Microwave Kitchen Fire

[Biciclista]

our microwave would turn itself on in the middle of the night. The famous "intermittent" problem.
I called a guy out on it 13 months after I bought it. He knew it was intermittent, and was scratching his head on how he was going to investigate. He leaned on the top of the microwave (buttons on front) and it went off all by itself, it started cooking. He was really startled, but convinced.

Even though it was past warranty he gave me a script to buy a new one and took the old one out of the house.

I'm glad you fixed your smoke detectors. all those beeps would drive me crazy.
and i'm also glad you didn't suffer a more serious loss this time.

[wackyjacky1]

Like everyone else here, when I read your post I ran into the kitchen to see what kind of microwave I have (Sharp, thank goodness).

How scary! I'm glad everything turned out pretty much okay, pardes.

My mom had a visit from the fire department a couple of weeks ago. She hadn't opened the chimney flue all the way so when she lit a fire the smoke came pouring out of the fireplace and into the house. It was scary but the damage was just from smoke, not flames. And all the firemen who showed up were REALLY cute, so there's that.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[PamNY]

Pardes, I'm so glad you and yours are okay. What a scary experience. It's good you posted it; safety reminders are always helpful.

Pam

[shootingstar]

About microwave use safety and fire safety/including scalding. I never knew..but then I use our microwave once a day only --usually for nuking my oatmeal early in morning.

http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?c...rowave%20ovens

National Fire Protection Assoc. has existed since early 1900's. The organization writes various engineering and technical standards on fire safety design of certain equipment, building features and firefighting equipment. NFPA standards are cited in many U.S. and Canadian fire and building codes....therefore it becomes part of law.

[Mr. Bloom]

It's also important to have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and easily accessible.

+1 +1 +1 They are not expensive. Give them as gifts to loved ones...they're under $20 on Amazon.

We received two as gifts a few years ago...actually a very thoughtful gift since it's important and we often don't think of getting them for ourselves.