Flames Destroy the Rachael Ray House But Star Is 'Grateful for What She Has, Not What She Lost'
August 12, 2020
Updated 9/15/2020 —When flames consumed the Rachael Ray house in New York, so many things were destroyed. But the TV personality and celebrity chef realizes they were just that -- things. Rachael was quick to count her blessings rather than focus on what she lost in the fire.
The Rachael Ray house in Upstate New York was beautiful. In fact, it was a dream fulfilled for the popular TV personality.
RELATED: Fire Destroyed House Entirely Except For Where Scripture Is Written, Leaving Firefighters In Awe
"I drew this house on a piece of paper and decorated it before it was ever built," Rachael said in a tour of the home's kitchen for the Rachael Ray Show.
WATCH: Rachael Ray House Tour Just A Few Months Before Tragic Fire
It was only a few months after that tour when Rachael Ray would literally watch her dream house go up in flames. But the TV host is inspiring everyone in how she's facing the devastating loss.
TV Host 'Heard Fire In The Walls'
The home caught fire around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2020. Rachael Ray was at the house with her husband, John Cusimano, her mother, Elsa Scuderi, and her dog, Bella.
Rachael and John prepared a fire in the fireplace ahead of dinner. But before they could even sit down to eat, screams interrupted the meal.
"A person was going through our backyard on an ATV and was kind enough to come down the hill and say, 'Your roof's on fire.' Literally screaming it in our backyard," Rachael said. "We went outside (and) sure enough, that was the case."
The man told the couple he had already called the fire department. Rachael immediately raced back inside with hopes of gathering some of their important items: "medicines, photographs, notebooks". But she ended up with only enough time to grab the dog.
RELATED: Woman Narrowly Escapes Deadly House Fire Where Only Prayer Room Is Left Standing
"I heard the fire in the walls," she said. "It was blood-curdling and chilling from head to toe. I turn to leave and there was a first responder right in front of me, (saying), 'Get out, get out now. You have to go.'"
A Look At The Utter Destruction
The TV Host returned to the aftermath with her show's film crew and shared the aftermath with her fans. All that was left was total devastation.
Yet, despite the loss of her dream home and many of her belongings, Rachael Ray remains fully aware of how blessed she and her family remain.
This is what’s left of our house, today. Sharing our story + what we’ve learned in a very unusual @rachaelrayshow premiere. Thank you to all our first responders, viewers + friends for their unending support. We are very grateful and mindful of how fortunate we are in many ways. pic.twitter.com/lv18pTIkpI
— rachael ray (@rachaelray) September 14, 2020
Counting The Blessings
Authorities deemed the Rachael Ray house fire accidental. They determined the blaze started in the chimney. Once the flames started, the fire was "fully involved" and the house couldn't be saved.
But that doesn't mean there wasn't a happy ending. All of the people and pets escaped the Rachael Ray house fire -- a true blessing.
"Everyone was able to get out safely," said Brian LaFleure, the Warren County director of emergency services and fire coordinator. "There were no injuries, which was good."
Much of what the house fire destroyed held special sentimental value for Rachael Ray. But she realizes the fire didn't destroy the things that matter most.
RELATED: Family Lost Home to Fire And Then Discovered Their Bibles Were Spared
"Grateful that my mom, my husband, my dog… we’re all okay," she wrote on social media. "These are the days we all have to be grateful for what we have, not what we’ve lost."
Thank you to our local first responders for being kind and gracious and saving what they could of our home. Grateful that my mom, my husband, my dog… we’re all okay. These are the days we all have to be grateful for what we have, not what we’ve lost.
— rachael ray (@rachaelray) August 10, 2020
Fix Your Eyes On The Eternal
Events like the Rachael Ray house fire these are a powerful reminder of how everything on this earth is temporary.
All of us will experience seasons of tragedy and loss. But be strong, take heart, and place your hope the Lord (Psalm 31:24). For the treasures we have stored up in Heaven can never be destroyed (Matthew 6:19-20)!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Rescue Dog Risks Life Dragging Woman Out Of Blazing House Fire
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
WATCH: Rachael Ray House Fire
WATCH: Rachael Ray House Fire Aftermath
LISTEN: Denzel Washington, Christian Celebrity, Is In The News For Helping Homeless Man In Danger
h/t: People
Featured Image: Twitter / Rachael Ray
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 23
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Those Who Are Lonely or Isolated This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 23
This Christmas, remember how precious you are to the Creator. Remember that there is nothing you can do or say that would ever separate His presence and love from you. It’s okay to go through Christmas feeling alone and isolated, but make sure you turn to God to fill those feelings of loneliness.
Past Stories
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp 'Ready Now' Powerful Official Music Video
Riley Clemmons Riley Clemmons - All Is Well
Mark Schultz 'Different Kind of Christmas' - Live From Mark Schultz
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.