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Maybe It's Time to Sell The Thing

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A $1 MILLION HOME THAT IS CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED on Long Island, New York, has had two fires in two days so far this week.  The 2-story house is undergoing some redecorating while it’s vacant and on Tuesday the wood floors were refinished with a topcoat of polyurethane.  Later that night, the air conditioner kicked on and ignited the accumulation of fumes, starting a fire that caused extensive damage to the attic and roof.

Nassau (County) fire marshal Michael Mennello said that fumes on the first floor were sucked into the central air-conditioning, then ignited in an air handler in the attic.  Manhasset-Lakeville firefighters needed an hour to put out the fire, he said.

The second fire, on Wednesday night, was caused when some plastic bags filled with sawdust spontaneously combusted, Mennello reported.  Newsday reports:

The Wednesday night fire caused less damage and was doused in about 20 minutes, (Mennello) said.

That fire was caused by a buildup of heat in the bags caused by decomposing wood shavings, moisture from water used to put out the Tuesday fire and high heat.
“The temperature in the home was elevated” because of the first fire, he said.

Posted by on June 26, 2009 • Filed under: fire
  • firetech1

    All concerned should recall that the ignitable airborne material released by a paint or coating is correctly referred to as a “vapor” (or a gas if from a material that has a boiling temperature below room temperature, 70F – See NFPA 400).

    The word “fume” identifies airborne releases from welding, grinding and from corrosive liquids and gases such as oleum, fuming nitric acid, monomethylamine, etc.

    One important reason to use the legally correct definition is that defense attorneys will attack your credibility when the case goes to court.

  • firetech1

    All concerned should recall that the ignitable airborne material released by a paint or coating is correctly referred to as a “vapor” (or a gas if from a material that has a boiling temperature below room temperature, 70F – See NFPA 400).

    The word “fume” identifies airborne releases from welding, grinding and from corrosive liquids and gases such as oleum, fuming nitric acid, monomethylamine, etc.

    One important reason to use the legally correct definition is that defense attorneys will attack your credibility when the case goes to court.