Fire!
 

The sun streaming through a skylight passed through the magnifying section of my sewing light...and started a fire. Thank goodness I was sitting by and put it out quickly. What if I wasn't home?[ATTACH=CONFIG]519207[/ATTACH]

Oh wow scary! a good thing your were real near and could see it quickly.

OMG. I am so delighted that your were there. Everyone NEEDS to keep their magnifying glass cover. Hope you are doing a happy dance.

You know so often when fires occur around high grass on vacant lots it's because of those who litter by throwing glass containers. When the sun hits that glass container just right, it will start a fire such as yours and it doesn't have to be a magnifying glass. Happy for your sake you were home. DH one day was working on his truck and noticed a small stack of smoke in the yard. Someone threw a piece of glass tubing in our yard and the sun hit it just right. It was laying on a small piece of paper. It was off to the side yard and wasn't noticed right away but he stomped it out quickly and had his water bottle with him.

You are lucky, and thanks for the information.....calla

Glad you were able to put it out.

Almost any glass can do that if the sun hits it right.

I think that's why crystal balls are either covered or on a pedestal.

(I did like to try to start fires with magnifying glasses (on paper that was on cement), though. Be sure to wear a welder's mask when doing it!)

that's scary. knew a women about 5 yrs ago, the sun came thru the window and reflected off a glass on the coffee table, the couch went on fire. so scary. thank goodness you were home and safe.

bearisgrey, I did that a lot wheni was a kid too. it was fun then with leaves and magnifying glasses.

Whew! Close call! It's good to hear you're okay and were able to put it out quickly.

I've heard of that happening before. Scary thing.
(I also used a magnifying glass to burn things as a child)

This type of thing used to happen at the senior citizen apartments near my home. Someone would use the magnifying glass for reading and leave it on the couch. It was very dangerous as many of the residents were on oxygen. I am relieved to hear that you are safe.

We had sun pass through a snowglobe and it caused a burn mark in my husbands boots! Glad you were home before things could have gotten worse!

So happy your are safe and were at home at the time and saw it! I have a magnifying glass so I will be more careful of leaving it uncovered. Thanks for sharing your story!!

Same thing happened to me in the back seat of my car! My DH had one his many "science experiments" which included a magnifier in the car and when I came out after work there was a spot on my back seat that was smoking, ready to burst into flames!

I am glad you caught it in time. I have seen posts about this before. My Ott light in my sewing room has the magnifying glass on it. It sits next to thewindow. I made a small draw string bag to cover it to prevent this.

WOW is right. Talk about a close call.

I've heard of this happening with stained glass, too, the kind of thing people hang in their windows.

Glad you were close by, and glad you posted this information. It is a good warning/reminder for all of us!

Years ago my youngest DD borrowed a navy colored prom dress that was strapless. She was very "skinny" so wanted me to sew on some straps. I bought some navy ribbon and sewed on some straps. After the prom I tried to cut off the straps, using a seam ripper, but I did not have a very good light in the house (pre Ott light days) so took the dress outside on my porch and put one of those magnifying glass things with the rope around my neck and sat in the sun and could see the stitches perfectly to remove them. I kept smelling "hot" fabric - lo and behold, it was on fire in my lap!!! Thank goodness that the burned place was on the inside and could be repaired fairly easily.

My friend also had a light with a magnified lens on it. She was home and smelled smoke. The sunlight had hit the lens and her recliner had a burn hole in it. She now keeps a sewn bag over the lens.

Oh Francie, that's terrible. So glad you were home.

Years ago I was sprinkling clothes to roll up and place in the fridge in preparation for ironing later in the day. The kitchen had 3 huge bay type windows and it was a gorgeous summer day. All of a sudden I saw smoke curling up out of the center of the pile yet to be sprinkled. Of course I put it out but I called the fire dept for an explanation and wad told the water in the soda pop bottle I was using as a sprinkler acted as a prism and the sun, streaming through the windows and sprinkler had started the fire.

The sun burned a long strip in my coffee table by shining through the magnifying lens of a floor lamp. As the sun moved across the sky the strip got longer. Smelled terrible.

Wowzers!!

I have a lamp with a built-in magnifier, and there is a sort of "lid" that snaps closed over the top of the lens. This is a good reminder to make sure to close that lid every time I am done using it!

Luckily I keep windows covered with mini blinds or curtains. We are gone most of the day, don't need any fires.

Yikes I have just dashed through to my lounge to check that I have a cover on as it sits on the end of the table where the sun streams in, thank goodness I have a cover on, panic over but thanks for the heads up.

Wow, going to go put a cover on mine now! What a scarey thing to have happen.
Glad you were home and everything is okay.