Possible Electrical Fire

Hey.

I just got a brand new light for my turtle aquarium today. It's one of those swirly light bulbs (lol, don't know the technical term). It also came with a dome for the light, and it handles 150 watt bulbs, but the light I had in was 13 Watt. I've had it on for about an hour, but just about 10 minutes ago, the light shut off, then began smoking. Obviously, where there is smoke, there is fire. So I removed the plug from the extension cord.

Everything else plugged into the extension cord is not affected though. So It is definitely not the extension cord that caused this. The dome that is the power source for the bulb is not very hot, so I'm guessing it's not that either, but the bottom part of the light bulb is very hot. So It's probably that.

Anyway, my questions are:

1. How should I dispose of this light bulb?

2. I don't think the dome is the source, but do you think it's safe to put another bulb into it?

3. What's the best way to ventilate the room? It now smells of burning plastic, so I have my windows open, and fan on, but there is still a light smell of it.

(By the way, both the lightbulb and the dome are on a table outside.

Woah ummmm...Ok....,I think you should wait till the bulb cools down, then throw it into the garbage.Also, try to put another bulb into it. a 150 watt bulb. If it happens again, something is probably wrong with the dome.

First off i believe the bulb is a murcary vapor bulb? and they have to be given to a recycle center, also i think you have an elictrical wire problem, not a light bulb problem

Never thought of it that way. good observation!!

If it;s a mercury bulb, dispose of it as quickly as possible. Try to keep the fans and stuff on, and just wait till the smell is gone. There could be a problem woth your elctrical stuff. I had a fishtank before.

I burned my finger on one of those turtle ones!

It's definitely a bulb problem. I put a higher watt bulb than the one I had the problem with and it's working fine. I just turned on the fan and opened windows and the smell was gone pretty fast. Thanks for the help.

No problem!

Glad its fixed, and that it was just the bulb, not the wire

Firetrucks near my house where I could see them! First time in a year!! I'm glad that nothing happened to your tank. Is your turtle Ok?