I shouldn't question fate but I am wondering...?
Question:I have a very old stove that whenever I turn it on, I need to light the pilot. This is the way it was made. Last night, I put a roast in the oven and then left the house to get some groceries. Of course, I stopped to chat w/ people I know and 1 1/2 hours later came home to a house filled with the smell of gas. The pilot had gone out. I opened some windows and everything was fine. But I have a very active imagination and was curious as to why my house didn't blow up. Does this not really happen? I don't want this to happen but I generally put dinner in the oven and then leave to go for a walk or to do something until it is almost done. I know it sounds silly but I picture opening up the door and getting blown away. (This image comes from Backdraft)
Answers:
Well if you don't change your habits, then what your imagining may actually come true(I really hope not, or you won't be able to post again).
Safety Precautions for the sake of your life(also for others' life):
-Don't leave something potentially dangerous without supervision(eg. stove with something cooking, computer open the whole night while sleeping)
-invite people over if your really can't resist focusing on your work(in your case is the cooking), so that they may be able to help you if the need arise.
-Start it now.
P.S. Never leave dangerous things unattended especially things involving fire and electricity.
P.S.Never do that again!
Backdrafts do happen - but the phenomenon is different. In those situations, you have a smoldering fire that has used most of the available oxygen. When you open the door you supply fresh oxygen and 'WHOOSH" the fire flashes.
Your natural gas situation is another thing entirely. You didn't have a fire, just gas. It would have needed an ignition source to ignite and potentially explode. But it is unlikely that the gas levels reached a high enough proportion to have done that in your case.
You might want to get another stove though - one with pilotless ignition.
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