Photos of my house fire...aquarium put it out.

AqCons · 05/02/2005, 12:13 AM

I had a fire in my house. The fire investigator said the power strip which was the coralife power center started the fire. The aquarium eventually melted and put out the fire.

We were not home at the time. We live out in the country and our neighbor's are too far from us to notice if there was a fire until it was too late. Also, it took the volunteer fire department 30-40 minutes to get there.

We would have lost everything if the aquarium wouldn't have put the fire out.

Tammy

Here's some photos.

Sorry, but I don't know how to post the photo, you have to click on the link.

AqCons · 05/02/2005, 12:18 AM

The last photo was of the master bathroom which was down the hall, from the fire and through the master bedroom. It just shows the soot and smoke damage. We will be out of our house for about 2 1/2 months.

melev · 05/02/2005, 12:20 AM

Wow, I'm sorry to see all this. The damage to your home isn't extensive, but it will take a lot of work to clean everything up again.

How much livestock did you lose in the fire?

NwG · 05/02/2005, 12:23 AM

Aqcons, I looked at the pics in the other thread... downright scary..
truely sorry for your loss... may I ask what the fire department had to say? You mentioned they said many fires were caused by power strips.. But did they say weather or not most were caused by the product or user error?

CluelessFish · 05/02/2005, 12:26 AM

Wow, that is scary. Would you mind letting me know which unit was the cause of it? I know you had indicated the culprit as being the coralife equipment but can you tell me which specific lighting unit? Sorry if I am asking too many questions but I have a coralife halide myself and seeing your pictures of the fire damage just send chills down my spine.
Thank you in advance.

cluelessfish

moosejac · 05/02/2005, 12:34 AM

I have a power center as well...making me a little nervous. Do you think it was a faulty power strip, or did it get wet or something?

NwG · 05/02/2005, 12:39 AM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=580767

Northside Reef · 05/02/2005, 01:21 AM

Very scary, I am glad no one was hurt. I hope you and your family are back in your home as soon as possible.

Thank you for sharing I hope this warning can prevent others from the same fate.

NorthSideÃ¢â‚¬Â¦

AqCons · 05/02/2005, 09:59 AM

They didn't say wether it was more user error or not. He did say he sees an awful lot of powerstrip fires with saltwater aquariums vs. freshwater.

Clueless fish: it was the Coralife Power Center - single timer.

Moosejac - I know without a doubt that I did not get it wet. This is a fairly new powercenter. I only had it a couple of months and it's been at least that long since a waterchange. I know, I know, I had not been very diligent lately about waterchanges but everything was doing great.

mhurley · 05/02/2005, 10:05 AM

Fixed your pics for ya.

Scary stuff, glad nobody was hurt and the damage was limited to what it was.

Entropy · 05/02/2005, 10:23 AM

Wow! That is very scary. I cannot believe it melted the tank. Glad your family is ok!

gallery · 05/02/2005, 10:56 AM

AgCons sorry for the loss i know how bad a house fire can be we had an electricel fire a few years back. thanks for the input on the plug strip though. my wife picked me up one a few months ago from VA. although i havent had any problems with it i just changed it out with another brand i had. no sence taking any chances.

i-b-reef-n · 05/02/2005, 11:16 AM

Sorry to hear about this - but it's good to know that the tank can do something good for a change instead of always being the cause of problems :-)

bdblkta · 05/02/2005, 11:24 AM

very wierd the aquarium metlted. you can boil water in a paper cup over an open camp fire.

Sloth · 05/02/2005, 11:24 AM

Does the TV still work?

AqCons · 05/02/2005, 11:27 AM

Thanks for fixing the pics.

I never really like acrylic aquariums because they're so easy to scratch. But I'm glad that's what I had in the office!

chewie70 · 05/02/2005, 11:36 AM

Hey Aqcons,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Just for your info and anyone else that uses these powerstrips, this is not a one time thing. I have 3 of those that I immediately pulled off my system when one day I noticed the case at the last 2 plugs on the opposite end of the timer had changed form and started to shrivel up. Upon further inspection, I realized that those to outlets had almost fused together which gave me a reality check as to how close I had come to having my house burn down. You might want to check into it beause you may have a case against the manufacturer. Good luck and don't give up on the tank.

AqCons · 05/02/2005, 11:58 AM

No, sorry the TV no longer works. Maybe with a little restoration someone could get it going...want to give it a try?

The morning of the fire I woke up and smelled something burning. I checked everything out in the house and found nothing so I kind of thought that the heat kicked on and made the house smell a little or something. The smell wasn't very strong at all. The fire investigator said it was probably the power strip starting to smoke.

Chewie, have you reported this to ESU? I emailed them and I'm going to call today.

The fire investigator said the problem with suing because of a faulty power strip is difficult because the mfg. usually say that it is user error...overloaded, saltwater in the outlets, etc. It's hard to prove you didn't get saltwater in the outlets when everything is burned up.

moo · 05/02/2005, 12:07 PM

Wow...I'm sorry to hear. I hope everything works out for you.

I was just thinking about how dangerous my setup can be. With all the surges, timers, lights, powerheads, etc. I need to do some research to see if my setup is really safe.

Thank you for the wake up call...and again, I'm sorry...I hope everything works out for you.

dr.darkness · 05/02/2005, 12:20 PM

I myself have had prblems with this power strip also the timer its self would lock up and remain on. Power strips and outlets don't get along with salt it's a dangeress combo even a little bit of salt can cause a fire,so fellow aquariust becareful. The best thing to do is cover your power strip with a plastic bag like the one your live stock comes in. Sorry about your loss AqCons.

Konadog · 05/02/2005, 12:37 PM

WOW!! Glad to here your OK. Here is a good reason to put drip loops in power cords and keep the power strip off of the floor. I'm not saying that it the reason that this happened, but a reminder for those reading this to look at there own setup.

Entropy · 05/02/2005, 12:42 PM

I prefer to mount the powersource above the tank completely. Drip loops are nice, but water rarely fights gravity.

haid · 05/02/2005, 12:54 PM

I to have had two powerstrips start smoking. Both times it was because of small leaks in equipment running down the cords and into the powerstrip. Luckily I was home both times and knew the electrical burning smell and found them. Once as I was looking for the smell and I opened the stand door just has the powerstrip caught fire. Drip loops are essential, you definitely don't want water in your powerstrips. Sorry for your loss and good luck in the future.

looser · 05/02/2005, 12:58 PM

I'm not familiar with the Coral Life Power Center, but isn't that supposed be intended for aquarium use? I can see how it would be difficult to sue over saltwater getting into a standard power strip that you buy at HD. But something that is made for use in an aquarium environment should worse case, just stop working, not burn your house down. People that are so willing to blame themselves/Ã¢â‚¬Âuser errorÃ¢â‚¬Â for poor design or poor manufacturing kill me. Could or should Coral Life have know that this unit could be exposed to salt water. Absolutely. What if someone had died in the fire. Would you still blame user error? Give me a break. If you ask me its just a matter of proving your damages. Talk to a good attorney.

chewie70 · 05/02/2005, 01:07 PM

AqCon,

I did contact them when it happened (about 6-8 months ago).
They were more than willing to replace them, but I decided that since this happened to 3 power strips and all around the same time, it wasn't worth the risk. I ended up going out and buying the all metal industrial Belkins at HD. Not sure what's up with those strips, the only thing I do know is that on all of them, the timer never lasted for more than a month and a half, they never got wet, and they were in 3 completely different areas around my tank. Also, they all had started to melt down in the area. On 1 or 2 of them, I wasn't even using the outlets in question.

05/02/2005, 12:13 AM	#1
AqCons Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 192	Photos of my house fire...aquarium put it out. I had a fire in my house. The fire investigator said the power strip which was the coralife power center started the fire. The aquarium eventually melted and put out the fire. We were not home at the time. We live out in the country and our neighbor's are too far from us to notice if there was a fire until it was too late. Also, it took the volunteer fire department 30-40 minutes to get there. We would have lost everything if the aquarium wouldn't have put the fire out. Tammy Here's some photos. Sorry, but I don't know how to post the photo, you have to click on the link. Last edited by mhurley; 05/02/2005 at 10:05 AM.

05/02/2005, 12:23 AM	#4
NwG Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Redondo Beach-SoCal Posts: 1,498	Aqcons, I looked at the pics in the other thread... downright scary.. truely sorry for your loss... may I ask what the fire department had to say? You mentioned they said many fires were caused by power strips.. But did they say weather or not most were caused by the product or user error? __________________ Nerds with Guns? Fish with Guns! Kimber 1911-Dosen't get any better "If you don't test for it, DON'T ADD IT!!!!" "Always strive for the optimum environment, not the minimum environment" -BrianD- Current Tank Info: 220g bb display about 420g total 100g fuge 90g sump in basement ASM G6 2x400w 14k's, 250w 14k, 2x6100 streams w/MC 1/4hp chiller, BARR CR2200 reactor, Geo Kalk Reactor, SPS and clams

05/02/2005, 12:34 AM	#6
moosejac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 232	I have a power center as well...making me a little nervous. Do you think it was a faulty power strip, or did it get wet or something? __________________ Karate is still the best way to acquire a home loan...

05/02/2005, 12:39 AM	#7
NwG Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Redondo Beach-SoCal Posts: 1,498	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=580767 __________________ Nerds with Guns? Fish with Guns! Kimber 1911-Dosen't get any better "If you don't test for it, DON'T ADD IT!!!!" "Always strive for the optimum environment, not the minimum environment" -BrianD- Current Tank Info: 220g bb display about 420g total 100g fuge 90g sump in basement ASM G6 2x400w 14k's, 250w 14k, 2x6100 streams w/MC 1/4hp chiller, BARR CR2200 reactor, Geo Kalk Reactor, SPS and clams

05/02/2005, 01:21 AM	#8
Northside Reef Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chanhassen, MN Posts: 1,294	Very scary, I am glad no one was hurt. I hope you and your family are back in your home as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing I hope this warning can prevent others from the same fate. NorthSideÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ __________________ Back again for more fun! See how much fun by checking out my home page. Current Tank Info: 280 Gallon Display, 92 gallon Cube Clown and anemone tank. 700 gallon filter shed that ties it all together.

05/02/2005, 12:18 AM	#2
AqCons Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 192	The last photo was of the master bathroom which was down the hall, from the fire and through the master bedroom. It just shows the soot and smoke damage. We will be out of our house for about 2 1/2 months.

05/02/2005, 12:20 AM	#3
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Wow, I'm sorry to see all this. The damage to your home isn't extensive, but it will take a lot of work to clean everything up again. How much livestock did you lose in the fire?

05/02/2005, 12:26 AM	#5
CluelessFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 357	Wow, that is scary. Would you mind letting me know which unit was the cause of it? I know you had indicated the culprit as being the coralife equipment but can you tell me which specific lighting unit? Sorry if I am asking too many questions but I have a coralife halide myself and seeing your pictures of the fire damage just send chills down my spine. Thank you in advance. cluelessfish

05/02/2005, 09:59 AM	#9
AqCons Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 192	They didn't say wether it was more user error or not. He did say he sees an awful lot of powerstrip fires with saltwater aquariums vs. freshwater. Clueless fish: it was the Coralife Power Center - single timer. Moosejac - I know without a doubt that I did not get it wet. This is a fairly new powercenter. I only had it a couple of months and it's been at least that long since a waterchange. I know, I know, I had not been very diligent lately about waterchanges but everything was doing great.

05/02/2005, 10:05 AM	#10
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	Fixed your pics for ya. Scary stuff, glad nobody was hurt and the damage was limited to what it was. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube

05/02/2005, 10:23 AM	#11
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	Wow! That is very scary. I cannot believe it melted the tank. Glad your family is ok! __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

05/02/2005, 10:56 AM	#12
gallery Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: havre mt Posts: 340	AgCons sorry for the loss i know how bad a house fire can be we had an electricel fire a few years back. thanks for the input on the plug strip though. my wife picked me up one a few months ago from VA. although i havent had any problems with it i just changed it out with another brand i had. no sence taking any chances.

05/02/2005, 11:16 AM	#13
i-b-reef-n Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: MD Posts: 50	Sorry to hear about this - but it's good to know that the tank can do something good for a change instead of always being the cause of problems :-)

05/02/2005, 11:24 AM	#14
bdblkta Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: college station Posts: 138	very wierd the aquarium metlted. you can boil water in a paper cup over an open camp fire. __________________ Thank you, Josh Bryant

05/02/2005, 11:24 AM	#15
Sloth Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,667	Does the TV still work? __________________ I glue animals to rocks.

05/02/2005, 11:27 AM	#16
AqCons Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 192	Thanks for fixing the pics. I never really like acrylic aquariums because they're so easy to scratch. But I'm glad that's what I had in the office!

05/02/2005, 11:36 AM	#17
chewie70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 137	Hey Aqcons, Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Just for your info and anyone else that uses these powerstrips, this is not a one time thing. I have 3 of those that I immediately pulled off my system when one day I noticed the case at the last 2 plugs on the opposite end of the timer had changed form and started to shrivel up. Upon further inspection, I realized that those to outlets had almost fused together which gave me a reality check as to how close I had come to having my house burn down. You might want to check into it beause you may have a case against the manufacturer. Good luck and don't give up on the tank.

05/02/2005, 11:58 AM	#18
AqCons Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 192	No, sorry the TV no longer works. Maybe with a little restoration someone could get it going...want to give it a try? The morning of the fire I woke up and smelled something burning. I checked everything out in the house and found nothing so I kind of thought that the heat kicked on and made the house smell a little or something. The smell wasn't very strong at all. The fire investigator said it was probably the power strip starting to smoke. Chewie, have you reported this to ESU? I emailed them and I'm going to call today. The fire investigator said the problem with suing because of a faulty power strip is difficult because the mfg. usually say that it is user error...overloaded, saltwater in the outlets, etc. It's hard to prove you didn't get saltwater in the outlets when everything is burned up.

05/02/2005, 12:07 PM	#19
moo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 134	Wow...I'm sorry to hear. I hope everything works out for you. I was just thinking about how dangerous my setup can be. With all the surges, timers, lights, powerheads, etc. I need to do some research to see if my setup is really safe. Thank you for the wake up call...and again, I'm sorry...I hope everything works out for you.

05/02/2005, 12:20 PM	#20
dr.darkness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: bay area,ca Posts: 346	I myself have had prblems with this power strip also the timer its self would lock up and remain on. Power strips and outlets don't get along with salt it's a dangeress combo even a little bit of salt can cause a fire,so fellow aquariust becareful. The best thing to do is cover your power strip with a plastic bag like the one your live stock comes in. Sorry about your loss AqCons. __________________ "I don't care who you think you are, when it comes down to it you're just another piece of meat to a serial killer" - William Dan Current Tank Info: 85g reef/12g nano

05/02/2005, 12:37 PM	#21
Konadog Master of the 16 hour day Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Long Beach, So Cal Posts: 13,151 Blog Entries: 4	WOW!! Glad to here your OK. Here is a good reason to put drip loops in power cords and keep the power strip off of the floor. I'm not saying that it the reason that this happened, but a reminder for those reading this to look at there own setup. __________________ Save the Reefs................................................................Save the world! -Ken Current Tank Info: Currently tankless, and loving it!

05/02/2005, 12:42 PM	#22
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I prefer to mount the powersource above the tank completely. Drip loops are nice, but water rarely fights gravity. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

05/02/2005, 12:54 PM	#23
haid Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: IN Posts: 518	I to have had two powerstrips start smoking. Both times it was because of small leaks in equipment running down the cords and into the powerstrip. Luckily I was home both times and knew the electrical burning smell and found them. Once as I was looking for the smell and I opened the stand door just has the powerstrip caught fire. Drip loops are essential, you definitely don't want water in your powerstrips. Sorry for your loss and good luck in the future.

05/02/2005, 12:58 PM	#24
looser Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Central MA Posts: 933	I'm not familiar with the Coral Life Power Center, but isn't that supposed be intended for aquarium use? I can see how it would be difficult to sue over saltwater getting into a standard power strip that you buy at HD. But something that is made for use in an aquarium environment should worse case, just stop working, not burn your house down. People that are so willing to blame themselves/Ã¢â‚¬Âuser errorÃ¢â‚¬Â for poor design or poor manufacturing kill me. Could or should Coral Life have know that this unit could be exposed to salt water. Absolutely. What if someone had died in the fire. Would you still blame user error? Give me a break. If you ask me its just a matter of proving your damages. Talk to a good attorney. __________________ "Honey, get the kids out of the house. . . . the fish tank is about to explode!" Current Tank Info: 225 with 75 Fuge

05/02/2005, 01:07 PM	#25
chewie70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 137	AqCon, I did contact them when it happened (about 6-8 months ago). They were more than willing to replace them, but I decided that since this happened to 3 power strips and all around the same time, it wasn't worth the risk. I ended up going out and buying the all metal industrial Belkins at HD. Not sure what's up with those strips, the only thing I do know is that on all of them, the timer never lasted for more than a month and a half, they never got wet, and they were in 3 completely different areas around my tank. Also, they all had started to melt down in the area. On 1 or 2 of them, I wasn't even using the outlets in question.