Fire in the Wall!

Fire in the Wall!

My family often shakes their heads at the unusual happenings in my life. I don’t get it. I mean, what is the big deal about breaking my toe on the fringe of the bedspread or snapping my tailbone on a 12-speed bike? Okay, there are more incidents.

But even I was shocked when my wall thermostat burned up. It’s true. I decided to adjust the temperature at a private home in Arkansas where I was staying. When I reached for the control a spark of static electricity crackled toward the control before my fingers ever touched it. Suddenly, smoke puffed from behind the unit.

A dozen questions hit my mind in a millisecond. Were wires burning inside the wall? Was the house going to go up in flames? Who should I call? I immediately dialed the electric company and exclaimed, “My thermostat is on fire!” Surprised at my call, they calmly suggested I call an electrician. Great! I didn’t know one. I quickly contacted a realtor friend who texted back a name and phone number with lightening speed. I called. The man barely answered when I blurted out, “My thermostat is on fire!”

He chuckled. “I don’t think so.”

Really? Anxiety turned to panic and I wondered if I should call 911. However, the guy did say he would be there in ten minutes. I could tell he thought he was dealing with a frazzled female and that didn’t make me happy. But true to his word, he arrived in a short time and was shocked at the reality. “It really did burn up,” he said incredulously. He had never seen such a thing.

The good news is that nothing inside the wall burned and the thermostat control was easily replaced. Oh, and the electrician was actually kind and courteous. For my part, I sprayed a little air freshener to cover the acrid smell of an electrical fire and handed him a check.

So here’s my advice to others who habitually have strange mishaps. “Beware of static electricity and keep an electrician on speed dial.”

About the Author

Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows.

LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.