|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 11:27:25 GMT -5
This morning, my son was out in the yard and smelled plastic burning. Before he could find the source, there a big explosion. I heard it in the house and the windows shook. Before I could even get out there, my son had put out most of the fire. It was spreading quickly. We store gas and other volatile stuff out there, so his quick thinking really saved us from the worst, but more importantly- he is ok. The source seems to be his big heavy plastic craftsman toolbox with drawers. It took out a rock bin next to it. We think it was a multi meter that started it. I have a huge shed- 10x12 with an addition. The wall on the addition facing the blow out bowed out and the frame with the door came off. How it didn't do more damage, I don't know. There were aerosol cans sitting right next to the toolbox on the side away from the explosion (we assume), they were fine. We dragged out what was smoldering and managed all of that. The water we dumped on the toolbox immediately boiled. It was HOT! Now he is trying to save what tools he can. Today, more than ever, I am thankful for His grace. Neither one of us was supposed to be home. We would have lost everything. Our shed sits on a wood deck that runs to the house. We absolutely would have been burned out. IMG 0593: IMG 0592: IMG 0591: IMG 0590: IMG 0589: IMG 0588: IMG 0587:
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 11:38:49 GMT -5
I was just talking to my brother who had an interesting theory that may just be true. The toolbox slowly melted and when it flamed up, it ignited the fumes in the addition where all the cans are stored. It blew that heavy wooden wall and door a good ten inches out. That would explain a lot of things.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Mar 6, 2018 12:00:04 GMT -5
What a crazy freak thing to happen I am so glad you are all safe and were home. DIVINE TIMING!!
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Mar 6, 2018 12:01:15 GMT -5
WOW!!! That will get your attention! Glad you are all OK! What is a multi-meter?
That reminds me of an event that took place in (I think) Virginia in the 1950s or early 1960s). The farmer had made himself an andiron of cannon balls he had plowed up in his field. All was fine until the day he came home and found the side of his house blown out. One of the cannonballs in the andiron has not been solid shot after all, but a live explosive round.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 6, 2018 12:12:40 GMT -5
Holy crap. Really glad to hear it was contained to the shed and nobody was hurt. Is it worth calling the fire dept. just to see if they have any insight into what caused the toolbox to melt in the first place?
Chuck
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Mar 6, 2018 12:12:49 GMT -5
I have lost a house to fire and you realize something is missing from your life everyday. Something personal or a tool when you go to look for it. Glad you and your house is safe. You might as well throw away the tools, they have the temper taken out of them and will cause more headache than they are worth
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 12:17:45 GMT -5
Holy crap. Really glad to hear it was contained to the shed and nobody was hurt. Is it worth calling the fire dept. just to see if they have any insight into what caused the toolbox to melt in the first place? Chuck I'm hoping aDave will see this and give his opinion.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 12:18:37 GMT -5
WOW!!! That will get your attention! Glad you are all OK! What is a multi-meter? That reminds me of an event that took place in (I think) Virginia in the 1950s or early 1960s). The farmer had made himself an andiron of cannon balls he had plowed up in his field. All was fine until the day he came home and found the side of his house blown out. One of the cannonballs in the andiron has not been solid shot after all, but a live explosive round. It's an electrical circuit tester. It has a battery. CRAZY story!!!!
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 12:19:51 GMT -5
I have lost a house to fire and you realize something is missing from your life everyday. Something personal or a tool when you go to look for it. Glad you and your house is safe. You might as well throw away the tools, they have the temper taken out of them and will cause more headache than they are worth Ya know- you're right. I hadn't thought of that. I just told my son, who agrees. Thanx!
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 6, 2018 12:21:50 GMT -5
I had missed the line about the multi-meter. I would never think of something like that. I have one sitting in a plastic craftsman box too. I think mine is just a 9-volt battery.
Chuck
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Mar 6, 2018 12:24:22 GMT -5
rockjunquie - Glad to hear it was only the shed. When I first read the subject line I thought you had an explosion in your head! That wouldn't have been good. I hope you can scrape the melted plastic off those slabs. I once fell of the roof when we were building our house. I fell 9 feet to the ground & broke my ankle. I was thankful that I didn't fall off the other side of the house which was a 17 foot drop. I actually thanked God for the small injury, rather than a broken knee, neck, back or worse. Perspective! When we dwell on our troubles, we need to think about our blessings. Life is good. Life is a miracle. Lynn
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 12:27:40 GMT -5
rockjunquie - Glad to hear it was only the shed. When I first read the subject line I thought you had an explosion in your head! That wouldn't have been good. I hope you can scrape the melted plastic off those slabs. I once fell of the roof when we were building our house. I fell 9 feet to the ground & broke my ankle. I was thankful that I didn't fall off the other side of the house which was a 17 foot drop. I actually thanked God for the small injury, rather than a broken knee, neck, back or worse. Perspective! When we dwell on our troubles, we need to think about our blessings. Life is good. Life is a miracle. Lynn How true. Count your blessings. I am still amazed that more did not happen. We really dodged the bullet. And, so did you. I give thanks where its deserved.
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Mar 6, 2018 12:28:51 GMT -5
Haha, I thought it said "head" at first, too!
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 12:33:24 GMT -5
Close- my mind was blown! LOL!
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Mar 6, 2018 12:35:04 GMT -5
Glad everyone fine, Tela! Strange indeed
Guess 2 questions are: What started the melting ? Can melting plastics release combustible gasses?
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 12:45:15 GMT -5
Glad everyone fine, Tela! Strange indeed Guess 2 questions are: What started the melting ? Can melting plastics release combustible gasses? Off my main shed is a small ell. It contains cans of various nasty stuff. That's where the wall was pushed out. We think it was a fume bomb ignited by the flame up of the toolbox. I think the melting and flash came from a battery. But, we're not sure.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Mar 6, 2018 13:12:31 GMT -5
Interesting Tela !
The theory is that combustible gases from the cans Built up in the tool box And the multi meter battery sparked ?
Were in lot of trouble at our residence hoarders paradise eeeekkkk !!
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 6, 2018 13:17:21 GMT -5
Interesting Tela ! The theory is that combustible gases from the cans Built up in the tool box And the multi meter battery sparked ? Were in lot of trouble at our residence hoarders paradise eeeekkkk !! LOL! No, the fumes weren't in the toolbox, they were on the other side of a high stack of stuff next to it. It was essentially a low wall. There was no evidence of an explosion around the tool box, just on the other side of the low wall. Very weird one in a million things. I feel like I should play the lottery.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Mar 6, 2018 13:19:37 GMT -5
ok well back to tumbling next to all these spray cans obviously that is meant as a warning !!! Strangest combustion I had the Cerwin Vega speaker lit fire! The woofer foam on the Cerwin Vega woofer was deteriorated from age I had the system cranked one night Vibrating the roof nails It was dark in the room But I noticed smoke Shutting down the system flames were flying pouring beer on the flames roommate showed up w/a fire extinguisher He didn’t use it Cause the beer was working Not 100% sure how the cracked foam around the woofer shorted the magnet wires ? Beside high vibration But the speaker cloth was on fire playing was the Rolling Stones Bigger Bangnooofooolling blew a 50 amp fuse been meaning to repair my Vega Loud Is Beautiful If Its Clean
|
|
|
Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 6, 2018 14:41:55 GMT -5
Scary, Tela. Glad it wasn't any worse than that. It's a good reminder to check fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.
|
|