I was getting ready to start writing this morning at five minutes to five when I got an email from my mom to call her about my older sister's house. Mom wrote, "Their house is burning."

By the time I got a hold of my sister, she was at her neighbor's place, about 100 yards away, and the top floor of their house was pretty much gone. Luckily, a trucker on the road next to them saw the smoke pouring out of their house and called 911 -- my sister and her family were woken up not by their fire alarms but by the police breaking into their house.

All they had was what they wore on their backs -- they didn't even think to grab anything on the way out, because they thought the fire in their chimney would be put out right away. They lost the two cars in their garage, everything in the upper floor, and they may be able to salvage some of the stuff in their basement, though it's all going to be a bit water-damaged.

And their dog panicked, got loose, and ran back into the burning house to hide. He didn't make it.

We're all in shock right now, but glad that my sister, her husband, and their two kids are okay. I just ask that if you have a few bucks, click the button below so I can send them some more cash so they can buy the bare essentials. Luckily, the Red Cross has already been there, and the insurance guys as well. But they're still homeless.

Thanks.