Microwave Kitchen Fire

[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?

[Tuckervill]

First thing I did was look at my microwave--it's a Frigidaire, thank goodness!

I would not be concerned about anything on the stove causing the fire, since the microwave was acting so strange. There's no reason for it not to turn off unless there is an electrical problem! My microwave has a filter on the bottom, and I'd guess that was what was on fire, having burned away from its holder onto the stove.

I'm glad you were home to stop the fire. Sorry to hear about that happening to you the first time. It's one of my greatest fears, a fire. One of my husband's ex-employees was not so lucky on Friday, we learned. Her house burned in the night and she went back in to save her dog, and she perished. Unfortunately, she lived alone, had no children, no other close relatives, and they were unable to identify her. We knew it was her house from the picture in the paper on Saturday, so my husband has the grim task of looking in his records for emergency contacts and getting that information to the police. He tried yesterday, but no one in the police department would take the information until the right person comes in this morning.

Check your batteries, everyone! Make sure one of your neighbors has a phone number or SOMETHING.

Karen

[pardes]

Thanks Mr. Silver and Karen! Yes, it had to be an electrical problem. Several of the warning reviews from users was that you COULDN'T turn it off without unplugging it. Really scary to see a machine do something like that.

Karen that is wretched about that poor woman who perished. I work at the Medical Examiner's and we see this kind of terrible thing every day but you NEVER get used to it.

Ever since the major house fire, I've been pretty OCD about leaving the house. I must check things a dozen times and even though I KNOW I've checked things, I can't tell you how many times I'd stop a block away and come back and check things again. I even do it on the bike!

I'll be happy to get home tonight and confirm that the girls are safe and sound for another day.

[deeaimond]

Oh dear..., Karen... that is so tragic.

Padre, thank goodness you're safe and sound.

When i first went to the US I was surprised that houses were mostly made of wood. Before I always thought all houses were built of brick and cement like they are here. I can see how much more of a fire-hazard that can be.

[OakLeaf]

wow Pardes, that is really scary. So glad you and the dog are OK... and that you were able to get the fire out and the microwave unplugged without much damage!

[Becky]

Yowza! Glad to hear that you're ok!

I often consider putting in an alarm system for this very reason.....fire monitoring while we're away...

[Tri Girl]

I'm so glad you're OK, Pardes. Very, very scary.

Karen, I'm sorry to hear about the fire that took that poor woman's life.

Fire is indeed one of the things that scares me- whether I'm at home when it starts or not. Scary stuff.

[SouthernBelle]

Oh crap. I have that microwave.

Btw, when they installed it, they told me it wasn't 'code' to hardwire it in.

[Aggie_Ama]

Crap we have the microwave! But I do have an electrician cousin coming for Christmas who likes to help. I might have him take a peek at the wiring to see if any red flags go up. My builder cut any corner they could we are discovering so I wouldn't be surprised. Next house I am going custom and sitting there every freaking day to watch those workers- lol.

[ilima]

Yikes. So glad you caught that before it did even more serious damage.

I've been meaning to get a fire extinguisher, and I think I'll do that tonight.