# Can something left in the oven ignite? Did I nearly burn the house down? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-something-left-in-the-oven-ignite-did-i-nearly-burn-the-house-down/734158 "2015-10-10T15:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-something-left-in-the-oven-ignite-did-i-nearly-burn-the-house-down/734158/21 "2015-10-11T12:30:56Z")
I once had some appetizers I was cooking in the broiler catch fire. I don’t know if there were leaping flames or anything because once the thick, oily smoke started pouring out around the door I turned the oven off, didn’t open it, opened the back door, and positioned the fan to blow the smoke out. Several hours later, when everything cooled down, I extracted little carbonized shapes that looked exactly like the appetizers had been carved out of charcoal. Definitely, you want to keep the doors closed. That way the fire stays inside the little metal box. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-something-left-in-the-oven-ignite-did-i-nearly-burn-the-house-down/734158/22 "2015-10-11T15:57:49Z")
Yes. I do vacuuforming for some hobby projects, and I use the oven to heat the plastic. The plastic frame is supported above the rack by two chunks of 2x4 that I’ve been using for this purpose for years. Been at it for a while and had the oven door closed while I prepped the next sheet when I noticed the kitchen was getting very hazy. Turned around and smoke was pouring out of the oven. Looked inside and could see the two 2x4s were smouldering and aglow. First thought: fire! Put water on it. Opened the door to throw in a glass of water on the wood, and as soon as the door opened they burst into flame and my smoke problem got sooo much worse. Got the fire out but not before all the household smoke alarms went off. This was at 11:00pm and the outside temp was in the 40s, and I had to open every window in the house and get fans blowing to get the smoke out. A miserable evening. The fire also broke the oven’s thermostat. Cost over $100 to replace. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-something-left-in-the-oven-ignite-did-i-nearly-burn-the-house-down/734158/23 "2015-10-11T17:31:13Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > I suspect that it’s because a certain subset of Americans, dying out thank God, that like to keep a kettle on the boil ready for–what?–at any time. It’s obvious. A woman in labour in the back of a wagon driven by a mule skinner and pulled by two exhausted Clydesdales so they all stop in front of the house. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-something-left-in-the-oven-ignite-did-i-nearly-burn-the-house-down/734158/24 "2015-10-13T12:21:34Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > Well, there is a small vent on the top of the stove, just enough to let fumes escape. There is no air inlet. Open the oven door and look at its soft fabric gasket. It runs along the sides and top of the door, but not the bottom. That’s the air inlet, at the bottom edge of the door. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-something-left-in-the-oven-ignite-did-i-nearly-burn-the-house-down/734158.md?page=1)