Bad hot tub wiring started huge wildfire...

[iron block]

The verdict is in. As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Hot-tub-wiring-identified-as-cause-of-devastating-9135005.php):

The devastating wildfire that killed four people and destroyed more than 1,300 homes in Lake County last year was caused by faulty electrical wiring rigged for a hot tub, authorities said Wednesday.

Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection traced the ignition point to a home in the mountain community of Cobb, about 100 miles north of San Francisco, where they said one of two property owners ran wiring that was not up to code, nor properly permitted, to a tub on a porch.

There, investigators said, a spark from a poorly insulated copper wire ended up igniting dry grass and leaves, setting the 76,067-acre Valley Fire in motion.

Kind of a reminder that code is there for a good reason.

 

[nehog]

I'd love to see the evidence used to reach that conclusion. Probably they are correct, but...

 

[Norcal]

A relative of mine sold a house in Cobb & moved out of State, while the house was spared, they were lucky, as were the new owners. Electrical work needs to be done by people qualified to do it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Saw that in the modesto bee today.

Would love to read the details.

Ive ran circuits for and hooked up quite a few hot tubs in my day. Never had an issue.

 

[dadsEH]

I'd love to see the evidence used to reach that conclusion. Probably they are correct, but...

Well now...let's see:
...bad wireing of tub.
....evidence of ignition from wires.
...burnt grass ignited next to said tub.
....trail of burnt grass leading to surrounding area.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

FRiend resently decided she needed a hot toub, and saved some cash on a used one.
Then she hired a pro electrician to wire it up, and had the guy from the spa place check it out. they said all good, but it didn't really get hot, and the jets were weak then would cut out. but the high dollar professional douchebags couldn't figure it out.
With the cover off it didn't take long to notice the jet pump was scalding hot.
Or that it said '220V', but only was getting 110. Low output, weak or no start, and frequent thermal overload....I think thats textbook .
flipped some wires around so it matched the diagram on the control box...
Now it works great and I look like a hero.

 

[MikeF2316]

I'd like to see exactly what was wrong too. Is it something ridiculous like exposed 14/2 romex to power the whole hot tub, or something more subtle?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm not saying they're wrong, I'm sure they're right, but after thinking a little I realize I've seen a lot of electrical sparks from loose connections. None of them ever fell to the ground where they could ignite grass. They just were an arc between loose wires and as such would cause no issues inside a proper enclosure. I HAVE seen sparks when a bare energized wire was grounded, resulting in molten wire falling.

A grinding wheel or a welder also makes sparks that fall to the ground.

I'd like to know exactly what was done wrong on this failure.

Tommy