Magnifying mirrors and the sun - beware! A cautionary tale.

A few years ago Joan Collins had a major fire at her London home caused by a mirror.

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/joan-collins-reveals-how-london-flat-caught-fire-a4128991.html

Yikes! Just off to move our bathroom mirror.

I had the same problem with glass paperweights on the window ledge. Fortunately, I spotted the scorch marks in time.

I have a magnifying mirror attached to the bathroom wall cupboard on the opposite side of the bathroom to the window and sometimes when I am standing in front of the mirror and the sun is shining through the window, it reflects off another mirror and burns me in the back. When it first happened I wondered what it was. Now I can move out of the way. There is nothing to catch fire there, but it would be catastrophic if I didn't realise what it was and my shirt spontaneously combusted while I was wearing it.

My point is that the mirror does not need to be directly inside the window - it can reflect the sunlight at any point in the room.

Forest and grass fires have been known to start from glass bottles tossed by litterers

Yes, very true, CanadianGran

Thank you for posting this warning. This is something that you just don't think about.

Years ago I had a pretty glass jug sitting on a windowsill, and came home to find it burst, and little pieces of glass everywhere. Luckily it burst before it could set anything on fire.

Forest and grass fires have been known to start from glass bottles tossed by litterers.

I could be wrong but, I do seem to recall Joan Collins having a nasty fire at her home because of a mirror being left on a window ledge

My friend had en suite built in attic. Her husband had one of those shaving mirrors that pull out on an arm. He left it out during a really hot summers day. You can guess the rest, sun reflected off it and the wood surround ended up badly singed. Luckily she was at home at the time.

We had this happen with some glass paperweights. They set fire to the carpet. Luckily we came home in time to intervene before too much damage was caused.

Our dogs were in the house at the time!

50 years ago I saw a house burn down because of a mirror.
I’ve never forgotten it.

My mother has just finished decorating her bedroom in cream with beautiful floral curtains .

She left a magnifying mirror on the dressing table .

Fortunately , having left the house she returned for something smelt the burning and was able to prevent a serious fire .

The new curtains were ruined .

I had this happen a few years ago, I was puzzled about a burn mark on my bed spread, after a couple of weeks another appeared. I mentioned it to a work colleague and straight away she said do you have mirror directed on the spread that’s opposite a window.
I was horrified about what could have happened. I have blinds now but still turn my mirror away.

Crystals are a problem too - some people hang them in windows to get a rainbow round the room.

I have made a cover that I slip over the mirror, after finding a burn mark on my dressing table.

Must go and check!😲

Thankyou - I have a similar mirror and it’s always on the window sill. Not any more .

Yes mil had this happen - she had a glass ornament on the windowsill. She had a deeply charred frame.

😲 hope it can be repaired without too much cost

Yes, fires have been caused as the curtains can catch then of course the fire can spread.

I had two glass paperweights on a windowsill but moved them in case.

I read about this a couple of years ago, just after I put a mirror on the south facing windowsill in the bathroom. I do sometimes move it when the weather is sunny but don't always remember. Thanks for the photo - I have to say I chanced my arm as I couldn't quite believe it could happen, so now I'll be more careful.

Yes, this is something to watch out for. Any kind of glass left near a window in hot sun will catch fire to anything inflammable close by. I had experience if this years ago.

I have just moved my mirror from the sill,thank you for the thumbs up Singingnutty.

singingnutty

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😲

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