Shopping centre blaze started by radio

Published Date: 04 October 2007
Location: Peterborough

9.30AM: A FIRE investigation launched in the wake of a blaze at the Queensgate Shopping Centre has found it was started accidentally - by an electrical fault in a portable radio.

A vast amount of stock was damaged by smoke and the mall was flooded when the fire in a storeroom at the Next store triggered the centre's sprinkler system.

At one point, thousands of gallons of water flooded the mall and seeped into shops below.

Fire crews were called at 7.45pm on Tuesday night and the clean up operation was concluded at 10.50pm.

LINK

Last Updated: 04 October 2007 9:34 AM

Radio blamed for deck fire

Gloucester Daily Times

Rick Melanson was just being a good neighbor.

But his quick, neighborly response to a house fire on Crestview Terrace went way beyond the usual. It may have saved lives as well as property.

Melanson, 21, who also lives on Crestview Terrace, was driving past the house of Eduardo and Joan DaSilva on Sunday night around 9 when he saw a fire lighting up the side of the house.

He immediately dialed 911 on his cell phone to call the Fire Department, ran to the front door and started banging on it to awaken the DaSilvas, who had been sleeping for about an hour. Once they were out of the house, he grabbed a garden hose and knocked down the flames before firefighters arrived.

Deputy Chief Stephen Aiello, who was in charge at the scene, said the fire started from a radio left plugged in on the back deck.

More at LINK

Coby "boom box" radios

LINK
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced recalls of the following product. Consumers should stop using recalled products unless otherwise instructed.


Figure 1

Product: Coby USB/MP3/CD boom boxes

Units: About 13,800

Importer: Coby Electronics Corp., of Maspeth, N.Y.

Hazard: When left plugged into an electrical outlet and the off switch is not firmly in place, these boom boxes can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Description: The recalled portable player is primarily white with silver-colored speakers and has a USB feature that allows it to be connected to a computer. Model number MP-CD475 is written on the top. Units with serial numbers from 0736000001 through 0736005000, 0816000001 through 0816005300 and 0826000001 through 0826003500 are recalled.

Sold at: Discount, toy and office supply stores nationwide from August 2006 through December 2006 for between $20 and $50.

Remedy: Unplug boom boxes. Contact the firm for information on returning the units and receiving a refund.

You just can't trust all these imported electronics. Don't wait for a recall. Use smoke shutoff power strips.