Smoke...no mirrors!!

Spent a nervous couple of hours yesterday morning.  After returning from a brisk walk, chilly and damp, with Ranger (yes, dog sitting again) I smelled a strange odor when I walked through the door.  A burning chemical smell got stronger as I went upstairs and into the kitchen.  There was a soft haze hanging in the room and the smell was even stronger.  I looked around for flames, pulled out some plugs and looked into cupboards and appliances.  No clue.  G was taking the boat to storage so although telling me he was on his way, was a half hour out.  So putting my tax dollars to work I called the fire dept.  Wow!!  three fire trucks with sirens blaring and fully equipped men showed up fast as I waited outside per instructions.  They don't take chances with fires.

Some very hunky firemen!!! took their gear, masks, tanks, and meters into the house and tried to figure out what was happening.  Looked everywhere and checked everything, nothing.  But smoke was there and smell too.  They did not want to leave not solving the mystery but were about to when one of them noticed that the smell seemed stronger by the fridge, which is tucked into a cabinet.  The suspicion grew as they pulled it out and eventually unplugged it, telling me to have it checked right away but to call if anything happened again.

I was very relieved to know the walls weren't burning!!  And now two neighbors have info to contact us in Europe just in case.

Sitting down with my tablet I researched the smell and smoke and discovered that frequently the relay switch in the refrigerators will do this and is designed to melt rather than burn out the compressor, although it may be damaged anyway.  Wow...shouldn't everyone know this????  Shouldn't the firemen?????   a repairman will be here today to access damage.  I am thankful this happened before we left but wonder if it could have been prevented in some way.

Update: it was the relay & switch.  Whew, no new fridge to buy!!