Beginning of a Fire - Part 9

By: Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator – Electrical Contractor

This is whats left of a G&E breaker box which was inside a tennant's apartment in a apartment building in Penn Hills pa.

As you can see there was violent arcing and flashing between the hot bars but when the wiring in the apartment was examined nothing appears wrong. This appears to be a very suspicious explosion possibly foul play is involved. It appears metal debris fell into the panel connections deliberately possibly by a former disgruntled tennant attempting to get even by causing a fire several weeks to months after they left. The incident was reported to Fire Marshal Jack Mason.

Had this not been enclosed in a metal cabinetor, if the main breaker had taken longer to open the resulting heat from the arc would have been sufficent to cause a fire.

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