if your iron exploded?

[BornToFolk]

I was ironing yesterday. I noticed a smell like burning rubber, but carried on. Shortly afterwards, there was a "phut" noise and sparks and flames came out of the bit where the cord goes into the iron. I tried to blow the flames out ( yeah, I know, not the best thing to do, but it was my first reaction!), then unplugged the iron. It was still on fire, so I got the fire extinguisher (suitable for use on electrical fires) and used that.

I'm just wondering if I did the right thing by unlpugging the iron whilst it was on fire. I've tried Googling for answers but can't find anything. Does anyone know?

By the way, the cord was frayed. We wrapped the cord round the iron for storage and it had gradually worn through the outer coating and exposed the wires. Lesson learnt there!

AFAIK, you should always switch off the power to electrical fires if it is safe to do so.

LOL at blowing it out, I reckon that would be my first reaction too!

If your iron exploded it was a message that you should get someone else to do your ironing.

[staring now at vacuum cleaner]

Kangaroo, I was actually doing one of DP's shirts. I'd just finished a huge pile of my stuff and was starting on his and PHUT! Clearly a sign...

Rose, thank you. It did feel like the right thing to do, but with hindsight, I was worried that I risked giving myself a massive shock.

I think turning it off at the socket is slightly safer if you can but unplugging is definitely the next best thing!

I think the connection with DH's shirts is a Warning and you should heed it