John Tekach and Velma Balint, of California, whose house was damaged by a fire that started in the dishwasher.

The Fire

John: "We were watching TV downstairs and the dishwasher was on. It went into its dry mode, when you don't hear it. Velma and I went upstairs to go to bed.

"Just as I sat on the bed, she said, 'I smell something.' And she didn't stop, she kept going downstairs, and she yelled, 'The kitchen is on fire.' This was all in a matter of seconds. I followed her down and the actual door of the dishwasher was like a fire you would see in the fireplace.

"I'll never forget the sight as I was coming down the stairs. It was such a huge flame. The kitchen area was directly below our bedroom, so if we had fallen asleep, I think the house would have been gone. I still think about it a lot. It hasn't left my mind.

"I got the fire extinguisher and put the fire out."

Velma: "That scared me because he had to go between the dishwasher, which was on fire, and the refrigerator, to get to the extinguisher. I thought we should have left. I threw on a coat and I was calling 911.

"The smoke was getting really heavy in there and it was hard to breathe. John could have passed out from it, and that would have been it. It was a split decision thing we did."

John: "I just continued to try and put it out. I just reacted. I had to do it. That night, after we left, I thought about it and said 'Gee. That was a close call.' "

Advice To Others

Velma: "Our advice is don't run the dishwasher when you are not there watching it. Number two, get a fire extinguisher and know how to use it. I find myself reading directions on the extinguisher and looking at how I would work it. You need to have it in the right place so it is accessible before you get to the appliances in the kitchen."

On The Lasting Effects Of A Fire

John: "After the fire, we were okay, and that's all that mattered. But I think of things now in a whole different light. We are more cautious, more aware of what can happen if you don't pay attention, if you aren't prepared."

What You Can Learn From John and Velma's Experience Use a portable fire extinguisher to put out a small, confined fire only if you know when and how to use one properly. Before you begin to fight a fire, be certain everyone has left (or is leaving) the building, and the fire department has been or is being called. Place the fire extinguisher so that it is easily accessible and near an exit. Install smoke alarms in your home and keep them in working order. Place smoke alarms outside each sleeping area, inside any bedroom where the door is typically shut, and on every level of the house, including the basement.

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