I can now say i almost burnt down my house
By saundyl
@saundyl (9783)
Canada
August 1, 2012 1:43pm CST
This weekend i made raspberry jam. It tasted delicious...however it was never meant o be eaten the fates determined.
I put it in the jars and set them on the stove to boil to seal...just like my grandma taught me...about half an hour later i thought i turned them off and i left the house to take the girls swimming...2 hours later we returned home...opened the door to black smoke pouring out of the windows and door.
I ran in...turned off the burner under the smoldering pot. Well...it was nasty...jam and glass all over my kitchen. Smoke everywhere. the pot no longer has a bottom. I've replaced the element on the stove as it was damaged.
It scared me. ALOT
Have you ever had a mishap that caused a fire in your home and stopped it in time? or had your home burn down?
3 people like this
8 responses
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
1 Aug 12
Thank God you returned at least after two hours and switched off the stove. While staying in chennai sometimes we have gone out of the house locking it leaving AC and fans running-- because when we left there was no power and before our returning home power had come and AC, fans started running.
It is advisable to check up fully and leave the house --after ensuring stove is closed/lights,fans are switched off, windows are closed etc. 
3 people like this
@Autumnrose2008 (1478)
• United States
1 Aug 12
A few years ago my husband was frying something and he forgot about the hot oil on the stove. He let it go for a while and when he came back the stove was in flames and when my daughter saw it she ran out of the house screaming that her house was on fire. Good thing we had fire suppression and was able to put it out right away with no damage other than the fear it put into my daughter. The good thing though was that she learned to never leave the stove unattended when cooking. To this day my husband will not fry anything on the stove top cause he is worried he will actually burn the house down next time. It was scary but it was a learning experience for all of us.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157837)
• United States
1 Aug 12
I occasionally would get distracted and leave stuff on the stove and be in the yard and hear the smoke detector. Did you know that hardboiled eggs explode and they are awful to try to get off the ceiling? The worst incident was with grease though and I hope it will be a cautionary tale to anyone who reads here. I was heating oil in a skillet and wanted it to go faster so I put a lid on it. Took a shower, forgot it. Remembered it, lifted the lid to check the oil and "boom" had a flash fire. Ended up using a fire extinguisher on the flaming grease. That is a nasty mess to clean up as well.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157837)
• United States
2 Aug 12
There are ways to cook eggs in the microwave, but they are much tastier cooked other ways.
2 people like this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
1 Aug 12
Thanks you are safe and so your house.
I haven't had any experience right inside my house.
But in the neighborhood.
A three door apartment was burned down 10 meters away from my house and I was shock.
I managed to pick up some important documents before leaving my house because neighbors are screaming for us to get out- just imagine the fires as high as 30 meters and already peeping through our firewall.
My guava tree in our backyard was on fire- I can't remember how neighbors and good samaritans put it off....my house was spared...just in time..:)
Take care and be very careful to check everything before leaving the house :)
@jobiejake04 (12)
• United Arab Emirates
4 Aug 12
i was on the same panic situation just 2 nights ago.on the lower floor of our building,there came a smoke that had caused the smoke detector to alarm.grateful that the alarm worked.i am staying in 5th floor.we go down by stairs all the way out safely eventhough thick smoke along the way almost choked us.thankful enough that the fire hadnt cause any severe damage.anyway,it was a mattres and some pillows that was burnt because of irresponsible smoking..
2 people like this
@jobiejake04 (12)
• United Arab Emirates
5 Aug 12
yeah,it is!my housemate suffered from shoulder dislocation.fire department in our area arrived quickly.
1 person likes this
@jobiejake04 (12)
• United Arab Emirates
5 Aug 12
yeah,it is!my housemate even suffered from shoulder dislocation when she was hurrying down to escape.good enough that the fire department in our area arrived quickly.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
30 Aug 12
Not a ire, but my grandfather once put a plastic kettle on the stove, and it melted. The kettle was supposed to be plugged in, not put on the stove.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Aug 12
Oh my! I'm sorry you lost all your jam. That sounds like an awful mess to of had to clean up burnt jam and glass everywhere. :(
I think the closes I ha been in your situation was with an electric potpourri pot I had left on too long un attended and it was out of liquid and was smoldering and made a burn mark in the ring in the dresser it was on.
I have left burners on but I had left them on low and it was usually cause I turned them on low so the food would stay warm but then didn't realize after serving the food it wasn't turned off fully.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
1 Aug 12
It was a huge mess...i was quite shocked to open my closed cupboard and find my mugs coated in jam. I spent all day sunday washing curtains and walls and floors to get the smoke smell out.
I've never tried the potourri pots...id be scared id do the same thing!
