Microwave Kitchen Fire

[bmccasland]

Pardes - so glad you didn't have a serious fire.

Everyone - make certain you mark your calendars to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors annually! October was fire prevention month, so that's as good a month as any.

First Alert makes pretty good smoke detectors. I'm one of those that doesn't like them hard wired into your house, unless it's by an alarm company, and all should have battery back up. Which brings us back to replacing the batteries annually.

(resume includes being a firefighter....)

[divingbiker]

I've got an Amana built-in microwave that has started on its own intermittently ever since I got it 14 years ago this week. It only happens when I close the door, not spontaneously. I've never worried about it, but maybe I should.

And Pardes, I'm so glad you didn't have a serious fire this time, but I'm having a hard time getting my head around how you could be living in a house without working smoke detectors after losing everything to a fire 6 years ago!

[Velobambina]

Pardes, what model of the GE Spacemaker did you have? I might start unplugging ours when we aren't using it.

Thank goodness you are OK.

[pardes]

Pardes, what model of the GE Spacemaker did you have? I might start unplugging ours when we aren't using it.

Thank goodness you are OK.

Ummmm I think it's the XL1200 or XL1800. If you have that model you really should consider unplugging it when not in use. Apparently it's not a house wiring problem but the wiring inside the microwave that for no reason turns itself on and can't be turned off without unplugging.

You could also contact GE for their recall notices. With so many problems noted, I'm sure there is some advisory that has been issued.

[spindizzy]

Pardes-

How horribly frightening!!! I'm so glad that you're alright.

The province I reside in requires every home to have working smoke detectors outside sleeping areas. We have two wired-in ones (which are to be replaced every 10 years) one the 2nd floor and the other one is in the basement. We also have a couple of battery operated ones. They are a combination of photoelectric and ionization technology. We change the batteries when we change the clocks.

We also hav CO2 detectors on every floor.

Our first year of marraige we lived in a lovely apartment above a store. Woke up one night to a major fire in the store..so I'm a bit edgy when it comes to fire safety.

[channlluv]

How horrifying all the way around, especially having two fires in such a short span of time. I'm so glad you're safe, and I'm glad you've got the replacement smoke alarms on the way. I'm going to go check mine as soon as I finish typing this.

I've set the alarm off a couple of times, but from cooking smoke, not housefire smoke. I nearly did it last night - London broil in the broiling pan a few minutes too long...the aluminum foil caught flame. Luckily I was working on my computer right here in the kitchen when I notice how smoky it was getting. No alarm, though. Just me. I need to go check those batteries.

And Karen, how very sad for your husband and that woman's family. He might need to call in some kind of counselor for himself and the other people at work.

Roxy

[pardes]

And Pardes, I'm so glad you didn't have a serious fire this time, but I'm having a hard time getting my head around how you could be living in a house without working smoke detectors after losing everything to a fire 6 years ago!

I'm not an idiot.

Two of the three were working. One of the two working ones was chirping that it needed a new battery but it was still operational. Two of the three alarms went off one softly and one VERY loudly.

They are all hard-wired and impossible to dismount. I've replaced them with all battery operated ones that are easy to access.