Fire warning

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Guess
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Fire warning

Post by Guess »

We have all seen Dave's very sensible warning about the use of crash helmets. Here is another danger that people need forewarning of.

I went to bed at around 04:30 ish last night and soon afterward fell sleep.

Sudenly at about 06:30 I was awoken by something. Usually it would be something like pissheads shouting outside or early morning refuse collectors. This time it was far more serious. The first sight that met my eyes was of a fairly large fire in my bedroom near to the bathroom door. The bedroom was full of smoke and there were flames about one metre high coming from the area near to the dressing table.

I managed to wake lady Guess by screaming her name at the top of my voice to get her away from the flames. The bolster that she was holding at the time was already on fire.

She told me to f**k off quickly and get the fire extinguisher which I did. When I retuned about one minute later still trying to figure how to work the confounded contraption she had manged to get the fire under control by aiming a stream of water from the bum washer in the hong nam on to the fire.

I was a shock. This is the second bedroom fire that I have had in my life. This time I believe that a few minute more and we both would have been overcome by fumes and our dead bodies would have been incinerated.

We still have absolutely no idea how the fire started. As we had both been asleep for at least one hour and the fire was three metres from any electricity supply it is a mystery.

We live in a wooden house and already the hardwood floorboards were starting to burn.

The only explanation that I can think of was that a cigarette spark got into a box containg a bag of cotton wool that was next to the dressing table and slowly burnt down until it reached something more flammable.

Neither of us were drunk although both of us had taken sleeping pills.

My only advice from this episode is to firstly avoid smoking in the bedroom, keep fans pointing away and do not leave any easily combustible items anywhere near the place where you smoke.

Luckily Guessingham Palace still stands and Lord and Lady Guess live to rule for another day.

Guess Junior arrived today wondering how we had remained so calm before lecturing us on the evils of smoking. It just made me think how lucky I was to have such a calm and composed wife and even luckier that I woke up at the critical moment.

Why the hell can we not buy cheap smoke alarms here in HH?

If anybody is returning here from farangland will you please bring some over.
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Limey711
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Post by Limey711 »

Glad you and your lady wife are okay and well, I take from one of your comments that portable smoke alarms are not, available in the Hua Hin area or Thailand in general.

We are not moving to Hua Hin for another 6 months, but if you still need some smoke alarms, I will throw a few in one of my boxes when we are packing.

I would try and post a couple to you, but they would probably not get through.

Stay Safe

Russ
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Post by Norseman »

Hi Guess.

I'm very happy that all is well with you and your wife.
Fire in your bedroom!!
Frightening - and what a shock to wake up to.
I intend to live forever - so far so good.
lomuamart
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Post by lomuamart »

You were lucky, thankfully.
The two of us never smoke in the bedroom, but that hasn't ever stopped a cigarette butt from falling off an ashtray in the front room after we've gone to bed.
We live in a swimming pool, BTW. Joking apart, it's not funny.
billseymour
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Post by billseymour »

We were in the HomePro in Bangkok at the corner of Wittayu and Ploenchit yesterday, looking for some cabinet hardware, and I noticed they are carrying smoke alarms. I didn't look at the price, so I can't help there.

But perhaps when the HH HomePro opens, you will be able to purchase them locally.
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chelsea
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Post by chelsea »

Guess, firstly, thank god that none of you was seriously hurt and that you were all OK.
All new homes plus all rental properties have to be fitted with smoke alarms by law here in Australia.
Most of the cheaper alarms work by the small batteries that you used to use in transistor radios.
You can buy them here in a multitude of places and are very cheap. If you are worried that the batteries will run low (do not be), you get a warning sound from the alarm when this happens and all you have to do is to replace the batteries.
If you want me to send some over for you, send me a pm with you address and I will send them for you. They would weigh less than 150grams each, so the post will not be expensive.
We have them in each of the bedrooms, the hallway and the living room. Is a waste of time in the kitchen (due to the amount of times mg GF burns the toast or my dinner).
Let me know if you want some and will get things under way for you.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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caller
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Post by caller »

Hey Guess, I found this in Hua Hin Today:

Fire Prevention Tips

Posted by Admin / 2. November 2005, 23:16

Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths. Fire safety and survival begin with everyone in your household being prepared. Follow these safety measures to reduce the chance of fire in your home.

- Keep volatile chemicals, such as fertilizers and turpentine, in their original containers in a locked storage area separate from the home.
- Store gasoline in a garage or shed in a container approved for gasoline storage.
- Never bring or use gasoline indoors; and use it as a motor fuel only.
- Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
- Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet away from the range top.
- Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before dumping them in the trash.
- When cooking, do not wear loose-fitting clothing, which can be ignited by hot burners or gas flames.
- Never leave barbecue grills unattended while in use.
- Keep grills at least three feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
- Never leave burning candles unattended and do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms.
- Always use stable, candle holders made of material that won’t catch fire, such as metal, glass, etc.
- Be careful not to overload electrical outlets, extension cords and power strips.
- Check all wires and cords for damage and cover all unused electrical outlets.

Fire Safety At Home

Safe practices at home are part of your family’s fire protection plan, and it is also critical that your home and family are prepared to react quickly if a fire occurs at home. Learn more about the following essential safety practices.

- Develop a fire escape plan for your family that identifies two exits out of every room and an established meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect – hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly. It is recommended to install additional smoke alarms inside bedrooms.
- Know how to extinguish a small pan fire by sliding a lid over the flames.
- Teach every family member to “Stop, Drop and Rollâ€
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PeteB
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Post by PeteB »

Hi Guess,

Glad you are OK
If anybody is returning here from farangland will you please bring some over.
Will be in BKK from 23rd & aim to get to HH on 27th - would you like me to bung a couple in a case? Limited space / weight obviously - People in general - Guess has first shout!

Cheers

Peter
Guess
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Post by Guess »

Many thanks to all the well wishers.

I think that sending them by post may be a bit risky. Most of us here don't even recieve our monthly UBC mags.

The thing is that I am quite aware of fire risk as I experienced one where I was very lucky when I was twelve years old. I keeping nagging the wife about candles and cigarettes left in ash trays downwind of ferocious fans.

As we do not have a balcony I have relegated smoking now to the bathroom where hopefuly there is nothing much that will readily ignite and plenty of water to put it out if it does.

As for all the offers of bringing them over , they will gtratefully be accepted. If I get more than I want no problem, I have had many enquiries and should not have any problem finding them a good home.

Batteries should be no problem as that is one item that seems to have been standardized worldwide.

Once again thank you all for your kind responses.
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Rider
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Post by Rider »

A close call guess! Give yourself a well earned regency that you woke up in time!
Glad to hear you and your wife lived to tell the tale! No injuries i trust?
One thing I will add as an important lesson (unless someone has already mentioned it?)
Is that on fire extinguishers an unofficial pratice (yet a wise one) is get rid of those crazy safety clips/pins/locks that the manufacturers clamp on them!
I swear that they have cost lives in the time it takes to tear them off! Especially in the dark during the confusion of a fire.
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