Man sets fire to home by microwaving socks, undies

[AsahinaKimi]

LONDON (AP) -- Note to self: A microwave is for leftovers, not your boxers.

British firefighters say they saved an apartment from destruction after its domestically challenged resident tried to dry his wet socks and underwear in a microwave oven.

The Dorset Fire and Rescue Service says firefighters rescued the man from his home and extinguished the kitchen blaze Monday.

The fire destroyed the appliance along with the two pairs of underwear and socks inside it, and caused smoke damage to the apartment in Weymouth, a town on England's southwest coast.

"The fire safety message here is to never put clothing of any kind in the microwave or an oven to attempt to dry them," the Dorset firefighters said in a statement.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120807p2g00m0dm037000c.html

[mojowork_n]

1. Kitchens are dangerous places, generally

I was curious so I looked it up and found some numbers at the National Fire Protection Association:

During 2003-2006, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 150,200 home
structure fires involving cooking equipment per year. These fires caused an annual average of
500 civilian deaths, 4,660 civilian injuries, and $756 million in direct property damage.
Ranges, with or without ovens, account for the majority (59%) of total reported home structure
fires involving cooking equipment and even larger shares of associated civilian deaths (88%) and
civilian injuries (77%). Unattended equipment is the leading cause of cooking fires.

So that's a couple of hundred million per year, average, and probably more, by now.

Good thing I never use my stove, just the toaster and microwave.