House management shutdown stove electricity

[littleandy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MA

A 83 year old senior is living in a government provided condo. Two days ago, her stove was left unattended during cooking and triggered the building fire alarm. Fire engine came and left, no other consequence from this incident. But the condo management just came later in the same day to shut off the electricity to the stove and refused to connect.

Can they just shut off the electricity in this situation and any suggestion?

Thanks.

 

[FarmerJ]

so was it the food that caught fire or that the stove it self was on fire ?

 

[littleandy]

so was it the food that caught fire or that the stove it self was on fire ?

No fire. Only the smoke in the room triggered the alarm.

 

[Just Blue]

No fire. Only the smoke in the room triggered the alarm.

Is this the same person that fell on ice?

 

[FarmerJ]

So if the breaker panel is inside that apartment then is there a reason your not able to turn it back on ? I can understand the landlord - management having concerns if this 83 year old may be having some issues related to being able to live there safely BUT if the stove it self did not catch on fire then Id say the landlord does not have the legal authority to deny a tenant the use of a cookstove and doing so could be construed as a form of self help eviction- constructive eviction. Do not be surprised if management has contacted your county social services with concerns re this tenants ability to remain safe there.

 

[Just Blue]

So if the breaker panel is inside that apartment then is there a reason your not able to turn it back on ? I can understand the landlord - management having concerns if this 83 year old may be having some issues related to being able to live there safely BUT if the stove it self did not catch on fire then Id say the landlord does not have the legal authority to deny a tenant the use of a cookstove and doing so could be construed as a form of self help eviction- constructive eviction. Do not be surprised if management has contacted your county social services with concerns re this tenants ability to remain safe there.

FarmerJ...Px hx on this op is ...interesting.

 

[quincy]

So if the breaker panel is inside that apartment then is there a reason your not able to turn it back on ? I can understand the landlord - management having concerns if this 83 year old may be having some issues related to being able to live there safely BUT if the stove it self did not catch on fire then Id say the landlord does not have the legal authority to deny a tenant the use of a cookstove and doing so could be construed as a form of self help eviction- constructive eviction. Do not be surprised if management has contacted your county social services with concerns re this tenants ability to remain safe there.

^^^ LIKE ^^^

I think you might have zeroed in on the reason for the shutoff. Apparently this same tenant also had a slip and fall on the building's premises. She may be in need of some supervised care.

We have installed in all of our rental houses canisters ("AutoCuts") which are attached under the range hoods and placed above the burners of the stoves. When a tenant forgets something on the stove and it starts to smoke, or there is a grease fire, the canisters release automatically to extinguish any flames. I recommend all landlords install similar fire-prevention devices - especially when their tenants are elderly (or, like our tenants, college students who can be equally forgetful ).

 

[STEPHAN]

We have installed in all of our rental houses canisters ("AutoCuts") which are attached under the range hoods and placed above the burners of the stoves. When a tenant forgets something on the stove and it starts to smoke, or there is a grease fire, the canisters release automatically to extinguish any flames.

Quincy, can you tell me more about that? Google did not really help me.

 

[quincy]

Quincy, can you tell me more about that? Google did not really help me.

There are several different brands of fire suppression systems on the market. We use "Auto-Out" containers mounted on our range hoods (I mistyped with the "cuts") but there are other brands like Fire Stop and Fire Avert. We use the brand we do because the canisters have a long life (assuming no fires ) and they are easy to install with magnets.

 

[STEPHAN]

There are several different brands of fire suppression systems on the market.

Thank you!

 

[quincy]

Thank you!

You're welcome, STEPHAN.

 

[FarmerJ]

So this morning I get home from work and wonder what that burnt bakelite smell is as I walk in the back door. well I don't know when the over heated kettle happened because my roommate is not home now , nor is his grandson who could tell me if he was home , who due to his moms outrageously bad choices is now living here in order to finish up high-school instead of being homeless so he is in school now so I cant ask, but ANYWHO a large and very old a aluminum tea kettle go so heated up that it went dry??? and literally began to melt , there were blobs of aluminum in the drip pan and aluminum melted onto the element as if it was melted solder. ( tea kettle was in the sink with some dark scorch marks and a bottom that where it had not burned through was so thin I could put my finger through it )

 

[Zigner]

So this morning I get home from work and wonder what that burnt bakelite smell is as I walk in the back door. well I don't know when the over heated kettle happened because my roommate is not home now , nor is his grandson who could tell me if he was home , who due to his moms outrageously bad choices is now living here in order to finish up high-school instead of being homeless so he is in school now so I cant ask, but ANYWHO a large and very old a aluminum tea kettle go so heated up that it went dry??? and literally began to melt , there were blobs of aluminum in the drip pan and aluminum melted onto the element as if it was melted solder. ( tea kettle was in the sink with some dark scorch marks and a bottom that where it had not burned through was so thin I could put my finger through it )

Are you saying that the tea kettle reached over 1,200°F? Wow.

(That's not snark...it's an actual "wow")

 

[FarmerJ]

I was told that it had water in it & it was turned on (ill bet roommate was going to make hot tea ) , then he went upstairs and forgot about it and the next thing he was hearing smoke alarm go off.