Bomberos Dejan Quemarse La Casa Por Lo Que Encontraron Dentro

¿Por Qué?

Kevin se preguntaba por qué su vecina Ruth vivía y dormía en su coche a pesar de estar su casa a pocos metros. A pesar de lo amable que era, Kevin nunca la vio entrar en su casa. 

Cuando Kevin finalmente entró en su casa, descubrió por qué ella nunca entraba. No podía creer lo que veían sus ojos. La casa estaba completamente inhabitable. 

Kevin Apenas Conocía A Su Vecina

A pesar de vivir al otro lado de la calle de Ruth durante varios años, el joven y la anciana no se conocían en absoluto. 

Lo único que Kevin sabía realmente de Ruth era que se había jubilado hacía varios años y que vivía sola. Sin embargo, no tenía ni idea de que pronto tendrían una amistad muy singular. 

Tenía Casa, Pero Vivía En Su Coche

Todas las noches, Kevin veía a Ruth irse a dormir a su coche. No podía entender que ella eligiera vivir así en lugar de caminar unos metros hasta su casa.  

Kevin observó a Ruth y se dio cuenta de que hacía semanas que no la veía entrar en su casa. Algo no iba bien.

¿Cuál Era El Problema?

Cada vez que Kevin pasaba por delante de su coche, se paraba a ver cómo estaba Ruth, asegurándose de que estuviera despierta. Mantenían breves conversaciones y pronto Kevin empezó a reconstruir su historia. 

Kevin se sintió triste por el hecho de que Ruth viviera y durmiera en un coche. Sabía que tenía que haber una razón para que eligiera dormir en la calle en vez de en su propia casa.

Toda Su Vida Estaba En El Coche

Kevin se daba cuenta de que su situación avergonzaba a Ruth cada vez que él pasaba por allí y miraba su coche. Sin embargo, no podía entender por qué lo estaría.

Tenía su propia casa y su propio coche. Se había jubilado y todo parecía estar bien. Parecía tener una buena vida, así que ¿qué estaba pasando?

Algo Iba Mal En Su Casa

Era fácil ver que algo iba mal cuando uno echaba un vistazo a su casa. Todas las ventanas tenían las persianas cerradas y la casa no estaba en el mejor estado de conservación. 

Todo estaba descuidado. El césped estaba cubierto de maleza, las ventanas estaban sucias e incluso la pintura se había descolorido. Kevin se preguntó si necesitaría que le echasen una mano para cuidar la casa. 

La Ventana Llevaba Años Rota

Uno de los mayores signos de abandono era el hecho de que una ventana en el piso superior de la casa estaba rota y llevaba así ya un tiempo. 

Kevin pensó que tal vez se habían instalado animales dentro de la casa, ahuyentando a la anciana. Sin embargo, Kevin pronto descubrió la verdadera razón por la que la ventana había quedado rota. Cuando lo averiguó, se le partió el corazón. 

Su Casa Era Bonita, Pero No Dejaba Entrar A Nadie

Kevin pasaba un día por delante de su coche cuando oyó a Ruth llorar. Inmediatamente corrió a ver cómo estaba y la encontró buscando desesperadamente entre las bolsas de plástico del asiento trasero de su coche. 

“¿Qué pasa?” le preguntó Kevin a Ruth. Ruth le miró y, cuando habló, se resolvió el misterio de su casa. 

No Tenía Respuestas Para Él

Todos los días, Ruth se dirigía al gimnasio para usar las duchas y asearse antes de comer algo en un local de comida rápida. Luego volvía a su coche para vigilar sus cosas y dormir. 

Por desgracia, el coche de Ruth estaba en tan mal estado como su casa. Se había estropeado y no podía arrancar.

Algo Se Había Perdido

Mientras Ruth miraba las pertenencias en su coche, hizo un recuento mental de lo que tenía con ella.

Cuando tomó la decisión de dejar la casa en la que había vivido para empezar a vivir en su coche, había recogido los objetos que más significaban para ella. Pero pronto descubrió que se había dejado un objeto muy importante dentro.

Ruth Buscó Frenéticamente

Cuando Kevin vio a Ruth buscando entre sus pertenencias, se preguntó si la mujer habría perdido algún objeto. Ruth pronto puso de manifiesto que sí.

Dejó de buscar a tientas el tiempo suficiente para señalar con el dedo hacia su casa. “En la casa”. Dijo Ruth, con lágrimas en los ojos. “¡Lo dejé en la casa!”

La Casa Era Desalentadora

Ruth parecía tener miedo incluso de poner un pie en su casa y alejarse de la seguridad de su coche, que ya ni siquiera funcionaba. Entonces se dirigió a Kevin: “¡Tal vez puedas entrar y cogerlo!”. 

Kevin estaba dispuesto a aceptar el reto y a averiguar por fin lo que llevaba meses queriendo saber: ¿qué había en esa casa de la que Ruth tuvo que escapar?

El Tejado Estaba Hecho Una Pena

Kevin asumió la tarea y le dijo a Ruth que se aventuraría en la casa para encontrar la preciada pertenencia de Ruth. 

Kevin descubrió que ella estaba buscando una foto de sus padres que había quedado dentro de la casa. Cuando Kevin empezó a caminar hacia la casa, la visión de las tejas rotas del tejado en el jardín delantero le hizo mirar hacia arriba aterrorizado. ¿Desde cuándo el tejado tenía un agujero?

Un Vistazo Al Interior

Cuanto más se acercaba Kevin a la casa, más evidente se hacía la razón por la que Ruth decidió dar la espalda a la casa en la que vivió durante tantos años. 

Un simple vistazo a la ventana mostraba montones y montones de ropa, basura y papeles. Y cuanto más se acercaba Kevin a la casa, más fuerte era aquel olor pestilente…

La Puerta Estaba Bloqueada

Kevin abrió la puerta principal y tuvo que moverse de inmediato, ya que montones de basura cayeron a sus pies. Era como si la puerta fuera lo único que impedía que toda la basura de la casa se desparramara por el jardín delantero. 

¿Había cometido un gran error al aceptar registrar esta casa?

Ruth Le Pidió Que Entrara

Ruth le dijo a Burns que lo que buscaba era una vieja foto de sus padres. Cuando Burns entró en la casa, enseguida se dio cuenta de que la casa no era habitable para nadie. 

Había montones de basura en el suelo que hacían difícil pasar de una habitación a otra sin agarrarse a las paredes. Y los grandes montones de basura desprendían un olor difícil de soportar.

Necesitaba Algo Perdido De Dentro

Por la bondad de su corazón, Kevin aceptó encontrar la foto perdida de Ruth, pero ahora quería desesperadamente salir de la casa. 

Sin embargo, su curiosidad se apoderó de él mientras caminaba por la casa. ¿Era posible que pudiera encontrar una sola fotografía en esta montaña de cosas?

Todas Las Superficies Estaban Cubiertas De Basura

Kevin encontró la peor habitación de la casa cuando entró en la cocina. Ruth había dejado platos sucios en el fregadero la última vez que salió de la casa, semanas atrás, que eran la fuente del olor que llenaba la casa.

Kevin se tapó la nariz al atravesar la habitación, repentinamente asustado por la calidad del aire de la casa.

La Casa Estaba Inundada De Un Olor Horrible

Obviamente, nadie había pisado la casa en semanas, pero Burns se preguntó cuánto tiempo había estado en estas condiciones.

Habría tardado semanas en buscar entre todos los objetos de la casa y Burns empezaba a preguntarse si sería posible encontrar esta foto para Ruth antes de que esta casa se lo llevara por delante.

Cada Habitación Era Un Desastre

Todas las habitaciones por las que pasó tenían el mismo aspecto porque estaban apiladas hasta el techo con las pertenencias de Ruth. 

Vivir en un coche parecía una opción mucho mejor que intentar navegar por esta casa.

He Started His Search

If Burns expected to find the photo, he needed to start somewhere. So, he picked a pile of papers that seemed to be on the older side and started to go through them. 

He expected his search to take hours if he continued at this rate…

There Were Years Of Trash, Piled High

After looking through one pile of papers and finding nothing of importance, Kevin shoved it to his side and took a glance to his right. 

There were still dozens of piles of papers, magazines, and files that could be hiding the photo he was searching for. So, slowly but surely, he continued his search through the relics.

Everything Had A Thick Layer Of Dust

The mess was so old that Burns had to find gloves and a face mask to shield himself from the dust flying into the room as he searched through objects that hadn’t been moved in possibly decades. 

There was no way that, in Ruth’s old age, she could have had the strength to move the tons of pounds of papers that had been piling up for years.

An Old Book Got Him Closer To The Missing Object

When Burns picked up an old book, he knew he was getting closer to what he was looking for. The book was kept in a box with other sentimental objects like an old trophy and a framed diploma. 

The box had noticeably less dust than most of the other objects in the room. Sure enough, with some more digging, Burns found what he had come in to find. But would he be able to make his way out of the house?

He Found The Photo— But Something Else Caught His Eye

Luckily, the photo that was so important to Ruth was one of the few things that was left in immaculate condition. The photo was yellowed and faded, but still in great condition, considering that the rest of the house was so poorly taken care of. 

With the photo in hand, Burns was ready to leave the house as fast as he had entered, but then he saw an old, decrepit bookcase…

A Doorway Hidden Behind The Shelves

The bookcase was an odd sight to see. It was pulled slightly to one side where Burns could see a gaping hole in the wall behind it. 

He knew he would never have this opportunity again, so he pushed the shelves out of the way further to make his way into the room, and that’s where he would see something he never expected…

He Got Down To Crawl Through The Hole

It was obvious that this hole was an entryway to a room, but why was it sealed and hidden behind a bookshelf? 

Was there another entrance to the room that was blocked somewhere else?

Cobwebs Blocked The Way

If this were the main entryway, it would be difficult to crawl into it every time someone needed to get inside. 

This entryway was filthy, and the cobwebs made it obvious that no one had stepped foot in this room for a very long time.

Old Photos In Immaculate Condition Lined The Walls

Unlike the rest of the house, the room that Burns had just uncovered was in great condition. 

Although the room had low lighting, it was obvious to see the colored photos that lined the walls, seemingly very important to whoever stayed in this room last.

A Hidden Room Left Untouched

The room was filled with old toys and clothes, and as Burns looked over the one clean room in the house, he wondered who this room once belonged to that Ruth felt the need to keep it in great condition. 

But Burns didn’t have much time to wonder because this room was also where the foul smell was at its worst.

Something Disturbing Caught His Attention

In the hallway adjacent to the mystery room, Burns saw a disturbing sight. The ceiling had a thick layer of back mold, which is known to be very hazardous to human health and in large amounts can be deadly to be around. 

The hallway was so humid that the paint had begun to flake and fall off the walls around him.

He Had To Leave Immediately

It was obvious to Burns that this house was not safe to be in without the appropriate gear to protect his respiratory system. 

When he returned, he did so in a protective suit with appropriate face masks to filter the air he breathed. But this was a job much bigger for one man.

This Is A Major Health Hazard

When Burns left the house, he immediately let Ruth know that her home wasn’t safe. After hearing the information about the mold, Ruth said, “I had no idea it had gotten so bad.” The two agreed to let a specialist into the home to clear out the mold. 

Burns also wanted to mention the room that hadn’t been touched in years to Ruth because he was dying for answers.

The House Had To Be Demolished

After a visit, the specialist let Ruth know that the only option left was to demolish the house, but in a way that wouldn’t pose a danger to neighbors or the workmen who would have to bring it down. 

There was only one option, and it would mean that there wouldn’t be anything left of Ruth’s house in the morning.

The “Worst They Had Ever Seen”

The crew who visited the house told Ruth that her situation was the “worst they had ever seen” and that the mold couldn’t be cleaned without posing a serious danger to everyone involved. 

So, the fire department was called, and in this strange circumstance, they wouldn’t be putting out any fires; they would be starting one.

The House Was A Fire Hazard

But before the house could be demolished, most of the objects inside had to be removed and taken to a dump. 

Sadly, because of the high levels of mold inside the home, very few things could be saved, and it would be a health hazard to keep anything that had been near the mold.

Everything Needed To Go

With the help of the fire department and some volunteers, Ruth’s belongings were able to be moved from the house to the yard, where they would be packed up and trucked away. 

And Ruth’s reaction to the large scope of work took everyone by surprise.

The Fire Department Brought Their Whole Crew

After the belongings were out of the house, the fire department could do a final check and prepare to demolish the house. 

The entire team of Ruth’s small town came out to the site to lend a hand clearing the area before they started demolition.

They Salvaged What They Could

A few more belongings were brought out to Ruth, who was thankful, but she still looked shaken. 

People who have hoarding tendencies usually have very emotional responses to their belongings being touched by other people or moved from where they were placed. But, Ruth was now ready to move on with her life and leave her bad habit behind.

Ruth Was Torn

The clean-up crew was prepared to console Ruth during this difficult time, but they didn’t expect her reaction. 

She broke down in tears when it was finally time to say goodbye to the home, but she thanked each and every member of the fire department and clean-up crew who helped move her things and helped her get on with her life.

Her Old Life Was Scattered On The Lawn

It was a scary sight to see exactly how much stuff was packed into Ruth’s small house. 

It just goes to show how things can pile up when you are dealing with emotional difficulties and how easily things can get out of hand when no one is around to help pick up the pieces.

One Last Look Inside…

Before the house was burnt down, a final check through the house was done by the fire department. 

Kevin Burns was still helping out Ruth and wondered if any of the belongings from the secret room would be salvaged.

One Person’s Trash Is Another Person’s Treasure

The fire department brought out a few more large pieces of furniture to be thrown out, but Kevin noticed that none of the objects from the hidden room were on the front lawn. 

But, it seemed too late to salvage anything else from the home now…

It Was In Her Best Interest

The fire department agreed to burn down the house because it was in the best interest of the homeowner. 

And Ruth already knew that she had everything she needed to survive packed in the car she had been living in for the past few weeks. In a way, getting rid of that house would be a burden off of her shoulders.

Ruth’s Home Went Down In Flames

As the fires blared, Ruth and Kevin watched as the smoke billowed and consumed the exterior of the home. Ruth then said to Kevin, as if she knew what he was thinking, “That room was where my husband passed away. 

I didn’t have the heart to go in there after he was gone.”

The Team Was Grateful That No One Was Hurt

The fire department crew stayed at the site well into the night to make sure the burning embers of the home didn’t reignite. This kind of work can be very dangerous, and the crew has to make sure that the fire does not spread to any adjacent houses or put Ruth’s neighbors in danger. 

But now that her house was gone, where would Ruth go?

Her Memories Were Burned To The Ground

After witnessing the total destruction of the home she built and lived her life in, where would she go? Surely, the car she was sleeping in wasn’t to be her final home.

Luckily, the friends she had made in her life would jump at the chance to help her.

She Needed A New Start

With all of her vital belongings packed up in her car, Kevin helped her set out on finding a place to live. A nearby community for senior citizens seemed to be the best bet for this older woman. 

Ruth was long overdue to stay somewhere welcoming and inviting, with plenty of people to talk to.

This Community Welcomed Her With Open Arms

The senior living community welcomed Ruth with open arms, although she was obviously still dealing with the death of her husband. 

Ruth felt better being around her peers and having a place to live where her needs would be met without fear.

She Made New Friends

Ruth’s quality of life improved tenfold after she stopped living out of her car. She started an exercise regimen and stopped eating the fast food and takeout she was used to. 

She also kept in touch with Kevin Burns and thanked him often for helping her situation.

Her Quality Of Life Improved

Ruth was soon able to let go of her hoarding habits and emotionally heal from the death of her husband. 

It just took the support of a few loyal friends and their honesty to change her situation and make her life better in her twilight years.

In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.