[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Larryandlinda

If you have a fire hot enough and widespread enough to set off the sprinkler, no matter where the water comes from, you're not going to come home to, nor wake up to, a home that smells like fresh flowers.

Even if you use Fiji water, you will be facing odors you might not like in the least - soaked carpet. glue, along with the smoldered and charred things that set it off will be quite offensive, not even thinking of the soaked and broken down drywall.


L&L

This is the main reason that I said in an earlier post that, other than losing your personal irreplaceable items, a total loss is not a bad option. I was a firefighter back in the day and water and smoke damage is no joy. I can't imagine your home would ever be really the same. Just my opinion.

The one thing we haven't mentioned here is that in both recent fires the Villagers true spirit came out and these people were welcomed with open arms into their neighbor's homes for as long as they need. Truly a communal spirit in TV!

[Larryandlinda]

[QUOTE=Russ_Boston;239691
The one thing we haven't mentioned here is that in both recent fires the Villagers true spirit came out and these people were welcomed with open arms into their neighbor's homes for as long as they need. Truly a communal spirit in TV![/QUOTE]

This sharing spirit is something we appreciate and would seem somewhat natural and expected, not an exception, for several reasons:

1. Most people move here not to get 'away' but to be 'near' their peers.
Inclusivity not exclusivity.
We are paying a premium to be 'included' into activities
2. Almost all homes are occupied by a minimum of one and maximum of two people
3.Almost every home is set up for guests

It all fits in to the plan.

Our rural homes outside TV are not part of such a planned community but we belong to several 'Warm Showers' and
'Hospitality home' listings in the RV, Antique Car, and Bicycle travel worlds

L&L

[2 Oldcrabs]

A few years ago I spilled 2 gallons of gasoline while working on my truck in my garage. It caught fire. Burned my truck and motorcycle. Took fire dept about 9 minutes to respond. Alot of gas to fuel the fire. Had sheet metal over the pull down stairs and a solid steel door to the house. Garage sustain heavy damage to contents, But did not burn thru the "firecoded" board. Wall studs and roof rafters not damaged. Inside house had smoke damaged from opening the house door after the fire. Building codes & building inspectors in Delaware saved our home!

[barb1191]

Originally Posted by 2 Oldcrabs

A few years ago I spilled 2 gallons of gasoline while working on my truck in my garage. It caught fire. Burned my truck and motorcycle. Took fire dept about 9 minutes to respond. Alot of gas to fuel the fire. Had sheet metal over the pull down stairs and a solid steel door to the house. Garage sustain heavy damage to contents, But did not burn thru the "firecoded" board. Wall studs and roof rafters not damaged. Inside house had smoke damaged from opening the house door after the fire. Building codes & building inspectors in Delaware saved our home!

2 Old Crabs (love that name)

Good point you bring to the table!! Obviously, the fire codes here are remiss in protecting our homes. What can we do to improve and protect our homes from these horrendous fires of late? Guess we need to educate ourselves re insulating the garage from this threatening disastrous situation, yes?

It seems that the two most recent fires both started in the garage, or at least the garage was the area that had the most damage at both recent disasters.

barb

[Martha Kaye]

There is a terrible burned out shell of a home on the beggining of Canal street. Been there since I have arrived here in Oct. Anybody know the story on that fire?? Also, how long can a black shell of a burned out house be left in that condition? Someone said this fire happened last summer.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by Martha Kaye

There is a terrible burned out shell of a home on the beggining of Canal street. Been there since I have arrived here in Oct. Anybody know the story on that fire?? Also, how long can a black shell of a burned out house be left in that condition? Someone said this fire happened last summer.

I don't know specifics about thay fire, but there could be any number of issues delaying the construction or repair of the home. Consider insurance settlement and obtaining permits as 2 likely delays. Perhaps the folks aren't local. That could further delay everything. I am sure the owners are doing everything they can to expedite.

[Hawkwind]

The word that I heard today is that the fire may have started in the gas golf cart.

[chelsea24]

OK, this might provide a clue. Our neighbors almost had a fire, but they smelled that electrical burning smell in the garage and got it out just in time.

The builder's had put in the wrong volt to charge their golf cart!!!! This is important for all of you to check this. It seems on walk-through, they were told, like we were too, that this is the outlet to charge your golf cart. I think the voltage is 220??? I could be wrong on these numbers, and ours is correct. But our neighbor was using the correct outlet, but it was only wired as a 110!

Please, people, and new buyers especially, have your golf cart and all outlets double checked. We are in an electric village also. I sincerely think that's what happened in St. Charles. It sounds like it, if it started in the garage.

[skip0358]

With the recent electric problems I wonder if maybe the inspector should check a little closer. On the walk thru everything is done, almost impossible to check electrical circuits. As for the fire by the Polo grounds I have a pictur of the Christmas lites prior to the fire. I could belive an electrical issue. However again with the inspection. As for last weeks fire in St Charles if anyone was coming home, and opened there garage door as most do as they are approaching the house and there was a fire in the garage as was reported on this house. Guess what when you open an 18x8 foot door and alow that much oxygen fuel even a small fire it's no longer inside the garage and in no time your house is very much involved. We have and leave anything in our garages, lawn movers, gas for the mowers, electric golf carts plugged in abnd charging. We all complain of the heat in the garage and again where is everything kept. Granted the codes could be a little better. How many people have installed a heat or smoke alarm, or bought a fire extinguisher or programed the fire dept number in their phones.As for the house on Canal & Odell. It was a lightning strike. I was told it was a couple not married, his name was on the deed, not her's he died after the fire insurance co. will not pay the female companion, so it maybe some time yet.
Just another point of view. I too was a firemen for 42 years and saw a lot.

[Martha Kaye]

Thanks Skip. That answer makes sense about the house on Canal.

[Russ_Boston]

There's a very simple device from the home store that can check 110 vs. 220. Good to keep in mind.

Either way it shouldn't start a fire, just blow the circuit. But I'm no electrician!

[Talk Host]

Here is something that many people both ignore and think is a non issue. (I too was in the volunteer fire service for 20 years as both a firefighter and code inspector)

How many of you look to see if your electric appliances, Christmas lights and extension cords are "UL" approved. Many discount, dollar and clearance stores sell such appliances that do not have the approval of the Underwriters Laboratory.

I remember vividly back when I was doing my radio talk show, I was speaking about this exact thing. A few minutes later, I got a call from a woman who said she heard what I had said and walked into her dining room to check on of those electric light candles in the window. She said, when she walked into the room, it was ON FIRE and spreading up the drapes. She extinguished the fire with water. The candle had been purchased at a dollar store and was NOT UL approved.

[chelsea24]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

There's a very simple device from the home store that can check 110 vs. 220. Good to keep in mind.

Either way it shouldn't start a fire, just blow the circuit. But I'm no electrician!

I agree Russ, you would think it would blow the circuit, but it didn't! Our neighbors said it was hot and smoke coming out. They are talking it up with the builder. Thank God they were both home and awake.

I didn't know there was such a device. Good to know.

[yobeano]

Just some info. I have a lengthy electrical background. I dont know how the outlets were wired in this case but if they were wired correct a device that is meant to be charged by 220 volts will not physically plug into an outlet made for 110 volts. Also a 220 volt outlet will not physically accept a 110 volt device. Of course, anything goes if they were wired incorrectly, but that should be able to be traced back to the panel for verification.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by animal lover

Help - I guess I don't understand why the circuit breakers aren't doing their job and just tripping if there are overloads on the electrical? Why would a fire start?

As info -I did have a home inspection before my 1 year warranty was up on the house and the home inspector said we had the golf cart plugged into the wrong plug in garage. We have an Amarillo ranch and he said to plug the cart into the outlet on right garage wall because it has a dedicated circuit breaker.

This is something that really needs some light shed on it.

Circuit breakers should break the circuit if they are overloaded. Electric one oh one.

Dedicated circuit breaker (!!??) should be marked. We have a gas cart, so I really didn't know about needing to plug an electric cart in the right plug. I think I will email The Villages again and link this thread. I hope that many of you will do the same.