LiL'Buddy heater fireball

Alberta Bigbore · #1 01-04-2015, 11:47 PM

Had a fire in the one man hut today

I was using my one man HT popup hut today. Trying out my new Vexilar FLX28 flasher. Had my Mr.Heater lil'buddy, on the floor. Started all the same. Im checking a mark on the flasher and bam... a big 1-2 foot flame is surrounding the head of the Lil'buddy heater.

Wtf

I couldnt pick it up.. so i open the tent.. put my thinsulate wool gloves on... dunk my hand down the hole so its drenched wet.... and grab the handle of the heater and launch it out the tent. Thought when these tip.. there is auto shut off.. Nope... the heater turned into a fire ball. Lol moved the truck. Walked behind my sled as a shield. No clue if that tank would explode or not. Got my flasher and tent way out if the way... and from a distance shoveled snow into a mound on top of it. Fires out. Lol all melted and looks like it came from the igniter pilot, thats where most damage is.

Any chance this could be replaced from the factory or....?

Was a eye opener for sure today.

1bluZebec · #2 01-04-2015, 11:50 PM

Wow that's nuts! After reading this I went and Shu mine was ff immediately after it has been running on high in the garage for the last few hours. Scary stuff

Jack&7 · #3 01-05-2015, 12:18 AM

ABB...

I am sure Mr. Heater will want to hear about this. They will want to know what caused it as that is a major problem which could result in serious injury/death...which equals liability....which equals $$$$ paid out in claims.

I would give them a call tmrw ASAP.

EDIT: any pics?

Hydro1 · #4 01-05-2015, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack&7

ABB...

I am sure Mr. Heater will want to hear about this. They will want to know what caused it as that is a major problem which could result in serious injury/death...which equals liability....which equals $$$$ paid out in claims.

I would give them a call tmrw ASAP.

EDIT: any pics?

+1
Geeze, Glad your all good Alberta bigbore.
Should get one for free from Mr heater for sure.
I'm now second guessing buying my little brother one for Christmas.

ETOWNCANUCK · #5 01-05-2015, 12:51 AM

Yeah I'd call Mr Heater too.

Kim473 · #6 01-05-2015, 05:21 AM

Wow ! Glad your safe and not hurt. Fast thinking on your part, good job on getting it under control.

Any chance you refill the little bottles your self. Maybe over filled with too much liquid Propane ?

Alberta Bigbore · #7 01-05-2015, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim473

Wow ! Glad your safe and not hurt. Fast thinking on your part, good job on getting it under control.

Any chance you refill the little bottles your self. Maybe over filled with too much liquid Propane ?

I just buy 3 paks 1lb tanks at canadian tire.

I ll take a couple pics tonight. . Its melted down by the pilot light. And then the plastic around where the tank joins after it landed on its side, which isnt far from.the pilot light.

The lil buddy doesnt have a valve.. just on off. Itbhad never beem dropped, and always put back in its box .

Bassett · #8 01-05-2015, 06:25 AM

Every so often mine will shoot a small fire ball out of it. I believe too much gas builds up while tryin to start it and it expels it all at once? Wouldn't want to deal with what you had going on in a one man tent that's for sure!

waterninja · #9 01-05-2015, 09:13 AM

Glad your ok. Sounds like it could have been worse. Which model of little buddy heater were you using? I think they come in different models or sizes.

JReed · #10 01-06-2015, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

Had a fire in the one man hut today

I was using my one man HT popup hut today. Trying out my new Vexilar FLX28 flasher. Had my Mr.Heater lil'buddy, on the floor. Started all the same. Im checking a mark on the flasher and bam... a big 1-2 foot flame is surrounding the head of the Lil'buddy heater.

Wtf

I couldnt pick it up.. so i open the tent.. put my thinsulate wool gloves on... dunk my hand down the hole so its drenched wet.... and grab the handle of the heater and launch it out the tent. Thought when these tip.. there is auto shut off.. Nope... the heater turned into a fire ball. Lol moved the truck. Walked behind my sled as a shield. No clue if that tank would explode or not. Got my flasher and tent way out if the way... and from a distance shoveled snow into a mound on top of it. Fires out. Lol all melted and looks like it came from the igniter pilot, thats where most damage is.

Any chance this could be replaced from the factory or....?

Was a eye opener for sure today.

This happened to me last year as well, i took it out of the tent and watched it for 5 seconds before I decided to gamble and shut it off before the tank blew up. Funny thing is it still works, haven't had a problem since

hiddenwalleye · #11 01-09-2015, 10:52 PM

Hi BigBore;

Same thing happened to Us, Big Puff and was on Fire.!!....

Richmuiz · #12 01-09-2015, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

Had a fire in the one man hut today

I was using my one man HT popup hut today. Trying out my new Vexilar FLX28 flasher. Had my Mr.Heater lil'buddy, on the floor. Started all the same. Im checking a mark on the flasher and bam... a big 1-2 foot flame is surrounding the head of the Lil'buddy heater.

Wtf

I couldnt pick it up.. so i open the tent.. put my thinsulate wool gloves on... dunk my hand down the hole so its drenched wet.... and grab the handle of the heater and launch it out the tent. Thought when these tip.. there is auto shut off.. Nope... the heater turned into a fire ball. Lol moved the truck. Walked behind my sled as a shield. No clue if that tank would explode or not. Got my flasher and tent way out if the way... and from a distance shoveled snow into a mound on top of it. Fires out. Lol all melted and looks like it came from the igniter pilot, thats where most damage is.

Any chance this could be replaced from the factory or....?

Was a eye opener for sure today.

Any chance u have a video of all this

silverdoctor · #13 01-10-2015, 12:41 AM

Good to know, have one that hasn't been used yet. This weekend - I hope

YeeHaw · #14 01-10-2015, 08:14 AM

Glad your ok, as mentioned -call them.

elkdump · #15 01-10-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richmuiz

Any chance u have a video of all this

If North Korea doesn't hi-jack the video before it is released in theatres ? The release title will be "Ernest Goes Ice Fishing in Alberta "

Glad he didn't get hurt !

petew · #16 01-10-2015, 08:48 AM

Was it making any noise before the fire? If they flash back and ignite at the gas orifice instead of in the burning chamber you will gear a rumbling sound, and they can flare up as the flame is not burning where it is supposed to be burning. When properly lit and burning all you should hear is a faint hiss. Flashback usualy happens when lighting because the cold propane doesn't rise to the burner area . Quite common with cat heaters.
If they tip over and don't shut down you are running liquid propane to the burner instead of vapour and this makes for a very big flame.

BobLoblaw · #17 01-10-2015, 03:44 PM

That'll wake you up in a hurry!
Did the beard come through this OK???

Kurt505 · #18 01-10-2015, 05:49 PM

How's your hair?

Crazy man, good to hear you weren't hurt. I'd be amazed if Buddy doesn't replace it for free.

waterninja · #19 01-10-2015, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkdump

If North Korea doesn't hi-jack the video before it is released in theatres ? The release title will be "Ernest Goes Ice Fishing in Alberta "

Glad he didn't get hurt !

Ernest does go fishing in AB.

silverdoctor · #20 01-10-2015, 06:11 PM

You didn't fart in the one man tent did you?

Sawry, had to say it...