12-15-2011 Failure of pellet stove caused Jefferson Boulevard fire in Maryland - Window Pellet Stov

[Don2222]

Hello

Here is another window mount issue like the one in ME. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/89123/

(broken link removed)

December 15, 2011

The failure of a window-mounted pellet stove caused a fire Thursday morning in a two-story house at 1065 Jefferson Blvd. near Hagerstown, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

The 10:46 a.m. blaze caused $1,000 in damages to the house and $3,000 in damages to its contents, Deputy State Fire Marshal Ed Ernst said.

Damage was limited to the area around the stove, and smoke damage was limited to the first floor, Ernst said.

It took about five minutes to bring the fire under control, he said.

The owner of the house is Thomas Palamar, and the occupants are Dwane and Silo Smith, he said.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Wonder what the inside of that stoves firebox looked like right above the burn pot?

 

[Don2222]

Wonder what the inside of that stoves firebox looked like right above the burn pot?

Hi Smokey

I am guessing that the vent for these stoves is not good enough and maybe lighting up the window frames?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Wonder what the inside of that stoves firebox looked like right above the burn pot?

Hi Smokey

I am guessing that the vent for these stoves is not good enough and maybe lighting up the window frames?

I think the actual vent is fine but the impingement point above the burn pot is the problem, either due to poor metallurgy or the infamous over firing issue some new stoves have.

That burn through example that was posted here smacks of poor metallurgy, but it could be severe over firing.

 

[Dr.Faustus]

thats a shame. from the time they first came out i didnt think these window units were a good idea. windows usually have curtains and blinds around them. plus what if the thing fell out the window? i lost an AC unit out a window once when a super strong gust of wind kinda sucked it out.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

thats a shame. from the time they first came out i didnt think these window units were a good idea. windows usually have curtains and blinds around them. plus what if the thing fell out the window? i lost an AC unit out a window once when a super strong gust of wind kinda sucked it out.

Here is the link to the burn through post: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/90900/

They address clearances to combustibles and how to properly mount the unit, there is a limit to what can be done to protect people from themselves.

There is also a post on here from the owner of one of those stoves that caught his house on fire, the stove was actually pulled out by someone to help save the house. That fire was in Oxford, Maine. Link to the owner's post: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/91181/ and a link about the fire: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/89123/