just glad no-one was killed, and Clark had insurance to take care of the financial aspect. But truely a sad situation. Hopefully we can all learn to be more carefull - I know I get a bit cavalier about some things, but gas has always spooked me, especially in the garage with the pilot light in the water heater nearby. Lets keep it safe out there. Hope to see you back here soon Clark. Cheers, Andy

So Sad - I hope that Clark recovers fully and at some point gets another piggie.

The wierd part is that when I lived in the area (Grass Valley) there was a Cruiser family (the Ruth's) that had Cruiser's since the 60's. Young Russ had spent years getting his Cruiser together, and at the same time, his parents (who had been living in a construction trailer were finishing their eclectic dream home.

To get his rig ready for a big run, Russ was really close to finishing his rig. He was using the garage built under the great room or Master of the mostly completed house. A halogen lamp tipped over and caught the rig on fire. Russ was able to roll it out before it completely burned the house down (I think it took another 1.5 years before they moved back in). The fire was hot enough that the aluminum wheels were puddles of slag.

Mind you too that this was in rural Nevada County....

Please - be safe, and have more than 1 big fire extinguisher by the entrance & exits of your garage.

Also remember if you are painting that if you have a furnace or water heater in your garage you could have a major explosion - make sure you turn them OFF. You wouldn't think that a couple of rattle cans of spray could hurt anything, but it's a bomb - hey even grain dust will cause a major explosion.

Be safe!

Jim

dude that sucks...get well and get back here!

i know what you guys mean about safety...i almost shit my pants two days ago when i realized i was welding in the garage with two 5-gallon gas tanks 15 feet away! :eek: :nuke:

_Max

Clark, if you read this, I want to tell you how awful that story made me feel, and how much I'd like for it to have never happened. Who cares about the pig?! I'm sad you lost your house. Yes, that's a good wife.

You'll rebuild, and because everyone is now alright you'll grow from the experience, and you'll be a careful man. :)

You have to get another cruiser tho.

Morgan

Thanks for all the thoughts. Yeah, someday there will be another Cruiser, but first gotta build a house. I have pictures if someone can post for me (hadn't got around to the $20 star and seems kinda pointless now) PM me and I'll squirt you the images (they are pretty dramatic). The point on safety I really want to make is just because an electric heater doen't have a flame doen't mean it can't touch off the fumes. Ventilation is the only way to go with liquid TNT.

Clark "Sterno" Staves (formerly Screwzer)

damn...dude

makes me think twice about some of the stupid stuff ive done, wrenching under a rig supported by a unstable high lift.....and so forth


good luck rebuilding

Originally posted by Screwzer
Thanks for all the thoughts. Yeah, someday there will be another Cruiser, but first gotta build a house. I have pictures if someone can post for me (hadn't got around to the $20 star and seems kinda pointless now) PM me and I'll squirt you the images (they are pretty dramatic). The point on safety I really want to make is just because an electric heater doen't have a flame doen't mean it can't touch off the fumes. Ventilation is the only way to go with liquid TNT.

Clark "Sterno" Staves (formerly Screwzer)

Glad you're okay!! Good luck with the rebuilding, and when you get a new cruiser, let me know if you need any parts I can donate!!

Holy shit. that makes me think of ALOT of things i've seen done that i trusted other peoles judgement and just went along with, along with Extremely bad judgments i've made [trying out the new welder in a shed with 2 plastic gas cans under the bench]

I'm glad your OK, wish you the best of luck with your new home, and hope to see you back after you get life back together...


Matt:(

Clark,

I'm sorry to hear this, but glad you didn't get hurt more or killed. Thank goodness your wife was there and acted quickly. I hope you're recovering well and if there is anything I can do, just let me know. I'm not that far do the hill.

- Jake & boys

Good to hear from you Young Dogs. Twas great to whell with you on the Pigathon. Yes, it's truly great to be alive. Once I get a new house built, you bet I'll be back in this board lookin' for a Pig.

Keep an eye out for Sterno (my new nickname)

Clark

Keep an eye out for Sterno (my new nickname)

Clark [/B][/QUOTE]

I imagine every time you hear "screwzer" you are reminded of the old hoss...:(

one comes of age with the realization of the suddenness and finality of death. at least it wasnt your time bro.

-max

Also TOSS OUT YOUR OLD DROP LIGHTS! The 110V style ones, as when the shatter proof bulb is burned out and replaced with a common bulb... bad news. CUT THE CORD, and toss in the nearest trash bin!

Buy a FLORESCENT bulb style drop light (about $20). Well worth it.

What happens on those 110V drop lights, is you notice something dripping under the car, and grab it to see where the drip is coming from. Drop a gas on a hot bulb will shatter it, viola.... fire. Bad news.

As to third degree burns: Well Mom would always tell me rub vitamin E into the scar tissue area on a daily basis, after the burns had healed and the bandages were off. Amazing part is it really did work, as it is very hard to see any scaring.

Tom :usa:

Clark,

Sorry to hear about your tragedy. I hope the burns are healing well. I really understand what you are going through and my prayers go out to you and your family. I was burned badly one time in my life. The burns will heal and you will get your ambition to work on rigs again. Keep up with your range of motion exercises and keep the lotion on the stuff and it will get better.

If you have any questions about the burn recovery feel free to PM me or e-mail me.

Thanks everyone for the sympathy. Burns are healing quite well. Vitamin E is an amazing thing. Really helps keep the skin soft and supple. There will be a Sterno rig someday, slightly delayed by the reconstruction of the house.

Clark

Scary. Glad you're ok.

TJK

Sorry for your loss...glad you came out of it alive.

A well known long time cruiser guy here in WA did a similar thing about 6 years ago. His trouble light caught the gas on fire when he was changing fuel filters and it burned his cruiser to the ground along with his garage. Luckily it was a detached garage.

His new fire extinguisher was sitting on the floor and the old empty one on the bench...guess which one he grabbed. The old one:(

Amazing story Tankota. In my case, once the fire department left we noticed the fire extinguishe sitting on the floor below where it was mounted. Unharmed and unused. Of the few things that survuived the fire the most ironic was the 2 cords of firewood stacked outside near "ground zero" and the firewood in the house next to the woodstove. The wood stove got so hot the paint scorched off of it. Firewood however, just had some light ash covering it.

Wierd.

Clark, that is a super sad story and I'm glad it was posted. Speaking of which my truck's been leaking like a sive lately but at least (I tell myself) it's diesel so a little less flamable. If you get a chance to email me those photos in the next 15 minutes I can post them but it's gotta be in the next 15 otherwise I'm gone for the day. My condolances to your house and truck.

ashoumat@zoo.uvm.edu
Andre

Picture 1 (http://www.uvm.edu/~ashoumat/cruiser/screwzer2.jpg)

Picture 2 (http://www.uvm.edu/~ashoumat/cruiser/screwzer.jpg)

Clark,

That photo speaks volume. Thanks for posting those along, as the image will stay with people longer than words ever will.

OK if I pass along the story to the "other" list (Datsun Roadsters) as I have long talked about fire safety... Still mighty glad you & your wife got out OK.

Oh, pass along to your wife that Guiness does help in the recovery of burns. :D

Tom

Originally posted by roundrocktom

OK if I pass along the story to the "other" list (Datsun Roadsters) as I have long talked about fire safety... Still mighty glad you & your wife got out OK.

its already in gen chit chat...sorry i didnt ask!! i just figured all those posers could learn something for when they change the oil on their xterras!! :D:flipoff2:

Those pictures speak for themself. I am truly sorry for ur loss and from the pictures it looks like you were lucky to get out alive. :(

Images are now here:

http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com/cisautoweb/dtlc/screwzer/

I saw this story in Toyota Trails. Bummer. At lease we all are reminded of an important saftey issue.

Bummer man!!! Glad to hear everyone made it ok some what OK.

If there is anything you need, help rebuilding the house, dishes, cups, whatever let us know. God knows I have a shed full of stuff I just couldn't bring myself to throw away, because there is always someone who needs it. :D

Good luck. :D

Originally posted by roundrocktom
Clark,

That photo speaks volume. Thanks for posting those along, as the image will stay with people longer than words ever will.

OK if I pass along the story to the "other" list (Datsun Roadsters) as I have long talked about fire safety... Still mighty glad you & your wife got out OK.

Oh, pass along to your wife that Guiness does help in the recovery of burns. :D

Tom

I see the dogs made it out as well, I spoted em in the pics of the burnt out remains. Man that is one sad story :( and something that could easily happen to me at least!

John H