Sunday, January 29, 2006

Gas Stove Incident


So I evacuated my apartment last night. I scooped up my kids into my arms and ran downstairs to my neighbors (neither of whom answered their doors). I suddenly wished I had grabbed my cell phone...
I had been eating my dinner and heard the stove ticking. Ticking like when you turn the knob to light the burner. I looked down at the Marie Calendar Italian trio frozen dinner that I had heated up in the oven. Why was the stove ticking? I quickly retraced my previous steps in the kitchen. I removed the cookie sheet holding my dinner from the oven...As I was setting the sheet down on the stove, I lost my grip and the cookie sheet fell to the stove...sliding and knocking over a near-by glass of water which exploded all over the kitchen floor...I swept and vacuumed the kitchen...I reheated my frozen dinner in the microwave and finally sat down to enjoy my lazy meal.
I continued to hear the ticking and thought maybe the force of the cookie sheet falling on the stove had moved a knob. I sniffed the air. I didn't smell any gas. I went into the kitchen and still could not smell gas or hear it escaping from the burners. I turned the knobs hoping to stop the sparking. I lifted the stovetop and found water had collected inside from my broken water glass. The stove continued its attempts to ignite thus the ticking continued. Although I felt sure the gas was not on, I took my cue and fled the apartment with my kids. I just needed reassurance from a neighbor and wanted one of them to help me fix the stove. Apparently, my neighbors weren't home. I kept a calm composure for my kids, but inside my heart raced. I took a deep breath and assured myself there was no gas leak. I returned to the apartment. I put the kids in their room and located the number for the gas company. I called the number and within a few minutes a customer service rep assured me that my family and I were safe. She informed me that it's very common for a stove to "tick" after becoming wet. She told me to unplug the stove. Okay, call me D-U-M-B, but I had no idea where the electric plug was for the gas stove? I searched and found the plug inside the cabinet below the stove. I unplugged the stove and the ticking stopped. Currently the stove is airing out. I will call a technician to take care of it.
LESSONS:
(1) If something spills on your gas stovetop, the stove may start "ticking." Make sure the knobs are turned off and unplug the stove.
And this incident also reminded me...
(2) Buy stove knob protectors so your kids can never accidentally or purposely turn on the stove or oven.

5 comments:

willam said...

goldstarevents.com if you want to get cheap tix.
fridays are now @ 6 though and saturdays @ 7. venue forced us to change time.

Bloghungry said...

You had quite an action packed evening. I felt certain the story was going to end with you clutching your children and jumping from your home, narrowly escaping the explosion of flames. I was thinking Die Hard or Melrose Place when Kimberly blew it up.. Anyway I'm glad that everyone is safe and it all turned out okay.

Kelley said...

Yah, I may have over-reacted, but you're right-better safe...
Thanks!

Kelley said...

Bloghungry-you make me laugh-"when Kimberly blew up!" LOL!
At first, I too thought the evening might have ended up with some explosive finale-thankfully, not!

A. Gator said...

I would have reacted the same way you did...akkkkkk!!!! Glad it turned out to be nothing major!