Post by Hollow Sun on Dec 11, 2006 16:05:29 GMT
Yesterday evening, the missus did some ironing. Nothing sinister in that except that she forgot to switch it off when she finished (it's happpened before with no ill-effects other than on our electricity bill). Except that on this occasion.....
As we were sitting downstairs, we could smell something odd. So the present Mrs Hollowsun had a wander round but couldn't detect anything untoward.....
So she wandered upstairs and there in the front bedroom (where the ironing ritual takes place), the iron and half of the ironing board was a veritable bonfire
Flames were shooting up and toxic smoke from the plastics were filling the room - pretty serious in fact!!!
She (of course) went totally hysterical!!! I, however, kept calm... disconnected the mains supply then dampened a large, thick towel copiously with cold water and carefully threw it over the offending area, covering it completely and within seconds, the fire was extinguished and all was well - disaster averted.
Of course, the toxic smoke prevailed so our young daughter's sleep was disturbed as she was moved downstairs out of harm's way and every window and door in the house was opened (including the attic entrance - smoke/fumes rise... a good escape route) and the fumes soon dissipated (encouraged by energetic fanning with another large towel).
The moral of this story?
If anything like this happens......
* DO NOT just fill a jug with water and throw it at the fire and hope for the best - you need to SMOTHER the fire carefully with a damp towel and totally. If a fire is burning, it is unlikely to spread wildly and rapidly - you have a good few seconds - or more - to make your decision and aim your towel effectively
* A damp/wet towel MUST be used - a dry one will catch fire and exacerbate the problem!
* DO NOT (unless ABSOLUTELY necessary) just trip the entire house fuse box if the incident occurs at night-time because then you have no light to see what you are doing.
* If in doubt (and/or the fire is larger than a damp towel can handle), evacuate the place immediately and call the fire brigade.[/ul]
This advice is not given on this evening's experience but as a result of my training in the St John's Ambulance Brigade where I was a decorated officer in my youth with Fire Brigade commendations - it paid off tonight!!
Also, of course, much of this is just practical and logical advice regardless of my training.
Bottom line....
If this happens to you, unless the fire has grown out of control, KEEP CALM and smother it with a damp towel.
The same applies to other small and localised, domestic fires such as chip pans, grills and frying pans ... carefully and considerately throw a damp towel over the offending area - throwing water at a fire like this will actually create a huge, explosive fireball that may well take you and your kitchen out!!!
Also have WORKING smoke detectors fitted on every level of the house and also maybe have fire extinguishers (but bear in mind there are different extinguishers for different types of fires... and they must be serviced yearly).
But this is a salutory lesson for those of us who may leave our studio equipment, etc., switched on 24/7.
Steve
As we were sitting downstairs, we could smell something odd. So the present Mrs Hollowsun had a wander round but couldn't detect anything untoward.....
So she wandered upstairs and there in the front bedroom (where the ironing ritual takes place), the iron and half of the ironing board was a veritable bonfire
Flames were shooting up and toxic smoke from the plastics were filling the room - pretty serious in fact!!!
She (of course) went totally hysterical!!! I, however, kept calm... disconnected the mains supply then dampened a large, thick towel copiously with cold water and carefully threw it over the offending area, covering it completely and within seconds, the fire was extinguished and all was well - disaster averted.
Of course, the toxic smoke prevailed so our young daughter's sleep was disturbed as she was moved downstairs out of harm's way and every window and door in the house was opened (including the attic entrance - smoke/fumes rise... a good escape route) and the fumes soon dissipated (encouraged by energetic fanning with another large towel).
The moral of this story?
If anything like this happens......
* DO NOT just fill a jug with water and throw it at the fire and hope for the best - you need to SMOTHER the fire carefully with a damp towel and totally. If a fire is burning, it is unlikely to spread wildly and rapidly - you have a good few seconds - or more - to make your decision and aim your towel effectively
* A damp/wet towel MUST be used - a dry one will catch fire and exacerbate the problem!
* DO NOT (unless ABSOLUTELY necessary) just trip the entire house fuse box if the incident occurs at night-time because then you have no light to see what you are doing.
* If in doubt (and/or the fire is larger than a damp towel can handle), evacuate the place immediately and call the fire brigade.[/ul]
This advice is not given on this evening's experience but as a result of my training in the St John's Ambulance Brigade where I was a decorated officer in my youth with Fire Brigade commendations - it paid off tonight!!
Also, of course, much of this is just practical and logical advice regardless of my training.
Bottom line....
If this happens to you, unless the fire has grown out of control, KEEP CALM and smother it with a damp towel.
The same applies to other small and localised, domestic fires such as chip pans, grills and frying pans ... carefully and considerately throw a damp towel over the offending area - throwing water at a fire like this will actually create a huge, explosive fireball that may well take you and your kitchen out!!!
Also have WORKING smoke detectors fitted on every level of the house and also maybe have fire extinguishers (but bear in mind there are different extinguishers for different types of fires... and they must be serviced yearly).
But this is a salutory lesson for those of us who may leave our studio equipment, etc., switched on 24/7.
Steve
