Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Hello, community -

This weekend there was a structure fire in the building where we meet, work, and store everything for our team. We also share this work space with another Boise State University student team. The building has been declared a total loss. Most, if not all, of our things have been lost to fire, smoke, and water damage. This includes our robots, at least 4 team laptops, and tools, among other things. No one from either team was there when the fire began, and no one was injured.

During my meeting with the fire inspector and others this morning, we dug through some of the rubble. Our "practice bot" might be partially salvagable, but all of the electronics are definitely gone due to smoke. I've attached a photo of some of the stuff that was extricated from the fire. You might be able to make out a robot on a cart in the char.

At this point we are working on acquiring components for a new robot so that we can continue to build and learn for the remainder of our meetings this month before Kickoff. If you are interested in donating to the team to help us in this effort, you can do so in one of two ways: (1) Send a check made out to the Boise State Foundation with "Chickadees Robotics" in the memo to Attn: Norma Arechiga, Boise State University, College of Engineering, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-2100. (2) Donate directly through the Foundation online by going to https://give.boisestate.edu/ and searching at the bottom of the page for Fund ID: NR039 "College of Engineering Outreach Fund". We would also welcome in-kind donations or discounts for components and materials. Feel free to share this widely, and thank you for sending any good vibes our way.

Thanks everyone, and stay safe,
Christine
Lead Mentor, Team 5871 The Chickadees

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Christine, sorry to see the loss you suffered this weekend. Perhaps you could list some of the components and materials that could help get your team back on its feet.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Sorry for the loss but glad no one was hurt, if you don't mind me asking have you found a new space to build out of?

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Thanks for the reply, Mike.

We would like to try to rebuild our comp bot from last year (our rookie year). This includes:

5 CIM motors
KoP base kit with pneumatic wheels
Radio
Battery
5 speed controllers (vics are fine)
VRM
PDP
RoboRIO
Power Cable
Assorted breakers
Anderson connectors
PWM cables
Limit/micro-switch
CIMcoder
pulleys and belts for our intake

We also lost tools, like socket sets, electronics tools, soldering irons, multimeter, etc. Luckily the machine shop is in a different building!

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Thanks for the question -- we are moving to a temporary space in the Maker Space in our campus library for now.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Wow, that's terrible. Glad everyone is safe and you found a new build space.

I don't know if there's any precedent for this, but it could be worth contacting frcteams@firstinspires.org and seeing if you could make arrangements to get a 2017 rookie kit instead of a 2016 rookie kit. Given that you were rookies in 2016 and just basically lost all of that and more, it seems not unreasonable to try to arrange.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

:eek: Wow. Good to hear that the building was unoccupied when the fire started, and nobody was injured. The robot in your picture held up surprisingly well given the conditions, IMO. I can make out a wheel. It looks like an AM14U3, but bent. Since aluminum melts at over 1200 degrees F, the bent frame shows how hot it probably was inside the building. Not to mention additional damage caused by water and falling objects. Sorry for your loss. Best of luck to you in recovering from the fire.

+1. This sounds like a good idea. You may not get it, but it can't hurt to ask.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

That's rough to hear - sent a small donation your way through the Boise State website. Definitely worth following up on Numbers' suggestion to ask about a 2017 rookie kit, too.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Do you know what the cause of the fire was?

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Update!

We might be able to salvage at least part of our practice bot, and we have a few random items from last year's KoP that we were able to extract and clean up.

Right now we're looking at over $10,000 worth that was lost, but a final inventory has yet to be completed.

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words and financial support! The FIRST community is truly amazing.

~Christine

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

I'm not trying to downplay the need for donations at all, but you guys have insurance, right? It definitely wont cover every single thing which is why donations can be so useful at this point, but this can also serve as a reminder to all teams that insurance is needed on everything owned by a team for this very reason. I couldn't imagine having a fire destroy all our things that have been collected over the years, but at least we would be able to buy much of it again due to our coverage. If teams dont have insurance on everything they own, sadly this may be a good example on why its so important to have it. It can be a huge cost to a team, but loosing everything without the ability to replace it is even more costly.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Hi, Zachary!

The team should be covered under Boise State University/State of Idaho. We are remaining optimistic about receiving money from insurance to cover the cost of replacing many things. However, in the meantime, we have immediate needs that cannot wait for insurance. Others in the University have also had varied experiences with the insurance company, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up, either.

You are right that this should serve as a reminder to all teams to have insurance!

Thanks,
Christine

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

AndyMark would love to do two things:

A) Send you a care package of our parts.
B) Gently nudge other parts suppliers step up to the plate and do the same.

I'll send you a PM with the specifics.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Thank you so incredibly much, Billfred and AndyMark! That is beyond gracious.

I'll watch for your PM.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Also sent a PM with some things Pearadox can send your way.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

AndyMark is totally cool, they helped us out a lot when we lost our trailer in 2014. So did 1538 the Holy Cows and others in the area. The FIRST family rocks.

Best thing to do for those that want to help is to get a spreadsheet/google doc of items to be replaced and get it up online where people can see what you need and send replacements.

Also include an address where physical items can be sent.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Everyone is being amazing. I think we are doing well right now, so no need for a spreadsheet. I'll reach back out if we need more, but vendors and our local mentor team, Team Tators #2122, are being fabulous (and of course individual sponsors).

We are so fortunate that this happened before kickoff and not during the build season!

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Its never good that these things happen, but fortunately parts can be replaced and no one was injured. The FIRST community always amazes me how quickly people rush in to help in any situation.

REV Robotics would be happy to offer you 8 SPARK motor controllers to help your team out. Send me a PM with your shipping information and we send them right out to you.



Greg


No nudge required....I was just traveling yesterday and wasn't on CD ;)

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

What belt do you need?

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Any word on the cause of the fire?

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

I think we are set on belts! Thank you so much.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

The fire marshal has declared that the cause was most likely a lithium polymer battery that was in the room. It belonged to a university student group that also used the space.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

So someone had a "hoverboard" they left plugged in right? :rolleyes:

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Li-POs make for very entertaining shooting targets. 5/7 would recommend!(as long as it won't light other things on fire)

I had a hard hat with a head lamp that I wired to a Li-PO... Had.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Mind finding out who insures your school and letting me know?

-Akash

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Probably not a hover board/gyroboard. Those usually have lithium-iron phosphate batteries(LiFePO 4), which are safer, but the hoverboards' designs have improper charging and ventilation setups, or undersized batteries(or all 3). LiPo batteries are most commonly used in RC aircraft and RC cars, which is probably what that one was for. They should not be plugged in unattended, and they should be charged in one of these.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

I hate to break it to you, but those bags don't really do squat. I agree about the not charging unattended however, I know from experience >_>

Any lithium chemistry battery is capable of catastrophic failure resulting in fire and/or explosion, some are just harder than others to induce that failure mode in.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

:ahh: Wow, those are ineffective! Looks like they could actually make it worse! In that case, it's probably not worth buying. A timer for the charger might not be a bad idea, though.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Hi Team 5871 -- Team 677, Murphy's Outlaws, from Columbus School for Girls in Columbus, OH was very sad to hear about the fire as well. We raised money and made a donation online, which we hope will help you out as you go into the season. You're in our thoughts and we hope you have as great a season as possible despite this huge setback.

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Thank you so much, Team 677! What an amazing thing to do. We are so incredibly grateful for your support. We'd love to get your logo to share on our team website. I'll PM you with details. Thanks again!!

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

Hi Christine,

We were so sorry to hear about the fire.

The Space Cookies would like to help you out in any way we can. I'll send a PM to see if there is anything you need.

Shoshanah

Re: Fire This Weekend in Team 5871 Chickadees Work Space
 

First Updates Now along with an anonymous donor is proud to announce that we have made a $2,100 donation to FRC5871 the Chickadees.

The team that made the large part of this donation wanted to stay anonymous but wanted help spread of the spirit of Gracious Professionalism and the power of paying it forward.