Brendon_t Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Had a major fire scare today. Everybody knows they need at least one fire extinguisher on hand. Here's why. Like many bathrooms with an exaust fan, I hadn't changed the filter in a few years. Luckily I was working at home when the wife went off screaming like crazy. I ran up stairs in two bounds to find smoke billowing out of the kids bathroom. I have a fire extinguisher. I know I do. With the fire flowing across the ceiling,, dropping firing plastic onto the toilet, and a towel on fire, I couldn't for the life of me remember where it was. I was able to get the fire out, after getting the kids down stairs and out of the house. The infuriating thing to me. I have 2 smoke alarms up there. Smoke had covered one completely, the other one that is attached to the home monitor/security system. One never went off, one went off after the fire being out for about 4 minutes. Tomorrow, I'm getting a few more extinguishers and going to try to not call first alert and give them a piece of my mind. It could have been much worse, but seriously guys, inventory your emergency gear, know where it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I got some new smoke detectors recently. Five year batteries and a linking feature that if one goes off it sets off all the other ones. That would let you know when you were in the shop that something was wrong in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Steve, I have 5 total alarms in the house. 1 in the garage. 4 are Wireless connected to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Wow Brendon that's crazy. Glad you guys are okay. It's always good to be reminded of fire safety. I don't own a fire extinguisher. I am going to buy one. Sent from my SM-P550 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) Buy a few bro. I can see how fast fire spreads. The melting plastic was popping throwing off burning plastic onto everything. A towel about 4 feet away, and the shower curtain both caught. Edited September 15, 2015 by Brendon_t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I'm on it. This week for sure. It's been something in the back of my mind of my mind for far too long. Sent from my SM-P550 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Glad everone is OK, Brendon! Good advice about the emergency gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I am also very glad everyone is ok and having kids at home is even more of a scare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgaron Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 You know, I don't think the bathroom fans around here have filters on them normally. Glad to hear everything was ok! We keep a fire extinguisher under every sink and one in my shop in the basement. As important to be sure to have some is to be sure that they haven't expired. When I was a kid the oven caught fire once and the fire extinguisher had lost pressure so mom put it out with baking soda. I wonder if your detectors were malfunctioning or if the fan pipe was pulling up most of whatever element of smoke generally sets them off... not sure what they key off of directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Glad everyone is fine and no major damage to your house. TC! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Brendon, Glad to hear that the damage wasn't any worse than it was and that your family is safe.Remember when buying fire extinguishers, avoid the Kidde plastic valve ones and Kidde altogether, if possible.You know, I don't think the bathroom fans around here have filters on them normally. Glad to hear everything was ok! We keep a fire extinguisher under every sink and one in my shop in the basement. As important to be sure to have some is to be sure that they haven't expired. When I was a kid the oven caught fire once and the fire extinguisher had lost pressure so mom put it out with baking soda. I wonder if your detectors were malfunctioning or if the fan pipe was pulling up most of whatever element of smoke generally sets them off... not sure what they key off of directly.It's important to know, that baking soda, not flour, can be used in a pinch. Throwing flour on the fire is like using a blow torch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 You know, I don't think the bathroom fans around here have filters on them normally. Glad to hear everything was ok! We keep a fire extinguisher under every sink and one in my shop in the basement. As important to be sure to have some is to be sure that they haven't expired. When I was a kid the oven caught fire once and the fire extinguisher had lost pressure so mom put it out with baking soda. I wonder if your detectors were malfunctioning or if the fan pipe was pulling up most of whatever element of smoke generally sets them off... not sure what they key off of directly.I installed one last year, they don't have filters. They exhaust air outside, so there's no reason to have a filter. I would update all the fans in your house. Since everyone is okay and no one got hurt I'd like to say that is one mean crap, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Check out the Nest protect smoke alarm, it does carbon monoxide, smoke, fire, they link together, when one goes off all of the smoke alarms speak and tells you where and what the problem is. It will also send you alerts instantly to your phone. If you have a Nest Thermostat (I highly recommend it) it can connect to that as well and circulate air if it detects carbon monoxide build up. It will also connect to the Philips wireless light bulbs and flash them to get your attention, connect to a certain type of sprinkler system that will turn on if it detects fire. Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Glad you and the family are ok bud! Great reminder, thanks for posting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PWRFULZ3R0 Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Costco sometimes has good deals on the big fire extinguishers. I got a 10lb charge for $44 for the shop. I have a kitchen one too, but damn if I know where it is. Going to find it now! Glad everyone is safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) I installed one last year, they don't have filters. They exhaust air outside, so there's no reason to have a filter. I would update all the fans in your house.Since everyone is okay and no one got hurt I'd like to say that is one mean crapI'm glad yours didnt, but I promise you, the two in my upstairs did. I tore one out of the other bathroom last year and installed a silent one. Thanks for the well wishes guys. The point of this really was to get everyone to inventory their gear and share that knowledge with the family. I've lived through some of the most dangerous places on the planet and never frozen up due to muscle memory. I hadn't thought about a fire extinguisher in a few years, I needed one and wasn't prepared.As crazy as it is, one of my first thoughts was Raefco's house. Edited September 16, 2015 by Brendon_t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 I have a bathroom fan that takes about 20 sec to actually start running (guessing the bearings have rusted from the humidity of the shower). I know it's not right, but this post has bumped it to the top of the priority list!going to show this to the wife so she doesn't think I'm crazy for tearing the shower apart. ;-)glad everyone is ok. Could have been much worse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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