Home safety tips

[harrybarbon]

Last Monday night I turned on my dishwasher before going to bed, my usual practice. But on an impulse I decided to do some research on my computer. About 30 minutes later I heard a couple of muffled sounds like close fireworks going off outside my home at 12.40 am that disturbed me. I went out to check, nothing to be seen. Back inside another 2 similar bangs which I could not locate. Then I saw smoke coming from under the kitchen bench behind the dishwasher. I quickly went outside to find my fire extinquisher from my Mack truck parts, it did not work. The electric power circuit breaker did not cut the power for about another 3-5 minutes. I called 000 for the Fire Rescue, they arrived in 10 minutes by which time thick smoke was filling the kitchen and throughout my home. Luckily the Fireys got to the smouldering in time to stop the fire developing. I barely had time to call 000 and grab a few things I could think of, my phone, computer and jacket and pants on a hanger that was on a door. I left my wallet inside not thinking. I moved my car onto the street in case the fire got to it. I called my Labrador to follow me and I put her in the car in safety. We never expect this to happen to us!!!! On the spur of the moment we act purely on instinct. 

Extremely lucky. Had I gone to bed, even with the smoke alarm with deep 1st hour of sleep it would have been too late to save my home etc. The smoke grew and spread so quickly, now I understand what happens to people, especially if they are upstairs and fires are downstairs. Also my house is 1949 build, the plaster walls that is behind the dishwasher, are the old horses hair solid plaster, so it does not burn quickly. If it was the current dry wall paper type plaster, then it would have burned in quick time and the house would have been totaled. The fireys say maximum time is 15 minutes to get to the fire out before it spreads to burn the whole house.

The dishwasher had an electric shortage and the circuit breaker did not cut the power instantly. The smell inside is sickening from the scorched plastic of the dishwasher and cabinets.

The insurance company is doing their damage assessment this week, so now time and patience to repair. I am so grateful to be okay and to stay with my lovely lady.

My tips are never go to bed or leave the house with any appliances operating except the fridge, have the latest and best electric power circuit breaker unit and a working extinquisher. And even turn power connections off at the power points because of power surges.

[70mackMB]

Harry, Glad to hear that you are fine. What ever damage that was done to the house can be repaired.    .....Hippy