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Verify: Can A Mirror Start A Fire In Your Home?

Can a mirror start a fire in your house? And, if so, how?

When you think of fire hazards in your home, you think of electronics, toasters, or your oven. What you don't think of are mirrors. But you may want to think differently about your mirrors.

"For a flat mirror, the conditions would have to be perfect. The likelihood is very, very slim, however; you have the right kind of mirror, it actually can occur," says Chief Solomon of the West Columbia Fire Department. He says concave mirrors can cause the fires.

The London Fire Brigade recently posted on twitter about a house fire that started because of sunlight reflecting off a mirror. "It's curved inward. That allows for the light beam to actually be concentrated when it bounces off of it. Wherever it hits, if it hits in the right spot, it can start a fire," says Chief Solomon.

It's an unlikely fire but there are ways you can spot a problem before it becomes a fire. Chief Solomon says watch out for odd things like melted plastic. Those are the signs that you may need to relocate your mirror.

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