KITCHEN APPLIANCES IGNITE 2 FIRES

It was a bad night for kitchen appliances Monday in the Wilmar area west of

Petaluma, as an oven and a dishwasher ignited small fires 10 minutes apart. In

both cases the flames were doused before firefighters arrived.

The heating element in an oven at 3480 Bodega Ave. started sparking at 5:25

p.m., according to Capt. Mike Mickelson at the California Department of

Forestry station on Lohrman Lane.

The resident shut off the power and blasted the sparks with a fire

extinguisher, Mickelson said. Damage was limited to $100, and Forestry and

Wilmar volunteer firefighters set up fans to clear smoke.

Three engines were diverted to 3303 Eastman Lane at 5:35 p.m., when a

resident reported she had come in from feeding her animals to find smoke in

the house and water running from under the dishwasher.

Mickelson said the dishwasher's previously spliced power cord had shorted

and ignited rags beneath the kitchen sink. Flames melted the plastic water

pipe, dousing the fire, he said.

Damage was $150, and once again firefighters set up fans to clear the

smoke.