A fire in a hotel and conference center started when an overloaded electrical dimmer switch ignited a paper-backed wall insulation. At 7 a.m., an employee heard a crackling noise in a light dimmer switch. Ignoring it, he continued to work. Several minutes later, he smelled smoke, called the security guard and tried to extinguish the fire. 

Investigators determined that the fire began in a 1,000-watt electrical wall dimmer switch that was drawing close to 2,000 watts when it failed.

The loss was around $900,000, but it could have been worse.

The building was worth $4.5 million and many guests were sleeping in nearby rooms.  Just about every building has dimmer switches. It makes you think – what’s happeining behind those walls?