Jesse McCollum Shop & Contents Total Loss to Fire

Here at EDGE, one of the things we love about the welding community is how it comes together to help others in need! It truly is family!

Please consider helping out our friend and one of the EDGE Army family, Jesse McCollum. Thankful that his children and wife are ok and that the fire did not consume their home. His shop and all its contents were a total loss. The insurance will not be covering all that was lost.

Here is some information Jesse wanted me to share before we move forward!

Thank you in advance for all your support, prayers and donations!

From Jesse~

"It is with great heartbreak I share these pictures, but I hope because of them, maybe some others can check their insurance policies and avoid the spot I’m in. On the night of July 4th, an ember from surrounding fireworks caught my shop on fire, the resulting fire destroyed my life’s work. 20 years of building, gone in a matter of an hour or so. This was my place of sharing, teaching, and learning. Through my live streams and YouTube videos, I tried to show real-world applications to many of the skills I’ve acquired over my career, hoping someone would find them useful or entertaining at least. Every single thing I had metal working or welding-related is now a pile of ash and melted plastic. I had over $40,000 worth of camera gear alone in the shop as I was ramping up my supplies anxiously awaiting the opening of our new weld school in Kansas City. Although insurance will cover some of my loss, and I am fortunate enough to have some connections in the industry, unbeknownst to me; I was severely underinsured leaving me roughly $100,000 short of full replacement.

My warning to the welding community is to double-check your policy and make sure that a detached garage is not covered under a short clause in your policy statement. A single line in my policy took me from being insured for the cost of replacement, to only 10% of my total policy….. building and contents included. Check your insurance policy and make sure your shops and equipment have adequate coverage in case of a total loss due to fire. It is even a wise idea to continually take video and photo evidence of your equipment in case of a catastrophic event like this.

I’ve had many people reach out to me and ask about a gofundme or someway they can help, but I also want to help others; Any funds raised above $30,000 will be held in an account to help other welders that face a total loss of equipment or loss of income due to an accident.

Thank you all for your outreach of support and help!"