Imagine this if you will...

It is 8 PM, I'm sitting in the living room watching the Discovery channel, just beginning to relax and enjoy my supper. (And yes, it is supper, not dinner. I can prove this as well. Did Jesus have a last dinner? Enough said.)

So there I am, enjoying my meal when suddenly, out of nowhere comes that horrible smell, the smell of not just a fire but an electrical fire. You know what I mean, you remember that awful smell. Of course I immediately sprang into action, somewhat like a crazed Arizona Ringtail on speed but different somehow.

After spending a good ten minutes checking every electrical apparatus in the house and every room at least twice, I notice the reflection of flashing lights out the front window blind. As I enter the front patio I see two Scottsdale Police cars sitting sideways in the middle of the street directly in front of my house. To their left are two Fire Trucks and to their left are two more police cars.

The attraction for all of this municipal equipment was a neighbor's home that had just caught on fire due to an overload/arc in their Zinsco main electrical panel.

Not familiar with Zinsco? This site has a good article that should scare you a bit if you own one of these panels:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/electric/Zinsco.htm

As for my neighbor, he was really lucky the fire department got there so quick. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.





My recommendation is to seriously consider upgrading to a newer main panel if you own a Zinsco or spend the money to have a qualified electrical contractor come out on a regular basis (at least once a year) and have it inspected.

After all the excitement I sank back into my chair, turned my attention back to the Discovery channel and finished the delicious sandwich I had been working on prior to all the fuss. I also said a prayer of thanks that it wasn't my house on fire and added a prayer for my neighbor that he and the family were safe.

 

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