Puttin Out Fires

Had a little "incident" at work today.

I was in a closed door meeting with a student when I began to smell something burning. It really just smelt like someone burnt their popcorn.  In the next few moments it got stronger.  Just as I was getting up someone opens my door and as they say "Something's smoking out here." I see a billow of smoke start to drift in from our counselor's office.

I immediately go into emergency mode. I run in and the first thing I think is electrical fire.  It didn't matter that I didn't see a fire - I just start unplugging everything I can see. There was no logic or thinking - it was just reaction.  I'm just trying to get this thing under control. So I'm just pulling plugs as fast as I can.

Then our counselor comes in and explains that a student was using our microwave and apparently the sandwich she was heating was wrapped in something that was not suppose to be put in the microwave. Something that was obviously flammable.  The whole entire floor was smokey and people from the first floor came up because they could smell something. It was bad and I was shocked (but eternally grateful) that the smoke alarm did not go off. Or the fire sprinkler system. Oh my gosh - can you imagine how embarrassing that would have been?

Apparently, it was caught just in time.  The student put her stuff in the microwave and left to go back into our lab. There wasn't anyone watching the food.  One of the mentors came in and happened to notice the smoke. It was really just lucky timing.

So guess who won't be using our microwave any more...