Extremely Close Call

[bad99ram]

The other night our neighbor and wife were watching TV with the electric fireplace on. All of a sudden flames shot out from behind the TV ( fireplace is below the TV). He ripped the TV off the wall and grabbed the fire extinguisher. It didn't work. He was able to put it out with water before it spread. While checking out the damage he found that it was the remote control unit for the fireplace that had caught on fire.
After telling our group of the problem at morning coffee one guy went back to check his remote control . He found that where the fireplace plugged into the remote control had melted the wires and fused the plug right to the box. He cut the plug off, replaced it and is still using the fireplace minus the remote.
If any of you folks have a remote control for your fireplace please check it.

[Ustabslim]

What year??

[bad99ram]

Posting provides 2 warnings for ALL:
1. Check your electric fireplace for same conditions.
2. Check your extinguishers on a regular basis. Pressure is important, but if the powder has had a chance to compact it will not help you when you need it. Need to keep it Loose and powdery like your flour.

[robkelly]

Thanks for the notice! I'll be checking that remote as soon as I can get to the fireplace

[Clayton4971]

Great post thanks for sharing !

[norty1]

I have heard of this happening on Dimplex FP w/ remote.

Mine does not have a remote feature thankfully. I can't find all the ones I already have.

[Crabman]

Wow, sounds to me as if a safety recall is in order....

[norty1]

Here is some info on a voluntary recall:

http://www.dimplex.com/page.php?id=16&n=7

[Clayton4971]

Link is not working for me , Could you check it out ? Thanks. ( found it thanks )

[Wrascal]

Using IE 11, the link worked for me.

[RVhiker]

If this was equipment installed by Jayco should Jayco be doing recall notification to all affected Jayco owners?

[Grumpy]

He's never answered the question about what year let alone what brand RV. Also the voluntary recall is only thru 08 and specifically mentions big box stores.

[RVhiker]

Good points, Grumpy. I assumed he had a Jayco, but I should not have assumed.

[namusmc65]

Still good info, to check out remote control box and also fire extinguisher. My unit is a 2014 and should not be affected but I am still going out today and check the remote unit. We use it extensively and leave our fireplace on a lot to conserve propane. Any suggestion on how to keep the fire extinguisher in a powdery form? I guess shaking it around a little and turning it upside down a cople times would not hurt?

[norty1]

Take it from its mounting and turn it upside down a few time every couple of months. Check that it is still charged and not out of date.

A new extinguisher is not a expensive item. Even replacing it annually may be prudent if you are extra cautious.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by namusmc65

Still good info, to check out remote control box and also fire extinguisher. My unit is a 2014 and should not be affected but I am still going out today and check the remote unit.

If the 2014 is the same as the 2015 the remote is not a seperate unit, but built into the fireplace.

[Wally26RLS]

I know there are other firemen besides me in this forum so I m sure they will back me up on this lol...When you drive down the road the material in your extinguishers gets packed down from all the bumps and road movement, simply turing it over and shaking it may not loosen it up. Proper maintenance would be once a month turn it over and gently tap on it with a hammer to loosen up the powder....dont SMACK it lol...you dont want to comprimise the container :-). Also if your extingisher does not have a gauge to tell you if the pressure is full or not, replaceing it at the begining of each season would be my suggestion.....IMHO

[t2daniel]

Why not use a foam fire extinguisher? Those dry chemical ones make a mess.

I just looked up some articles:

http://www.rvtechmag.com/tech/28_firesafety.php

I'm going to look for some rv sized extinguishers and put one in front and back. I just reviewed with my family how to safely use one too just in case. We have an ABC foam unit at home in our kitchen already. It's easier to wipe up the foam if you have to use it.

Good to be reminded of RV fire safety.

[fielro]

Wow, thanks for the post

[namusmc65]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

If the 2014 is the same as the 2015 the remote is not a seperate unit, but built into the fireplace.

Must be the case Grumpy. I could not find a separate remote receiver. It looks like it just plugs into a separate electrical box. I took a flashlight and a mirror and looked all around.