Almost burn down my shop today

old · Oct 31, 2011

Ya should have been watching closer. I was building another deer stand and was doing some welding. Well I most have had a hot spark go some place that I did not notice . I came into the house to eat lunch and when I went back out the area where I weld in was on fire and had flames from floor to ceiling. Got lucky I was able to get 10 gals of water to it pretty fast and got it put out. Damaged a few things but all in all could have been a lot worse. Guess I will watch closer from now on. I do now have a 5 gal bucket of water sitting there so I can stop a fire fast maybe

GordoSD · Oct 31, 2011

"old" is probably one of the things you won't accomplish

Old Roy · Oct 31, 2011

My Nephew burned down his brothers garage doing the same thing he had a triaxle in the shop doing some welding when he got some rags on fire.. not thinking he just kicked them towards the door then proceeded to change the oil and other weekend maintenance. rags still smoldering in back of the truck in doorway.
Any way he said shortly after he crawled out under truck he smelt leaves burning but thought it was the neighbor down over the hill as wind was blowing from the front of where he was working to back.Evidently the leaves in front of the garage caught fire and traveled beside the garage where there was no windows and caught wood pile on fire.
About 5 min flames were coming through the wall
He had about half the oil back in engine,He got his truck out, and grabbed a garden hose called 911 on his cell , but it was too late. He did have enough sense to grab the Oxygen Acetylene tank cart as he want for the hose and put it a safe distance away.

Tim in OR · Oct 31, 2011

When I was working in the truck shop, we had an oil drain sump in the floor. one of the other guys was doing some cutting on a truck parked over the sump. Some hot slag got into the sump. We had quite a fire, but managed to get the truck out before it caused any harm.
Tim in OR

showcrop · Oct 31, 2011

A few years ago a neighbor was welding in the backyard in the early spring, on a breezy day. Some leaves caught fire and before he could get the garden hose on it it was into some good dry brush. Fifteen minutes later it was in the tops of 60 foot pines going fast for another neighbors farm. I was on the fire department back then. We got it out before it got to the neighbor's.

NCWayne · Nov 1, 2011

Was helping a neighbor set trusses on his house one Saturday and ran over to Dad's shop to make up a hook to help us set them. I welded the thing up over the course of about 15 minutes and went back to he neighbors to finish working. When I went back to the shop Monday morning there was a bluish, blackish blob in the floor about 15 feet away from the welding table. Dad and I both stood there scratching our heads as to what the blob was. After a few minutes he noticed that the old blue plastic barrel he had been using as a trash can for close to 20 years was 'gone'. All I can think is that a spark managed to fly the 15 feet, hit the can and then smoldered for awhile before lighting off and melting the can as it burned the contents. Given the damage it's amazing that the flames didn't effect a can of laquer thinner that was setting on another bench less than two feet from the trash can.

No telling how long the spark smoldered in the can before the fire became detectable, could have been 10 minutes after I left or hours. Needless to say I don't leave the shop, or anywhere else I've been welding, for at least an hour after I finish....just to be safe....

NW Ohio Tim · Nov 1, 2011

I'll bet the neighbor with the stray arrow snuck in there and lit the fire while you were gone. You know he has it in for you...... better call the arson squad & then your lawyer.

MarkB_MI · Nov 1, 2011

The rule in many welding shops is no welding at the end of the day, lest a fire break out after everyone is gone.

36 Coupe · Nov 1, 2011

I weld out doors on a gravel drive way and keep a 5 gallon pail of water close by.If you get a hot foot or clothing on fire you have somthing to put it out.A lot of fires are started from welding.A boat yard and 3 boats under construction burned flat.1 million bucks lost.I never leave an area after welding.Most shops post a watch after welding has been done.Those that dont burn.

larry from md. · Nov 1, 2011

I had 2 good sized fires from welding one was under the dozer inside the shop. The other one was in high school. No one was around and i managed to get it out just before a bunch of guys came in the shop, they figured all the smoke was from the welding.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 1, 2011

I'm with you. All welding and grinding outside. My welders and grinders are on wheels. Learned you don't want to leave metal filings near the garage door. When it rains, the water splashes the small metal pieces on the door and it looks like the door is rusting.

JML755 · Nov 1, 2011

... "the leaves in front of the garage caught fire and traveled beside the garage where there was no windows and caught wood pile on fire." Wow. That's a perfect storm alright. I'll bet that you couldn't duplicate that if you tried.

I think of all the fires I've tried to start in my fireplace with newspaper and kindling that went out before the logs caught. Usually because I didn't stack them right but watching flames lick up around some dry firewood and then die out makes me scratch my head.

I've started my share of rags, paper towels,etc. on fire by welding or using my torch. It's usually when I've looked around the area before I start and think I'm ok and miss something that's kind of hidden.
Last one was a rag behind a box blade I was welding. Don't know how the sparks got back there but I just stomped it out and threw it outside the garage. 10 minutes later it was still smoldering. Finally put it in a bucket of water.

kito169 · Nov 1, 2011

In the early 80's I built a lot of corrals and barns out of pipe. The best fire extinguisher I found for grass and such is a two gallon pump up sprayer filled with water. Just don't use it on electrical, grease or oil.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 1, 2011

Neighbor had his burn barrel placed right up against the fence between our houses. He had been piling wood in the fence row for years. One day I looked out the window and the entire fence row was on fire over about 50 feet. Wasn't windy but my wife was sure glad to see that fence row cleaned out.

Richard G. · Nov 1, 2011

Old, it happens to all of us at some time. Last winter, I was welding at table level and put the rod holder down to do some chipping. Saw smoke coming up my coat. Put my coat out with my hand. Saw more smoke. Put my blue jeans out with my hand. Saw more smoke. Put my long underwear out with my hand. Smoke stopped. Stopped to check and decided my fruit of the looms kept me from getting a nasty burn in a very sensitive spot. The burn holes were as big as a grapefruit. Got in the shower that night and when the hot water hit, found out I wasn't as lucky as I thought.
Richard

souNdguy · Nov 1, 2011

Yikes.. reminds me of grease fires when cutting nuts off or bearing races out, and then you lift the hood and yer bench is on fire or something.

glad you got it put out!

soundguy

Bryan inIowa · Nov 1, 2011

Amen Mark ..I try to do any welding early , or outside if late . I always hang around least an hour after welding or torch use, couple beers ,,just to make sure no smoke ! lol

Jiles · Nov 1, 2011

(quoted from post at 15:30:16 11/01/11) Amen Mark ..I try to do any welding early , or outside if late . I always hang around least an hour after welding or torch use, couple beers ,,just to make sure no smoke ! lol

Yeah---that what I do. I have even got up during the night to check.
Just use good old common sense!

Inno · Nov 1, 2011

I think we all get "comfortable" in our shops and do things maybe we shouldn't. Good to tell these tales to remind us all to use common sense.
I just removed the old oil furnace from my garage and found that there was a badly charred spot behind it. I think the previous owner had it too close to the wall. I'm going to snap some pics and start a new thread for it as it bears looking at and considering for those who need heat in their workshop.

ShepFL · Nov 1, 2011

Glad you got out safe and with minimal damage. Neighbor down the road here had his shop catch on fire and it jumped to the house. Lost everything in the shop and most of the house. August they just got moved into new home built on same property.

Root Cause - spontaneous combustion of used rags in a bin.

36 Coupe · Nov 1, 2011

LINSEED OIL RAGS CAN COMBUST.I STORE THEM IN MY WOOD STOVE....DONT FORGET THIS.....

Jerry/MT · Nov 1, 2011

I don"t weld inside for that specific reason. i"m afraid I"ll cathch something on fire. I have a stack of concrete blocks I put a 1/4" steel plate on and weld outside. Even at that I caught some grass on fire once.

Jerry/MT · Nov 1, 2011

I don"t weld inside for that specific reason. i"m afraid I"ll cathch something on fire. I have a stack of concrete blocks I put a 1/4" steel plate on and weld outside. Even at that I caught some grass on fire once.

Traditional Farmer · Nov 1, 2011

100% metal shop building for that very reason,also have all metal tractor/equipment storage buildings

JayinNY · Nov 2, 2011

Funny thing is a guy on a survival show can almost never start a fire with a spark! Lol

Doug in Illinois · Nov 2, 2011

Last winter I was working on my snowplow pickup in my open front garage. The only way to get enough heat when you are under the truck is to have the Knipco (salamander type) heater blow right towards you.

I was in one spot too long with the heater blowing right at the seat of my britches of my insulated coveralls. As soon as I rolled over to scoot out from under the truck I knew something wasn't right, it got real hot right there.

I was on fire, went out and sat in a snowdrift to put the fire out. My wife saw me coming out of the garage and wondered why I rushed over and sat in the snow. As soon as I got to the house, showed her what happened, and she realized I was OK, she about laughed herself silly, then preached at me to be more careful. DOUG

Almost burn down my shop today

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