Microwave Fire

[bhammer]

The other night, my son was heating up a chicken sandwich in the microwave. He grabbed a paper plate and cranked it on. The downside is that it was a fancy paper plate used for a B-day party and was all shinny. they used Alumn.. flake to make it shinny. It was a Little Mermaid birthday party for our now 4 YO daughter. (We have to keep it with a boating theme now )

Anyways, the plate caught fire and the wax coating just made it go up faster. My 15YO daughter saw it and screamed fire and started to run. Never have seen her run that fast before...

I got up and went and grabbed the fire ex and didn't need it. Let the fire burn itself out. So two things....

1. Don't use those fancy plates in the microwave. My wife has contacted Party City, the manufacturer as well as the Consumer Protection agency. There are zero warning on the plate or packaging.

2. I would have expected my 15 YO to act a little more calm and grab the fire ex herself. My wife and I are now at a point do we leave her alone at the house or allow her to babysit????


My initial reaction to this is, that she did the right thing by yelling fire and head toward the door. Who wants their kid to fight a fire.... But, the more I think about it, I would expect some logic to be used as well. It wasn't a big fire and not even the plastic in the wave suffer any damage. Anyone have any input?

And being the type that I am, I had to put another one to see if it was a fluke.... It isn't! It went up in about 30 seconds. Pretty cool watching all those little sparks inside the plate.

 

[angus63]

Re: Microwave Fire

1) Instruct kids on what can and can't be used in a microwave.
2) Do not expect anything of a 15 yr old daughter except huge phone bill.​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Microwave Fire

and yes, she probably did what she was taught in school. get out, go to a safe place.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Microwave Fire

15 years old? When I was 15 I was using a common propane torch (screws onto a small propane cylinder) to solder a ball onto a minibike throttle cable. I was working about two feet inside the open garage door with my Grandpa watching. I managed to get solder into the torch which clogged half the jets, so I turn it upside down while still on, tapping it on the floor to knock out the solder. The brass cracked above the valve and a big ploom of fire shot out. I tossed the torch into the front yard and ran to the house screaming "Fire!" Grandpa was pretty laid back and just followed me into the house where we stood and watched a 3ft flame shooting into the air in the front yard. Mom called the fire department who just gave it a quick blast with an extinguisher and all was well. I could have done the same if I knew how to.

My point is don't expect your daughter to use an extinguisher unless you take the time to teach her how to use one, how big or small a fire she should tackle, and how much time to spend before calling 911.

 

[angus63]

Re: Microwave Fire

BTW, My mom used a serving plate in the microwave that had a goldleaf border pattern. Looked like the "Perfect Storm" was attacking the meatloaf!!!!!

 

[bhammer]

Re: Microwave Fire

Thanks all, good input. Yup, the phone is a loosing battle.

My older two have had fire training at school and at home. And at home the older two had fire ex use and instructions for both the house and boat. The younger two know how to get out of the house... When I was a kid, we had two house fires as a result of lightening strikes, one bad the other not so bad so I am a little sensitive to training about fires.

I managed to set a couple things on fire when I was younger. That was back when you buy gunpowder from the local gun dealers and making pipe bombs would get mom called, not the FBI. Too bad for the trees that took the brunt of my over sized firecrackers.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Microwave Fire

1. Don't use those fancy plates in the microwave. My wife has contacted Party City, the manufacturer as well as the Consumer Protection agency. There are zero warning on the plate or packaging.

Check your microwave owner's manual. I am sure it warns not to put any metal items in there. They should be able to rely on you as the consumer to realize that aluminum is a metal. You know that cases like this is where all those ridiculous safety warnings come from, don't you?!

BTW, I just checked my box of aluminum foil. No where on it does it say not to put it in the microwave. You better check yours and put a big warning sticker on it...

 

[bhammer]

Re: Microwave Fire

Contrary to popular belief, there isn't a problem using / placing metal in a microwave. The thermometer I have for the mico is metal, and there are even metal walls in them. It's any sharp edges that create the problem.

The problem is, by looking at the plate, you cannot tell that they have metal in them, unlike a roll of foil.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Microwave Fire

Microwave popcorn and theose "hot pockets" along with other cook in the microwave items have tin foil or foil coating in them.

To get a seriously (in depth) explanation read this http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3717/Geeks/eegrape.htm

That will give you an idea of the how it happened.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Microwave Fire

bhammer: You know I was just funnin' with you, don't you?

Here's an explanation I found online:
Microwave ovens produce electromagnetic waves that jiggle electrons--the negatively-charged bits inside atoms--kind of like ocean waves bob buoys up and down. Jiggling electrons represent kinetic energy -- motion at the atomic level-- and produce heat. The same jostling happens with water molecules--and THAT motion heats up your food.
The electrons in metal are mobile--they can move freely among atoms--and that's where microwave problems start. A thin metal like aluminum foil doesn't have room for all the wiggling, roving electrons. Instead, they bang into aluminum atoms, and then other aluminum atoms, and the FOIL heats up, catches fire, next thing you know, handsome firemen feel. . . you're wasting their time.
Sharp edges and points -- like on a fork--can also be prickly. The problem here? Static electricity. Electrons congregate in the edges and points, building up negative charge. Eventually, they start leaping off, causing sparks .. think mini-lightning.
But when the metal is thick, smooth, with rounded edges--that metal rack--the moving electrons can bounce around freely while rarely hitting another metal atom. Rack doesn't get hot.
-Sandra Tsing Loh

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Microwave Fire

I was just thinking that you shouldn't worry too much about your daughter runnin' for the door. I think she subconciously knew that Dad was there and he would take care of the problem. But, had it been only her on the scene, she probably would acted much differently and taken care of it just like you did. I know I do things even now when my father is around that I know I would do differently if he weren't present. Then again, I could be totally wrong!
Just a thought,
JBJ

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Microwave Fire

Jiggling electrons represent kinetic energy[/I]

Hmm. See. See the electrons. See the electrons jiggle. Feel the energy. There are other things that produce energy when they jiggle. Can you name one?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Microwave Fire

Hmm. See. See the electrons. See the electrons jiggle. Feel the energy. There are other things that produce energy when they jiggle. Can you name one?

Oh! Oh! Oh! I know! I know!
http://wzzo.com/cc-common/mlib/2133/01/2133_1168432426.gif

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Microwave Fire

There are other things that produce energy when they jiggle. Can you name one?

I can think of a pair...

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Microwave Fire

I was just thinking that you shouldn't worry too much about your daughter runnin' for the door. I think she subconciously knew that Dad was there and he would take care of the problem. But, had it been only her on the scene, she probably would acted much differently and taken care of it just like you did. I know I do things even now when my father is around that I know I would do differently if he weren't present. !
Just a thought,
JBJ

This strikes me as right on the money!

 

[obezag]

Re: Microwave Fire

That's a good safety notice for limb cutting.The guy should start at the top and work his way down!

 

[mscher]

Re: Microwave Fire

Contrary to popular belief, there isn't a problem using / placing metal in a microwave. The thermometer I have for the mico is metal, and there are even metal walls in them. It's any sharp edges that create the problem.

The problem is, by looking at the plate, you cannot tell that they have metal in them, unlike a roll of foil.

For reason of saftey, I have to disagree. Putting metals in a microwave oven can be very dangerous.

Some metallic items, coatings and untensils, including some thermometers, are specially designed to be used in microwaves. Regular metallic items are not and can arc, overheat and may catch fire.

The metallic walls of the oven, create the microwave "cavity", reflecting the microwaves only, to whatever is in there to absorb the RF. That's why a microwave oven should never be ran empty.

Here is a microwave trivia question: Why don't the microwaves leak out through the glass door?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Microwave Fire

For reason of saftey, I have to disagree. Putting metals in a microwave oven can be very dangerous.

Some metallic items, coatings and untensils, including some thermometers, are specially designed to be used in microwaves. Regular metallic items are not and can arc, overheat and may catch fire.

The metallic walls of the oven, create the microwave "cavity", reflecting the microwaves only, to whatever is in there to absorb the RF. That's why a microwave oven should never be ran empty.

Here is a microwave trivia question: Why don't the microwaves leak out through the glass door?

Because there is a screen liner in there which reflects the waves. The only rason you can see through the glass is the mesh of the screen.

 

[PW2]

Re: Microwave Fire

It seems to me that some microwaves can be used in the canning process, with those metal rings and lids. I have no idea how they get around the metal issue.

It is why I am cautious about micros! It's mysterious.

I know how to tell if something is dishwasher safe. If it's not, it melts. And you throw it away!

I know how to tell if something is color safe in the wash. If it's not, I end up with a bunch of pink socks and shirts, and I throw them out.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Microwave Fire

bhammer: You know I was just funnin' with you, don't you?

Of course... that's why I keep commin back.

I did however steal your picture you posted. Love it and I am sure it will come in handy later.