Microwave Kitchen Fire

[pardes]

The smoke detector went off a little while ago. They've all been beeping lately since they are all coming due to change the batteries which I've found is impossible because you can't get them apart without breaking them. Only one was still functional and buying new ones was on my list for this week. If it hadn't rained today, I would have had them today on my shopping run.

Anyway, this alarm sounded real so I ventured into the kitchen to see the room full of smoke and a fire on the gas stove just below the microwave.

I put the fire out, it wasn't too big but I could not turn off the microwave. None of the off buttons would work. I couldn't even turn the fan off! The fan was blowing the light was on but the timer wasn't timing. It just kept running no matter what I did. Thank God I remembered that the plug was inside the cabinets above the microwave and finally managed to unplug it which turned it off. And thank God it wasn't hard-wired into a electrical line that I couldn't get to to disconnect.

I hadn't used the microwave for hours and then just to heat water for coffee. I hadn't used the gas stove for over a day.

I searched on the web for "microwave fire" and found more than one reference to the GE Spacemaster catching on fire even when it wasn't running. I couldn't believe how many posts mentioned that.

Still I can't say for certain that is what it was. It could have been my German Shepherd who I sometimes catch with her paws on the counter who accidentally turned on a burner but these are safety burners and have to be pushed in before being turned so that it releases gas to ignite. I can't tell because when I came into the kitchen, the first thing I did was madly start cranking the burners but I did not notice a burner being on but a small fire was burning just below the microwave. So I can't say but I tell you it scared the you know what out of me.

After reading of the warnings about the same model microwave, I of course won't ever use it again. I'll replace it. But just to be safe and be able to sleep at night and not worry when I'm away from home, the dog will be locked in a bedroom when I'm away.

Oh, and I'll also be buying several brand new smoke detectors with fresh batters and the kind of smoke detector that you can actually take apart and get it back together again without breaking it.

Phew, the adrenalin is still pumping. It will be a while before I can sleep.

You see my previous house on this lot burned down while I was at church about six years ago. It was an old 1950's ranch house and the fire was in the wiring in the attic. I came home to see fire engines and started running toward the house to rescue my dogs but was grabbed by the firemen. The house was a total loss. The only thing I rescued was my car since I was away.

And God bless the backyard neighbor and the firemen. The neighbor kicked in the back door and the firemen kicked in the front door. All my dogs were rescued. They had no hair and spent a week in the vet hospital but they survived.

I an thankful today for so many things. Being able to share this scary story with you is one of them and it's very high on the list.

Check your smoke detectors. Check your microwave and appliance before you leave for the day. Let's all be safe to ride our bikes another day.

[fidlfreek]

Wow. What an awful thing!!! Especially to have that *almost* happen a 2nd time.

[lph]

ahrk! terrifying So glad you're ok.

[Grog]

Wow! That's awful! I'm glad you're okay though.

A fire is the one thing I would really have a hard time getting over. It must have been though for you back then.

[pardes]

Thanks folks. I appreciate the comments.

I've been obsessively reading smoke alarm reviews and just ordered overnight shipment of 3 from Amazon. Phew. Now maybe I can go to sleep.

Thanks again folks.

[Mr. Bloom]

Wow! Glad you're OK.

Our systems are designed to run the exhaust fan when excessive heat or smoke is sensed (personally, it seems to me that this could fan the flames). But, I'm puzzled - what precisely was burning? Was it something on the stove or a part of the unit itself? Is it possible that the oven was in a self clean cycle? Is there any grease build up that may have ignited either inside the stove top or within the fan filters?

[Dogmama]

Thanks folks. I appreciate the comments.

I've been obsessively reading smoke alarm reviews and just ordered overnight shipment of 3 from Amazon. Phew. Now maybe I can go to sleep.

Thanks again folks.

Padres, did you get those smoke alarms? If yes, do you like them? I have two that are hard wired into the house plus one battery operated one that I'm not too keen on. I checked your link & those look very nice. How do they attach to the wall?

[shootingstar]

Gee, unplugging smokin' microwave to stop it...

Can you imagine if the microwave really started to burn..with the toxic plastics in the smoke..wouldn't take much for a person to die.

Worked for the Office of the Fire Marshal for one of the provinces for nearly 10 yrs. Library had investigative case reports, articles and statistical summaries..where actually when there's smoke, more people die of smoke inhalation (or being trampled in a crowd) than being burnt alive.. It's been shown statistically for a long time and well known for most fire departments and coroner's offices.

We alot of plastics in our homes, in our fabrics (ie. upholstered furniture) and over and over it's been shown how deadly burning plastics and other materials are to human beings in a confined area.
__________________________________________________________
I had one scare in my place years ago ..awakened by the building's hardwired fire alarm system at 4:00 am. There was smoke seeping into my home. I opened door into hallway..full of smoke. For first time, I felt truly panicky about being in a burning building. I did run out to my balcony..and contemplated how hard would I smack onto the hard pavement if I jumped 4 stories down to save my life.

So I did what one is advised by fire dept.....take wet bathtowels and try to plug up the doorway air seams where smoke was seeping in. But then it didn't help when seeing through the HVAC system.

Fire dept. came in 25 min. BUT I COULD NOT GO INTO THE SMOKY HALLWAY. So I was truly was trapped until that time.

Found out the apartment just above me sustained over $2,000 of damage.

[crazycanuck]

Holy Moly Pardes

You're with us though (( Pardes))) YAY!!!!!

We don't own a microwave but will certainly check our fire alarm batteries. I'm not a great cook so they beep often