Thank you for the warning. I will unplug my Rowenta from now on. I am sorry that happened to you.

I keep iron, sewing machine and sewing light all plugged into a surge protected power strip. Whenever I leave the room I just flip the switch on strip. Helps to have light plugged in as it reminds you to turn the strip off.

Glad everyone was safe. Grats to hubby for being home.

I'm glad it was not worst. Thank God he was there to help you!!

mine does not have turn off, so I always unplug mine...then have to wait for it to warm up again. but better safe than sorry. Thanks for timely advise.

I could never remember if I turned off my iron or not, so long time ago started to unplug it and continued ever since.

yikes. i have one that doesn't shut off (hate that option) and lately have only been turning it off, not unplugging. i'm going right now to unplug it!!!
i hope you took photos to send to Rowenta! i would!!!

I too owned a Rowenta. It too had an electrical issue that smelled as though it was going to burn, fortunately I was using it at the time and unplugged it. Do you know what model yours was? Mine was a Focus (1700watt), made in Germany.

I have mine plugged into a extension cord during the day so I can shut off right away and unplug every night. I have just never trusted anything that still has electic going through even though iron is not hot on the outside. The handle is still warm. ODD to me. Glad fire was contained to a small area and no one hurt. :)

For good measure, let me add some more advice, please learn about the main i.e. the fuse box, know the location, make sure that every fuse or switch is identified. This is not a husband or son thing, with all the electrical equipment we use. At the same time,learn how to use the stop cock, that little handle on the water pipes and find the main (probably in the basement). My late husband was very strict on that, I was reticent the first time he tried to teach me, but thanks to him, I didn't panic when a few mishaps happened.

To unplug your equipment is the fist security step. but if the problem comes from the electrical outlet you nees to know about the fuse box.

I also unplug my sewing machine because a power surge or brownout could damage the computer!