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Bit of a fright!

(13 Posts)
Luckygirl Thu 03-Jan-19 12:45:49

I have just lit our woodburner. As I was doing so, my OH yelled from the other side of the room and I looked up to see the side of our sofa and its throw in flames! Luckily I had a newspaper in my hand (I had been making spills) and I was able to beat the fire out.

I can only think that a spark flew from the match as I lit it - the actual flame on the match was so tiny that I was doubtful it would light the firelighter in the stove.

It was scary how quickly the throw and the sofa itself caught fire - and the fire took hold - it was a matter of seconds.

From now on I will make sure I light the match inside the body of the stove. Phew!

aggie Thu 03-Jan-19 12:53:25

Just as well you weren't alone ! I hope you are ok now and over the shock . We don't realise how flammable furnishings are

Mamissimo Thu 03-Jan-19 12:55:24

Gosh - how scary! We don’t have gas and use a huge stove for our heating and hot water. If it goes out Ts a bit of a monster to light. We use the firefighters that come wrapped with an electric lighter that’s about 9” long. It’s batter operated. We find the wrapped lighters are easier to ignite.

We have singed the carpet before removing the hot ashes - wood burners are wonderful but I will be glad to say goodbye to the fire raising when we change to air source heating the week after next!

MissAdventure Thu 03-Jan-19 12:55:50

Matches these days seem much more flimsy than they used to be, I think.
Bits fly off or the wood breaks.
You really are a luckygirl today. It doesn't bear thinking about..

grannyactivist Thu 03-Jan-19 13:35:30

Oh my gosh - what a scare. I'm glad it wasn't a worse outcome for you Luckygirl, but it sent me scurrying to read about sofas and fire safety as I was shocked at how flammable your sofa was. Now I'm worried about my own furniture - read the link below:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42343237 shock

Parsley3 Thu 03-Jan-19 13:41:40

You certainly lived up to your name there, Luckygirl. What a strange thing to happen.

EllanVannin Thu 03-Jan-19 13:45:04

That was a frightening experience and one which you'll hope that you never see again. It shows how rapidly a fire can spread on so small an area. I'd be throwing out loose covers and buying an anti-inflammable spray for furnishings and carpets, also invest in an extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.
There's nothing worse than fire, it frightens me to death.

Bellanonna Thu 03-Jan-19 14:00:41

We use the firefighters that come wrapped with an electric lighter that’s about 9” long.
The mind boggles Mamissimo?
I love predictive text!

Bellanonna Thu 03-Jan-19 14:02:02

Luckygirl what a nasty experience. I hope you are ok now and there’s not too much of a smell

Doodle Thu 03-Jan-19 14:05:53

And it’s batter operated - so useful on pancake night ?
Yes predictive text is such fun.

So glad you are ok luckygirl that should have been really nasty. Is there much damage done?

Kalu Thu 03-Jan-19 14:06:14

You certainly are a Luckygirl

Thank goodness your DH was in the room to alert you. Doesn’t bear thinking about a different outcome if you were not aware of what was happening behind you.

Glad you are both ok although that must have been a frightening experience, also realising how easily something like this can happen.

Teetime Thu 03-Jan-19 14:09:41

Oh no luckygirl I'm glad you are OK.

Luckygirl Thu 03-Jan-19 14:17:20

Gosh ga - that link is pretty scary. We live in a bungalow with big sets of French doors and big windows, so that makes me feel safer. It would not have been hard to get out if the fire had taken hold and spread.

Fire terrifies me too - when we lived in a house we had a fire ladder that could be used from a window.

Lucky indeed!