Update on the House fire at Matt's home

[Graybeard]

Matt was over yesterday helping me repair my garage door that broke on me, yeah the door literally broke.  We got it working again with some jury rigging until I can get a more permanent and proper fix.

At any rate while he was here he commented to me he finally figured out what the explosion was that really is what saved them and most especially our grandson Wyatt. That explosion shook the house and got their attention in a timely enough manner for Matt to get upstairs grab Wyatt and get him out and then he barely had time to rescue Wyatt's diaper bag and Matt's computer before the place was too engulfed for going back again.

The heating/AC unit was where the explosion took place. Matt got to looking around at it and noticed it was quite thoroughly destroyed by the blast. So mystery solved as to the explosion that really saved them by alerting them something was not right in a timely enough manner to get out safely.

They have found a house they are really wanting to get into on an owner financed buy but are still short of the cash needed to close the deal right now. He's scrounging heavily right now to come up with the money and hopes to be able to raise it in time. They are real close. I've not seen the house but know the general area it is in and there are no bad places to live there. From his description this is a really nice place that is even a bit larger than the house that burned.

Thanks to all of you who have helped them in this time of need. That help will prove the difference in allowing them to begin to get their lives back together and in time back to normal.

[Santa Dave]

Thanks for the update! was there any comment on the source of the fire?
Santa Dave



I'm watching!         YOU!      stop that!

[Graybeard]

The fire department stayed with their determination that an electrical outlet box under the back porch was the source of the fire. I personally don't think so but that's what the firemen on scene said and no investigator came out for a follow up so that's the ruling.

Personally I don't think so but have no better explanation to offer. It just didn't even remotely look to be the center of the fire outside to me but for sure I'm no fire expert I have to use diesel fuel to make a brush pile burn. 

[Siskiyou]

A lot of times the location of the ignition will not show the deep charring.  As the fire finds friendly combustibles the intensity of the burn increases.  A fire might creep around a little before it takes off.  A spark landing in lint is a common factor in laundry room fires.  The spark can be from a problem electrical box or cloths dryer.  That is why we do not leave our cloths dryer running when we go to bed.

A stack of highly combustible items away from the source can be miss- leading because of the heat generated.

A lot of fire departments have people who are very good at reading burn patterns, other look to outside help.  It would be interesting to look at that electrical box.

I investigated a fire in a summer cabin which started from a bra hanging on a rafter which came in contact with a light bulb.  So my next question was whose bra?

By its nature if there is available fuel a fire will spread and the point of origin will not be in the center unless you are burning a pile of brush.