A Queensland mother of six and her children narrowly escaped when their garage door opener spontaneously caught fire, bursting into flames inside their Edmonton home.

Annalisa Buchanan, recounts the terrifying incident, stating that she had just finished working in the late hours of Sunday evening when she heard a popping and cracking noise coming from her garage. Without warning, her garage door motor caught fire, quickly turning into a life-threatening situation.

“It was stopping and shuddering; then we heard popping and crackling, then smoke and flames,” Ms. Buchanan reports, “We actually had the door that leads into the garage from the house open, and we heard and saw it happen. We were just lucky that we were awake.” Thanks to her quick thinking, Annalisa was able to get her children to safety and prevent further damage to her garage doors and property.

“It happened so quickly, but we reacted just as quick as the Ford Falcon XR8, was directly under it. It was moved out as I called the emergency services.” Thankfully, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services responded in minutes, extinguishing the burning garage door opener and helping care for Ms. Buchanan’s daughter. “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to the awesome emergency services fire brigade that came out tonight when my garage door motor had a meltdown, literally,” the grateful mother wrote in a Facebook post.

Other residents took notice of the story and began wondering if it was due to a faulty garage door repair or installation or if the garage door itself played a role. Some were quick to point out concerning aspects of their own garage door opener, “A few weeks ago I noticed our steel line motor, that looks like the one in your pics, has got melted plastic on the back of the case,” one user remarked, “I have had it switched off to be safe. Wonder if it’s got the same issue. Scary stuff.”

What Can Cause a Garage Door Opener to Catch Fire?

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential electrical fires claim the lives of over 485 people every year, and injure another 2,305. While a portion of these fires are due to appliance defects or electrical system failures, the majority are the result of poor maintenance and misuse of electrical appliances, overloaded extension cords and circuits, and incorrectly installed wiring.

There are multiple ways you can help prevent your garage door opener from catching fire:

• Use light bulbs with the correct wattage recommended by the manufacturer.
• Ensure that the opener’s light cover is not too close to or in contact with the opener’s light bulb.
• Avoid plugging the garage door opener into an outlet or circuit with too many appliances.
• Ensure that your garage door is properly balance.
• Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper use and installation.
• Inspect the garage door opener cords and plugs for any damage or fraying on a regular basis.

Additionally, have your garage door opener inspected and maintained by a licensed garage door repair company. Here’s what companies normally test and inspect during a maintenance service:

• The garage door opener motor, drive mechanism and force.
• Inspect the garage door’s overall condition, including its functional and structural integrity.
• Test the door balance and safety sensors.
• Supporting brackets, fixtures, and garage frame.

Regular service from a certified garage door repair company is the best way to ensure the safety of your garage door, as well as reduce the chances of a fire incident. Don’t neglect routine maintenance, ignore error codes and other warning signs; garage door opener fires can cause major damage to the garage doors and the property in only minutes, leading to costly repairs and possible loss of life.