Toaster fire scorches kitchen
The calm thinking of former master baker helped prevent his home going up in flames after a toaster exploded.
On Saturday morning Bill Richdale, a former master baker, was preparing the evening meal, before making his and his wife Dot’s breakfast of eggs and toast.
He was using his cake mixer, with his back to the oven, when the mixer suddenly died.
Bill turned the mixer off to investigate and the toaster caught his eye.
‘‘I saw black smoke had started to erupt from it. I went over and before I got to it - it exploded. ‘‘I couldn’t believe it. ‘‘The flames went up a metre and there was all this black acrid smoke.’’
He pulled out the expeller and instantly focused on what his next move was.
‘‘I shoved the toaster, smoke and flames into the sink - the fire was still going - I couldn’t understand what was fuelling it.’’
He knew not to throw water on an electrical fire and tried smothering it with a big towel.
‘‘I had 30 seconds of triumph and whoosh!
‘‘Honestly, within 30 seconds it had just disintegrated. The heat must have been tremendous.
‘‘Watching that towel go up was the most amazing thing.’’
The smoke alarm had set off and Dot got up to investigate. She walked into the dining and living area and could barely make out the room through the thick smoke.
‘‘I thought the whole house is going to go up,’’ she said.
They couldn’t get through to the emergency services and Dot went yelling outside for help.
Neighbours quickly came to their aid and one man entered the house and instructed Bill to leave.
Dot and Bill were wrapped in blankets and waited for emergency services.
Bill couldn’t believe how quickly the fire had escalated.
‘‘I always wondered how people’s houses burn down - now I know,’’ he said.
The fire had died before emergency services arrived and Dot and Bill were taken to Waikato Hospital, where they were given a clean bill of health.
‘‘The fire service and paramedics were thorough and we are grateful to them and our neighbours,’’ said Dot.
‘‘We came off very lightly. We are absolutely blessed. I am87 and Bill is 92 - it’s not our time to go yet.’’ It was assumed an electrical fault caused the fire.