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House almost burned down today

C

CFster

Golden Member
A contractor working on my house screwed into an electrical wire. He heard a pop and backed out the screw only to see that it was burnt. Then he noticed smoke coming out of the wall. He then did something that I'll be on one hand forever grateful for, on the other hand I feel terrible that he did it. He just grabbed the edge of the drywall (he was installing a window), and just started tearing it off the wall. He then reached in with both hands and started yanking burning insulation out. He ended up with second degree burns on all his fingers but one, but he kept my house from burning down. It was right below the attic. A couple more seconds and it would have caught the insulation above and it would have been all over. He said the adrenaline was driving him - I'm not sure at what point I would have just stopped and just got the hell out. I feel terrible that his hands are burnt.

The reason he screwed into a wire was because a previous contractor (2 yrs ago) had installed a circuit beneath that window. Apparently he ran the wire down inside of the stud that the window attaches to. From what I understand it's usually good practice to install the wire on the far stud just for that reason (people change windows). He said it's technically not against code - but it's just good practice.

So, the guy with the burned fingers says he's going to fix everything - but I somehow feel responsible, even though I'm not the yahoo that put the wire there. I guess it's just the hazards of the job.

 
Damn. So how does he have to wait before he can use his fingers? I imagine 2nd degree burns have to hurt like a mother.
 
Originally posted by: jdub1107
Damn. So how does he have to wait before he can use his fingers? I imagine 2nd degree burns have to hurt like a mother.
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His fingers are all bandaged up. He really can't do much with them. He says he'll still be back at the house tomorrow - but fortunately he has workers that he direct for the time being.

From what I understand, if you are able to keep a 2nd degree burn from becoming infected, then it's usually a week to 10 days for it to heal.

Sucks for him, he was supposed to start another job on Monday.

 
You should invest in steel plating where your wires meet the support beams.

Hm...re-read your post...looks like a recent contractor made the mistake. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
glad it turned out ok

i thought insulation had to be fireproof? guess not
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depends on where the insulation is used...anywhere near heatsource, yes. but generally not in the attic. some of this will depend on the age of the house...alot of new construction uses fire retardent insulation everywhere now
 
Originally posted by: CFster
Sucks for him, he was supposed to start another job on Monday.
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he'll get workmans comp, but that's another reason why you should do something for the dude. he could have just as well walked out...instead he chose to do the right thing...rare these days if you ask me.
 
Originally posted by: LoKe
You should invest in steel plating where your wires meet the support beams.

Hm...re-read your post...looks like a recent contractor made the mistake. 🙁
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It was stapled down the side of the wall stud. There's supposed to be plating there?

 
this is a tough situation no doubt, but i really think you should step up and do something nice for the guy (not implying you werent already planning on it). he saved your house from burning down and it really wasnt his fault it caught fire...i feel bad for the guy, but dang does he have some balls. im also glad your house didnt burn down :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: Need4Speed
Originally posted by: CFster
Sucks for him, he was supposed to start another job on Monday.
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he'll get workmans comp, but that's another reason why you should do something for the dude. he could have just as well walked out...instead he chose to do the right thing...rare these days if you ask me.
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:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Yeah I just couldn't believe it - I drove up to the house after work and they were there. He walks up to me with bandages all over his hands and said there was an accident.

He then proceeded to apologize up and down. I guess he thought I would be mad that there was damage to the wall.

 
Originally posted by: CFster
Originally posted by: LoKe
You should invest in steel plating where your wires meet the support beams.

Hm...re-read your post...looks like a recent contractor made the mistake. 🙁
Click to expand...

It was stapled down the side of the wall stud. There's supposed to be plating there?
Click to expand...

Oh, my mistake. I assumed it went through a beam, whereas you could put a plate on the beam to prevent drilling and whatnot.
 
I nearly burned down my parents house when I was 10 - I was burning school papers with campstove fuel in the living room and the source container caught on fire... fortunately I grabbed the hose and ruined the furniture first.

I've felt stupid about this for 16 years now ;-)
 
Originally posted by: Baked
You owe the guy a keg of fine beeeer.
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He doesn't drink I guess.

Maybe a big gift card to Home Depot or something - seeing as he's a contractor heh, heh.
 
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