Faulty fluorescent bulb sparks concern after burn marks found
A St. John's man is questioning the safety of compact fluorescent bulbs after finding burn marks on a light bulb in his basement.
When James Osborne went to change a light bulb in his laundry room late last week, he found scorch marks along the base of the bulb from an apparent blowout. There was similar scorching on the light fixture.
"I kind of shook," Osborne told CBC News.
"It took me a couple of minutes to set in that this could have happened while I was asleep or while I was not here. And if something happened to one of my children or the family pets — it took a minute for me to digest."
Osborne went online and found that there's nothing defective with the bulb — this is what it does at the end of its lifespan.
"The bulb is not made out of flammable material, but if the material around the bulb is flammable then you have an issue," he said.
Osborne said the scorch marks don't sit well with him. "There should be some better way for these bulbs to go rather than catch fire," said Osborne.
He's since removed all of the fluorescent bulbs from his home and replaced them with the traditional incandescent option.
Osborne's come across photos online of fires caused by the same type of bulb.
He said he's not looking for compensation, but wants to warn others of the potential danger.
"I am a communications technician with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary so I hear my fair share of emergencies — I don't want one in my own house," Osborne said.
Fluorescent light bulb blow-outs have been known to cause house fires, though there have been no reports of entire homes being destroyed.
"I want to discard this light bulb — never buy another one," he said.
"I would hate to think that I never told people about it and then read on the news someday that someone's light burned out ... and a house burned down over it."
