TarHeelMom
Cathlete
Ohmigosh Robin, I'm so glad you and DH are okay! 
Hope this didn't create too big or costly an expense for you two!
Hope this didn't create too big or costly an expense for you two!
Well, the fire engines have all left....
- Thread starter buffettgirl
- Start date
NRG Woman
Cathlete
I am so glad that your husband woke up and smelled the smoke, it really changed the outcome of this event.
DH is the Deputy Chief of our local fire department. We have a fire truck (Tahoe) with the sirens and lightbar that lives in our driveway. Oddly, this really is a matter of perspective. For the firefighters it is fairly routine, but always exciting for them when they can come in and be of some assistance. DH gets over 700 calls per year and this is not actually his full-time job, he is considered paid-on-call. This means that he wears a pager and whenever a fire call is received he trucks out of here "red lights and siren". His regular job is working with our DOT. His worst fear is hearing his own address over the pager.
It sounds like you didn't have any or much water damage which is really nice. That is a real problem for the homeowners to clean up.
Glad to hear all is well.
Shayne
DH is the Deputy Chief of our local fire department. We have a fire truck (Tahoe) with the sirens and lightbar that lives in our driveway. Oddly, this really is a matter of perspective. For the firefighters it is fairly routine, but always exciting for them when they can come in and be of some assistance. DH gets over 700 calls per year and this is not actually his full-time job, he is considered paid-on-call. This means that he wears a pager and whenever a fire call is received he trucks out of here "red lights and siren". His regular job is working with our DOT. His worst fear is hearing his own address over the pager.
It sounds like you didn't have any or much water damage which is really nice. That is a real problem for the homeowners to clean up.
Glad to hear all is well.
Shayne
buffettgirl
Cathlete
Shanye, please give your DH a hug from me. I've always admired those willing to volunteer for the job. Now even more so. They didn't have to use any water, so other than a little bit of smokey smell, there was no damage. I reported it to the insurance company, just in case something shows up later.
Kathy, so far no cost other than getting the chimney sweep in to check things out. The insurance office said that would be covered.
Kathy, so far no cost other than getting the chimney sweep in to check things out. The insurance office said that would be covered.
Fembot40
Cathlete
We just had a visit from the fire deptartment in January due to our dryer catching on fire. I'm usually just a lurker, but thought I'd put a public safety alert to NEVER leave your clothes dryer running at night. Our fire happened during the day, I was right there and used a fire extinguisher immediately and still the flames were out of control.
I don't mean to hyjack anyone's thread, it just seems that this winter has been one of the worst I can remember for house fires and propane explosions. Plus I'm still suffering a little PTSD.
Oh, and if you don't have a fire alarm right above your dryer, I would highly recommend getting one. We have a system that is wired to each other on every floor, and it didn't go off until the flames were licking the walls and the house was totally engulfed in smoke. We were lucky to have a ABC extinguisher right by our laundry room. I'd recommend one of those too.
I don't mean to hyjack anyone's thread, it just seems that this winter has been one of the worst I can remember for house fires and propane explosions. Plus I'm still suffering a little PTSD.
Oh, and if you don't have a fire alarm right above your dryer, I would highly recommend getting one. We have a system that is wired to each other on every floor, and it didn't go off until the flames were licking the walls and the house was totally engulfed in smoke. We were lucky to have a ABC extinguisher right by our laundry room. I'd recommend one of those too.
HaveFun
Cathlete
Robin,
So glad everyone is ok. We just recently replaced our smoke detector with one that detects for carbon monoxide as well and we got extinguishers for each end of the house (our house is not that large). Our friend is a firefighter and he also preaches about not leaving the washer or dryer on while not at home also not to leave our ceiling fans running. I used to always leave a load of laundry running when I would leave for work and all the ceiling fans would run 24/7
So glad everyone is ok. We just recently replaced our smoke detector with one that detects for carbon monoxide as well and we got extinguishers for each end of the house (our house is not that large). Our friend is a firefighter and he also preaches about not leaving the washer or dryer on while not at home also not to leave our ceiling fans running. I used to always leave a load of laundry running when I would leave for work and all the ceiling fans would run 24/7
Gibbee
Cathlete
I do occasionally have a load drying when I leave. I shouldn't but I do. However, when I was younger a lady I used to babysit for (she was a full-time babysitter) was home w/ a house full of sleeping kiddos and the dryer was running and it exploded. She managed to get the kids out and that was all - so if you're at home or not sometimes those things just happen and you can't stop them. To this day I am amazed she got the kids out because they were on the same floor as the dryer and the only door to the outside was closest to the laundry room and the kids were in a back room (lower floor w/no window) and she had to get them out past the fire with no one there to help (most of them 5 and younger). I still think about that fire when I drive past their home. Dryer maintenance (esp. lint traps and the vent to the outside) is imperative to help prevent fires.
Fembot40
Cathlete
Our dryer fire started in the motor, lint had built up behind the wires. If you look at your dryer manual, it says the dryer should be taken apart every two years by a certified electrician and cleaned, not just the bottom of the dryer and the vent hoses. Our dryer vent was totally clean. After researching Frigidaire dryer fires, it's seems to be a very common occurrance, even with models less than a year old. Needless to say, we didn't replace our appliances with the same brand.
I have a whole new perspective on fires, I won't even burn a candle now!
I have a whole new perspective on fires, I won't even burn a candle now!