Generator Bursts Into Flames!!

Hire us: middlesex-tree.com

[@johnclyne6350]

You guys did a great job putting the fire out! Your situational awareness is top notch. 9:09 You alerted the homeowner & called the fire department. You went above & beyond when you put out the fire & turned off the gas. Bravo!

[@Master-ls2op]

you know how many people would have never known how to shut the GAS off... or had a working shut off... some many homes have burned to the ground because of it....

[@johnclyne6350]

Oh, I'm sure! My wife wouldn't know until I labeled everything in our house & shown her what the valves do. I used to walk into customer homes & was mesmerized that they left that for the husband to do? Except the husband has been dead for three years. They never familiarized themselves on critical elements in the home. Unbelievable in my book! So in an emergency they were ass out!

[@Master-ls2op]

i am happy to find out the generator installer/company is compensating/replacing the unit. Insurance most likely would not cover it. only this is always to kill the gas line first. let the gas burn out for a bit and then hit it with a CO2. ABC powder can and will allow current to the operator.

[@andytachibanalover9495]

You’re exactly right Frank. Everybody acted the right way. No need to justify your actions to a Monday morning quarterback once again, excellent video.

[@boomer3150]

Well-said!

[@Jeremy-dy5zv]

Ok then explain why he didn't try getting the 70 year old out the house instead of filming?

[@jarrett754]

@@Jeremy-dy5zvkeep watch over a controlled situation, or take eyes off it and possibly have somebody miss something crucial and loose the house and or the people inside in a half baked rescue effort. Personally, I’d rather have a guy keeping damage control. In split seconds, u have to make decisions based on the situation. Had it gone up in 6ft flames and already caught the house, I’m sure he would have gotten her out.

[@tomberryhill5419]

@Jeremy-dy5zv If they started rushing her and telling her “Hurry, your house is catching on fire.” She could have gotten excited, fallen and broken her hip. No sense causing a second emergency unnecessarily. If the house had caught on fire, they would have PLENTY of time to evacuate the residence.

[@Jeremy-dy5zv]

@@tomberryhill5419 you have a crazy imagination.🤣 if they called the fire department sooner the fireman might have tripped over his hose and broken his neck.

[@user-fs9cs7no5g]

I am a retired firefighter and you DID NOT OVER REACT !!!

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you for your service. Even with all the training it truly doesn’t prepare you for an emergency.

[@gamingforlive2150]

In Service Firefighter Here totally can agree

[@BennytheBearcat]

Yeah, not at all. That was quick action.

[@notlisted-cl5ls]

retired from where old man? the buttbreath FD near hooterville arkansas? go back to your room. almost time for pudding

[@anzz5783]

Many thanks to Derek,Bobby & the crew for their fast/heroic action! My first time using Middlesex Tree and they also do fantastic tree work as seen in the video.On time,pleasant,efficient,safe and fair price for excellent work.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you so much!

[@pjford1118]

Did you ever find out what caused the fire? I have a Generac 17kw, and kind of want to make sure mine doesn't burn

[@anzz5783]

mechanical malfunction 20kwh and 10y/o@@pjford1118

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Y'all did a good job making the situation safe. Close the propane valve at the tank and use an extinguisher on the generator. These generators are known for becoming combustively enhanced under certain operating conditions.... It's also good that Generac offered to help the customer with their thermal event.

[@jimmotormedic]

You didn't over react, things like this can get out of control in the blink of an eye. It takes a genius to say what wouldn't happen that didn't. Better to be safe than sorry. I'm sure all the people saying you overreacted would be calm and collected if that was happening next to their house. Job well done!

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you Jim!

[@kennethjohnson4280]

I was a US Navy fire fighter. You guys reacted perfectly. When there is a working fire there is no time to waste. A fire will double in size every two minutes. Good job.

[@pjford1118]

Your reactions were totally warranted, and effective. In rural areas you can not count on the local fire department. At my house I have 10 and 15 pound ABC extinguishers everywhere, one by each door, on in the kitchen, 2 in the shop container and at least 1 in each of the 4 outbuildings, and 2 5 gallon pressurized water extinguishers. My local fd is 5km ( about 2 miles) away but there are no full time firefighters, you have to wait for them to drive to the fire station, load up and head out.

[@jddr.jkindle9708]

It was wonderful you all moved quickly on the beginning fire. Excellent choice on calling the fire department as professional backup.

[@robertjeffery6100]

Great advertisement for generac generator

[@ekop1778]

YEA THEM GENERATORS ARE JUNK I SEE THEM ON TV A LOT THIS OLD HOUSE USES THEM TOO

[@evan1kx125]

Any brand this can happen to, dont blame generac, the service company who maintained unit is most likely to blame

[@justadbeer]

@@ekop1778 - You see them a lot because they are one of the largest suppliers of home generators.

[@Mike-01234]

@@evan1kx125 Kohler better design what I read posts on Reddit by installers and maintainers of these larger generators.

[@evan1kx125]

@@Mike-01234 nope, iv seen only a kohler generator on fire so far in 15+ yrs of servicing"wasnt my serviced unit", and was a plastic enclosure model, nearly burned down the house after 1 day power failure it was engulfed in flames when they woke up in the morning

[@tomberryhill5419]

Screw the naysayers. I’m a 35 year veteran of the Fire service. If that generator fire had happened at my house I would have reacted exactly the same way. If it was a fire call I was responding to, I would be as calm as those firemen were. I’ve always said “Stay calm. It may be an emergency but it’s not MY emergency.” Of course, if it was MY house and generator then it becomes MY emergency and I would behave in an excited manner. Your guys behaved great.

[@philstreeter9703]

Great job guys! Quick action. Your skills in bringing down trees is excellent and safe.

[@middlesex_tree]

Yes, thank you

[@rodgerpetrick6502]

You did a terrific job of putting the fire out.

[@FurryWrecker911]

"You overreacted" is the type of comment made by people who live and breathe complacency. They're the type to say "don't worry about it" then say "oh my god" and silently run away when things go pear-shaped.

[@TRKaliFoxxo]

If that's what people call overreacting they clearly don't understand an emergency situation! Y'all did everything correctly AND continued the job. You've got my respect.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you. We may have overreacted but we have never been in a situation like that before and did the best we could. We’ve had a ton of safety training but you never truly know h til you’re in the thick of it. I appreciate your comment and time!

[@TRKaliFoxxo]

@@middlesex_tree Exactly! I just happened to stumble across y'all while browsing my homepage, and I'm glad to have. Stay safe and well!😊

[@cageordie]

No over reaction, I'd have been worried about the gas line burning through and turning a blow torch on the house. Lucky you were right there when it happened.

[@chd176]

Lol, they're metal it wouldn't burn through and it's low enough that it wouldn't "blowtorch" the house. It would have melted the siding and caused damage so obviously it need quick action to put out the generator but nothing would've blown up.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you!

[@JustReed]

My rule of thumb with generators & solar batterie location. Build a concrete wall or dirt berm high enough to clear your structure in case of fire. Case in point...

[@middlesex_tree]

Very good point!

[@strobelightbrian]

That was handled very professionally by all parties!

[@realrockethub]

Except for the Tiktok commentators

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you Strobe!

[@jeromehill7411]

Glad you guys were able to put the fire out right on time. Good job guys

[@willfriar8054]

I live in live oak Florida and when I first moved here I ordered a generac from Lowe's.$6,500 and it had to be cash! it took three weeks when I got at home open the box and it was all rusty inside! this thing look like it had been in saltwater! I took it back to the store oh they said it will get you another one. three weeks later the next one came and I opened it at the store the manager look like he was going to pass out. everything was Rusty the aluminum was corroded and the springs that control the gas flow where rotted away already! brand new generator in the box being sold to be set up next to 500 gallon propane tanks by your house! I took the $6,500 and turned it into solar panels and batteries and now I have quietpower while my neighbors are listening to the generators and all of their racket and I don't have to ever worry about going out to get gasoline or order $5,000 worth of propane. go solar do-it-yourself. don't do grid-tie because then you're depending on the grid giving them your output. use AGM batteries not lithium because lithium can burn explosively and can't be put out with water! God bless you all and remember to inspect are generac especially around the carburetor for corrosion!

[@middlesex_tree]

That’s really unfortunate that you had to go through all that headache. Solar. Sounds like a great option. We were lucky that this didn’t go downhill. This neighborhood has a lot of houses close together, and an explosion would have been disastrous.

[@trith72]

Sounds like Lowes kept their shipment of generators outside due to overstocking, or they graciously decided to bless you with a unit that got partially flooded in transit. That's not a Generac problem, that's piss poor warehouse management and inventory control by a Lowes distribution center, which doesn't surprise me at all.

[@chadshriver2952]

Because solar panels, invertors, wiring, and 1,000 extra electrical connections, and batteries NEVER cause fires. Just wait until a couple days of clouds with utility power out and see if solar keeps up. At least generator is one location out in yard with fuel shutout easily accessable if there’s a problem and not mounted all over the house. Not to mention solar costing 5-10 times as much.

[@bryankraemer1682]

​@@chadshriver2952yes they absolutely can cause fires. wires can corrode over time and overheat and especially batteries. Depending on the chemistry they can be a bomb.

[@evan1kx125]

@@chadshriver2952 exactly, its not going to work more then a day or 2 before the batteries run out and your not going to power everything in the house like a generator would...and id stay over time the batteries are more of a fire hazard inside the house then a generator outside

[@zackdepalma6184]

Glad u guys where there and was able to put it out in time

[@johnl2727]

Should be a commercial for Generac.

[@middlesex_tree]

🤣

[@boblang409]

good job! professional tree work,filming,etc. glad all ok. thanks

[@middlesex_tree]

Thanks Bob!

[@valerierowlett153]

We just had this happen. It was intense. We have (had) a generac. I am 70 years old.

[@chadshriver2952]

What happened to yours?

[@evan1kx125]

Most 14kw and up 2008-16ish units have fuel plenum recall it can rust out behind battery and cause gas leak when running, i can tell this unit is from 2010-14ish era from the plastic side breaker cover on right side of unit... if that wasn't the cause the battery was, they need to be replaced every 5yrs roughly"i heard guy say battery terminals corroded so its def lack of maintenance, they need to be cleaned yearly

[@4sl648]

More than not those generators are not well maintained. Mice and chipmunks and squirrels make nests of fine dry combustibles. If its set to auto run and there is a power glitch it will start. Unless you tapped a power line, which you would know about, it was purely coincidence. The only iffy thing was the garden hose. If the transfer switch was hung up then it would be a shock hazard to you. The truth is that you very likely saved the house and owner. You did not overreact at all. I have 30 years in the fire service, Even if you think its out, call the FD.

[@rupe53]

That transfer switch has no way of back feeding the gen set... by design it's impossible. The battery charger is fused at 2 amps so those will pop in a heartbeat.

[@4sl648]

@@rupe53 Thank you for that course correction sir.

[@rupe53]

@@4sl648 BTW, retired deputy chief and state certified fire instructor with near 25 years in the generator business. I might know a thing or two about this situation.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you for your service and I’m just happy everyone was safe. Things can be replaced. People can’t

[@lloydprunier4415]

Good job guys! No one knows exactly how they will react until the disaster happens. My biggest concern was if the water sprayed on live wiring that could be bad!

[@middlesex_tree]

At the time we had no other option and wanted to make sure the fire was out.

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

Yup generac gen always over charge the batteries and what do you know cook the wires. If you own one maintain the batteries every month if you unit starts the unit weekly 😉😉

[@trith72]

Only the older first and second gen models like this one, prior to 2019ish. They had no trickle charger and the built in charger pushed 14.4 volts all the time to the battery. They would boil the water out and the battery would explode, tossing its guts and acid everywhere. This was solved in the newer Generacs that now push around 13.3 volts max and use a much lower amp trickle charge and cut offs when the battery is at a full charge. You can tell this is an older model because it has the breaker panel door on the intake side. The new models put the breaker inside the unit top above the panel. Also you can't remove the battery from the front in newer models unlike this one where you can. Still crazy it got that bad, normally the battery just busts and ruins the wiring all around it and the panel without any kind of fire.

[@rupe53]

@@trith72 first generation of these gen sets had a squared off cabinet with a stand-alone charger. Those would be around 20 years old by now. All of the "rounded corner" sets have the built-in charger with the lower charge rate.

[@karenpatrick2000]

Scary stuff with the generator but you were on top of it!!

[@middlesex_tree]

It was really scary. To think quickly knowing your life is at risk is surreal

[@brianfuerst9491]

Glad everyone was safe and that it was handled best way possible. Definitely needed to know what caused the fire.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thanks Brian!

[@deepsleep7822]

Good job guys.

[@JoshKilen]

nice job and quick action to save the house and propane tank.

[@tooltimewithtierney3690]

Nice work guys! Ignore the haters- your reaction was appropriate to the situation and you did the right thing (former firefighter and emt here)

[@middlesex_tree]

Thanks so much!

[@thatguy7085]

Saved the day… you are now fire heroes

[@middlesex_tree]

lol…. I prefer staying in trees. Whole new respect for all our real fire heroes

[@ragingbull1267]

The propane tank would need to burn and be exposed to extreme heat for some time before it would explode. The copper lines may melt but will only become a blow torch... so no real danger other than maybe setting the house on fire. They may want to check codes on that generator tho as its supposed to be 5 feet + away from any structures, the propane tank is supposed to be 10 feet + away from any structures which looks ok for the house but now that there is a generator between them that may change the game there. May be different for other areas but that is the Min, for Missouri

[@rupe53]

there has been national code in generator installations for over 20 years, so any local variation would be MORE distance, not less.

[@TWEAKLET]

plus these tanks have relief valves it would have to be illegally operating without one or be stuck in a bonfire to explode the hotter the tank gets the more it will vent the pressure preventing an explosion

[@rupe53]

@@TWEAKLET It's a bit of a stretch to say you can run a propane tank without a relief valve because they are installed from the factory. That said, there is no cap or device made that a user could install to plug one off and render it useless. (without draining the tank first) Let us pause for a moment and think about what happens if one of these tanks decides to vent because the pressure is too high. What comes out? Oh right, it's propane... and it's in close proximity to fire... and it's going to burn like a giant blow torch. If it is far enough away it may just vent into the air, but eventually there will be enough fuel to seek an ignition source... BOOM! The flip side is being close enough to build pressure and vent in the first place will mean the fire is right there.... BOOM! The real answer is to put the fire out and close the tank valve.

[@TWEAKLET]

@@rupe53 Old tanks made before the law lacked them. I had one back in the early 2000s that was ancient, which is how I learned about them. Fuel guy refused to touch the thing and told me why, and if you actually read my comment fully, I said it would come out and act like a blow torch. If near a fire, there would be no boom because the tank isn't venting until it's in the fire, which means the gas will never build up and explode. You do actually know what an explosion is, don't you? The tank itself would have to rupture, or the gas would have to accumulate. Why would that propane tank off to the side be venting so the gas can pool around it and explode when it is not in a fire?

[@rupe53]

@@TWEAKLET Been working with propane near 50 years and NEVER saw a tank that didn't have some kind of pressure relief valve. I was also a fire service instructor so am aware of much more than you think. BTW, in the event of enough fire, the gas may not release fast enough to keep from rupturing a tank. That relief valve does have limitations. If you don't believe me, look up a few videos shot at Kingman Arizona (40 years ago?) where many RR cars were involved in a fire and when they blew, they flew over a half mile. This is called a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. (BLEVE for short) Edited: The tanks you speak of (without a relief) are only portable tanks, under 40 pounds, for RV use and BBQ use. NFPA put a lid on that with new rules in the late 90s. It was about the same time they changed the top valve to have different threads and a triangular valve knob. STATIONARY tanks have always had pressure relief.

[@SkyChaserCom]

Wow. Great and quick thinking!

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you!

[@markdanielczyk944]

Nice job!💪👍

[@tuomasholo]

Swift response lads! Bravo

[@middlesex_tree]

I appreciate it thank you

[@jimmyssnowremoval1075]

All the guys did perfect, even just stepping back and filming. Filming covers your behind and the guys and especially at a customer location shows the customer how and what was going on.

[@matthewkezele1814]

As a volunteer firefighter you guys didn't over race. You guys were calm and that what important again I'm a volunteer firefighter and I would have done thee exact same thing. So good job on what you did most people would just called 911 and wach it bern Until the fire department show up. So again good job.

[@middlesex_tree]

Hey Mathew thanks so much, we really appreciate it! We’d like to think that most people would do the same thing but sometimes they just don’t!

[@joebennett2089]

You guys acted correctly. This is why we dont sell Generac MADE IN CHINA

[@williamc2930]

To the ones who do not have a Generac. The lid has two locks that can be locked as a security option. In the fire case, they appeared to have been locked. There is a generator Emergency OFF toggle switch on the rear-right side. Also, shut off any gas/propane valves leading to it. Then, hit it hard with anything to put the fire out. NOTE: Do NOT turn OFF the Transfer Switch near the Meter Box. It will make the generator run. Be safe!

[@lostinwi]

Well done gentlemen

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you!

[@CaptainNero]

Well done❤

[@waynegoebel395]

Think of the fortuosity of your being there when the generator ignited... a "chronos" moment for sure.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you Wayne!

[@tigerspook1]

You guys acted exactly right, thank goodness you were there,..... You'll always get adverse comment from those who weren't there,.... Great job Guys..xx

[@georgiapatriot4575]

6:05 - it looks like there is a snowman in the generator housing. ☃

[@CajunReaper95]

That one guy had a bit of a Cajun accent .

[@middlesex_tree]

Yes, sir. Westwego. LA I’m surprised you picked up on that!

[@ThomasMarcotte-jt9od]

Mais garder donc! @@middlesex_tree

[@thorstendressler6430]

On Top of the Propanetank should be a Valve to shut. First Close this and then put down the Fire in the Generator

[@johnstraley9057]

Just to be in this line of work takes a high degree of exercising caution at every moment. Hence, the fire was quickly handled.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thanks John!

[@414RadioTech]

Also as a side note that's a lawsuit waiting to happen I hope this lady ended up suing Generac for this because it could have caused a really bad outcome had action never would have taken place like these guys did Fast and efficient that's why I highly recommend do not buy these standby generators you're wasting your money and you're not guaranteed full customer satisfaction they give you the runaround when you call in to complain about this so I hope that people file a class action lawsuit against Generac ASAP‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@middlesex_tree]

I don’t think they did or will. I’m just so happy everyone is ok

[@seasonallandscapesolutions]

Good job guys

[@TWEAKLET]

Those propane tanks, if they have safety valves, can't explode, and it's legally required by law that they have them. It's nearly impossible to find a tank without one, and no one will fill them if they don't, but basically, what it does is prevent the buildup of pressure in the tank, which prevents the possibility of an explosion. Excess pressure is vented any time it gets too high. It would be like watching a flamethrower if there is a fire nearby to light it. Still a good idea to put it out anyways no one wants a fire next to a house.

[@------country-boy-------]

The propane fire is a minor safety concern compared to the crane. The crane operator needs a steel cab with overhead caging to protect from falling objects. I can't believe cranes are manufactured like that.

[@tjlovesrachel]

I love how the fire department said “mechanical error”….yeahhh thanks buddy knew that

[@middlesex_tree]

Ha right! We were pretty certain that my chewed through some of the wires in there and shorted it out

[@tjlovesrachel]

@@middlesex_tree loll if it was mice or anything I just love the general “mechanical error” explanation …keep up the good work out there and good thing you had a fire extinguisher…I bet you will be putting them in all the company vehicles from now on Incase of “mechanical error”

[@KiddBloo86]

To those who are criticizing y'all's reaction to the fire... DON'T try to help me, you'll only be in the way. Good hustle on getting out so fast. I bet EVERYONE was praising y'all's performance.

[@middlesex_tree]

It’s true that you never know how you’re going to react in an emergency situation. We’ve replayed this many times wondering how we could respond better. The flames were higher than the guys and close to structures. It wasn’t shown in the video, but it was a scary situation

[@4sl648]

How do you estimate the cuts to not overload the crane?

[@avap2677]

You did the right thing 100 %

[@tomdhondt7651]

From a firefighter point you all did great.. if you didn’t not do what you did you saved lives

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you, that’s very kind of you. We aren’t trained in putting out fires and did the best we could. Thank you for your service!

[@Jason-7212]

You gentlemen are not fire fighter, you are not trained and experienced in handling situations like this. As someone who IS, I will say that that I believe that you did a pretty decent job. You identified a hazard. You addressed that hazard without panicking, and you notified the proper authorities to assure that the situation was secure. Good job.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you Jason!

[@brianfuerst9491]

Are there any built in safety triggers with the big propane tank or the generator? (such as high temp shut down, valves that seal automatically based on a trigger mechanism)

[@Cire3PC]

The tank would not have exploded. Its would have to Blevy first, that’s basically boiling. Takes a crap ton of heat to make that happen. The when it over pressures it has a relief valve. The fire also can not burn down the hose to the tank. No oxygen in the line for combustion. Now the house, yup it would have been at risk and could have ignited. However there isn’t much in a generator to catch fire. Most all of the parts are metal. Safety’s on the gas line, etc….

[@calfeggs]

I wonder if that generator overcharged the battery or something. They have a built-in battery maintainer, and it looks like most of the fire damage was in the control panel section. We had a 14kw Generac that served its purpose well, only issue was moisture in the oil but that can be expected from an intermittently run natural gas run engine.

[@HobbyOrganist]

We had a fire at my workplace, I was running the CNC and the dust collector motor caught fire, but since it was behind a partition wall out of my view I didnt see it right away, when I did see flame I shut the CNC breaker off and grabbed a fire extinguisher nearby, I dont know why I didnt ALSO turn the dust collector off but no matter how many drills you do, being IN that real situation a lot goes out the window and adrenaline induced panic sets in and you don't think clearly. the extinguisher was only small one, I hit the fire with it and it ran out in seconds, ran back up on the dock and inside to yell in the shop; FIRE!, ran back in and past the burning dust collector to grab a larger extinguisher, I had my hands on it ready to pull it off the hook and looked over my shoulder and now the flame were up at the ceiling and the chipboard wall was on fire, there was no putting that out with the extinguisher. I ran towards the exit and decided to save the van parker inside, and did that. Just the heat 8 feet away or so holding the extinguisher was enough to get 2nd deg burns on one arm and my scalp, my arm required skin grafts. The fire burned all four buildings and contents to the ground, the morton building where the CNC was located was used for storage, it was full of boxes, thick 4x8 styrofoam sheets, bags full of shreaded newspaper for packing, lumber. The walls were chipboard, it spread to the other buildings in the attic and under the double roof of one building. After I exited the building and the fire dept actually arrived- the morton building already had flames coming out the door I exited from at the far end, it was about a 100x50 building. People have no idea how FAST a fire goes from a little campfire girl marshmallow baking sized fire to a raging inferno involving a whole building!

[@jimchandler6744]

Had a Generac portable back in the mid 90s and fried a control board. Could never get them to even respond to my communications. Never again.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thats awful! I’m sorry you experienced that.

[@blackmaxima]

When using an extinguisher, keep it upright. There’s a tube that sucks the powder up from the bottom, like a big spray can. If you use it sideways like that, it’ll spray out the nitrogen gas that pressurizes it, instead of the powder at the bottom. If you spray out all the expellent gas, there’s nothing to propel the powder out and it’ll be useless in seconds. You’ll have an extinguisher full of powder with no pressure any more.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you for explaining! Everything happened so fast. This is such great information😊

[@dvljet]

When it comes to generators and installs there are building codes in place . they state the distance from wood buildings to be installed the propane company also should have set rules on how far away the tank must be . in this case i dont think whoever installed it knew what they were doing or the town inspector didnt enforce local code . i thought the chipper would have at least a 10lb extinguisher on it the 5lbs ones are good for engine fires but dont last long . the wash down should have been left to the fire dept because they would cut any powerlines before using water .

[@bulkchart3239]

not an over reaction. very slim chance the propane tank would have exploded though. glad y'all were there to at just the right time! wonder what in the world caused that fire, epecially while the gen was off?

[@HammondOfTexas0]

Better safe than sorry. The flame won't propagate up the line as it's all fuel and no oxygen. Worst case is you end up with a blow torch at the end of the line. I'm wondering if it was the battery charger that caused it. From what I've heard, some of those chargers aren't nice to the batteries. If it started boiling the battery, you have a hydrogen generator in a semi-enclosed space.

[@bobsjers]

I'm 73 years old, and I still climb ladders and climb on the roof to put up a 32,000 light Christmas display. Normal 70 year olds should have no problems getting out of a house unless they have other problems.

[@middlesex_tree]

Life treats us all a little differently and we all have our strengths and challenges. So glad to hear you are so active! My grandmother was hiking well into her 90s

[@CajunReaper95]

Gotta love the internet badasses who act like they’re superior by saying shit like you guys were making it bigger than what it was (insert Manley caveman noises) you guys did better than I would’ve I don’t do well in panic situations.

[@SilentStudioExplores]

something to keep in mind when putting these types of things on your homes. generators fail and theses types typically are unattended and will catch fire. i would of had it further from the house. also the fuel supply shouldn't be so close to the house or that generator. in my personal opinion.

[@MrVeryCranky]

Unless it's a typical dodgy setup, the propane tank should have a cut-off valve at the tank. Why didn't someone shut the gas off as a first priority instead of running around like headless chooks?

[@rupe53]

ALL propane tanks have a valve and it's installed from the factory. The only way you can have a screwed up installation is if the local pipes and valves are not installed by the gen itself.

[@chadshriver2952]

So what caused the generator fire? Any diagnosis yet?

[@middlesex_tree]

We are pretty certain mice chewed up some wires and they shorted out.

[@basspig]

Was the generator running as in doing a weekly exercise at the time of the fire?

[@middlesex_tree]

Yes, it caught on fire upon its weekly maintenance

[@basspig]

@@middlesex_tree wow. Scary, just scary!

[@jimchandler6744]

Good old Generac.

[@middlesex_tree]

I’m happy everyone was safe

[@user-iv4eq2nt5i]

I'm surprised the naysayers didn't tell you that you were cutting the trees wrong too. Internet warriors!

[@middlesex_tree]

lol that’s great!

[@robertross804]

job well done lucky u were there

[@johnjones9642]

Wow & I was gonna get a generac. Not now.😂

[@kc0eks]

Good save. House would have been in bad shape had you all not responded quick.

[@middlesex_tree]

We were pretty certain it coulda been bad had we not been there!

[@thebatmanexperience1722]

Great Hussle On That Fire Guys

[@daymoncleveland0622]

“It was a mechanical error with the generator.” No shit Sherlock 😂😂

[@nspro931]

They did the right things but maybe a little hastily. Racing around like a madman is a good way to trip and fall and get hurt and make the situation worse. Somebody should have turned the gas off at the propane tank while they were digging for the extinguisher. No it was not going to explode. This is real life not a movie where everything is waiting to explode on cue

[@kidkv]

You did right.

[@jamesdurwoodchance]

Excellent job!! Thankfully everyone is alright and alive. Now to mark the truck with the " fire extinguisher inside" sign just in case something else happens ( I hope not)

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you James!

[@CarlKem]

Y'all did just fine, Mr. Editor. My criticism is, from my experience, is there should have been a fire extinguisher near the genny. In that, at least 1-1A:10:B:C Powder Extinguisher. Personally, I'd rather have two extinguishers, but that's me. But alas, that is out of your realm, as it's not your genny. But, for future reference if you want.

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

That reminds me I need one for my Generac, I just never got around to it.

[@niceguy4421]

Better to over react than under react, great job!

[@markavery2888]

Fuel Plenum?

[@donniesnyder7752]

I think you guys did perfect on that God had you guys there for a reason that day it was because he knew that generator was going to short out and you guys will be there to help to save the place and say that woman's home and everyone else God bless you all and your families

[@middlesex_tree]

I love this💕I just hope God knows I’d prefer off he could stick to trees 😂 fire just ain’t his forte. May God bless you, your family and everyone who has taken time to participate in, comment and watch 😊

[@josh_spc2020]

I hope they got a new one tho what caused it tho

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

The kind of person that says not to worry about something like that, probably doesn't own a house....

[@briansmyla8696]

Prior service firefighter here. Extinguishing the fire could have been exactly the wrong thing to do. First order of business would be to turn off the fuel supply at the propane tank. If it was a propane fire, then extinguishing it would have allowed unburned propane to continue leaking and spreading along the ground. Eventually it would have made its way downhill to the running equipment and ignited, resulting in a huge fireball. The right thing to do is first, DONT PANIC. Next, turn off the fuel source to the generator. There should be a valve at the propane tank. Then decide whether you want to extinguish the fire or not. That generator could have burned to the ground and not had any effect on that propane tank.

[@gubbernl]

...And disconnect power, to stop electric sparks etc. Also handy when using watter to extinguish fire/stop overheating.

[@middlesex_tree]

Thank you for your service! Sometimes in emergency situations it is hard not to panic. Just out of curiosity, how would they have known what type of fire (propane, electrical, etc) it was? I’m just happy my husband made it home safe that night (and every night) Please be kind, I’m genuinely interested.

[@briansmyla8696]

@@middlesex_tree Well, in the video, they explicitly called out the proximity of the propane tank to the burning generator. And it would have been obvious that the propane tank was the fuel source for the generator since the only other options were natural gas or diesel fuel. There was no diesel tank visible, and propane would not have been used if natural gas was available because natural gas is the cheaper alternative to propane. They believed that propane was fueling the fire, and they did exactly the wrong things to do when you have a propane fire. With a propane fire, you either shut off the fuel source, or you stand back and wait for the fuel to burn itself out. Extinguishing a propane fire without shutting off the source creates a bigger hazard than just letting it burn, in most cases. Because if gas is being released and not burned, it is going to spread across a wide area, and it will eventually find an ignition source, and there will be a widespread event of fire / explosion and damage, and you'll be in a worse position than where you were had you not extinguished the original fire. First responders are trained to not panic in emergency situations. The ones that fell victim to panic are not the first responders; they're the tree service employees. What irks me is that they portrayed themselves as heroes, when they really dropped the ball at every opportunity. To be fair, they're not first responders, aren't trained, and can't be faulted for doing the wrong things. I will, however, call them out for trying to make themselves look good for mitigating the situation, when they really could have done more harm than good if the fire had actually been fueled by propane rather than an electrical fire. Yes, they did the right thing, but it was completely accidental. The fact that they want to try to play the heroes, and take credit for being the heroes when they actually panicked and had no clue what they were doing is problematic. Because most times, doing nothing and waiting for the trained professionals to arrive is safer than trying to solve a problem that you don't understand, and aren't trained to deal with.

[@H2Oredfirefox]

The good thing is that no one was injured or died property things and objects can be replaced lives can't so I think they did a perfectly good job and handle it perfectly🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@middlesex_tree]

You’re absolutely right!

[@X-GamerPro-HD]

You shouldn’t chip it unless you’re selling it. I’d use it for fire wood or to sell fire wood. They both make money.

[@Mike-01234]

Generac not surprised they are known to burn up. Kohler's are way better generators and while they cost little more lot less likely for this to happen. Can you imagine if this thing caught fire no one was around to do stop the fire would have burned up that house who knows how big the fire would get. I agree you only had a small bottle if the fire had gotten bigger that would not have been enough. The location of the generator close to the house was not a good place should be at least 10 feet away from the house. Good thing you did post the video because Generac likely would not have done anything for them outside of the warranty period. Video of Generac on fire being spread over social media doesn't look good.

[@funone8716]

Generac calls it a "Thermal event".....LOL

[@loghome7061]

Can't even imagine what that job cost

[@middlesex_tree]

Always a fair price 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@sabbath7081]

That's a pretty general statement, mechanical error, that pretty much applies to anything that suddenly blows up or bursts into flames.😂

[@middlesex_tree]

That’s fair. From my understanding there was further investigation as to the exact cause.

[@CWM030]

But what caused the generator to randomly catch fire?

[@middlesex_tree]

They said it was a mechanical issue

[@CWM030]

@@middlesex_tree ahh, thanks!

[@CWM030]

@@middlesex_tree ahhh, Thanks! 🙏🏻

[@kyle207]

My grandma has one of those generac generators right next to her house

[@middlesex_tree]

I’m happy she is ok. I felt so bad for the woman who lived here and so grateful she was ok

[@kyle207]

​@@middlesex_treeyes you guys did good getting that fire out quick

[@wildman4642]

GenaJunk

[@jimhmod]

oh another Generac commercial, LOL!!

[@therealromster]

You did the same as I would of done seeing that fire. I honestly would want the generator away from the house a bit more and not any closer to that propane tank. Also after seeing that I'd want a fire sensor that trips off the gas line and sprays CO2 over the fire.