January 2, 2026 – A terrifying incident involving an LG ThinQ electric range, model LDEL7324SE, reportedly resulted in a near house fire and significant smoke damage to a brand new home. The homeowner attributes the incident to accidental activation of the stovetop burners, possibly by pets, highlighting serious concerns about the product’s design and control mechanisms.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On December 10, 2025, a homeowner returned to their new residence to find smoke alarms blaring and thick smoke billowing throughout the house. The kitchen sustained smoke damage, and a pervasive, terrible odor permeated the entire home. The incident was attributed to their LG ThinQ electric range, model LDEL7324SE, which had accidentally turned on while no one was home, potentially activated by their dogs.
The homeowner reported that the range’s knobs are easily bumped, a problem exacerbated by the placement of an over-the-range microwave, which causes frequent accidental knob activation during daily use. While the product does feature a control lock, the homeowner stated this solution is insufficient for a busy household with older children and teenagers who may not reliably engage the lock every time they cook. The incident report emphasizes the potential for a full house fire and calls for a design modification to prevent future occurrences.
Safety Concerns
This incident raises several critical safety concerns:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is a house fire. Unattended burners, especially those accidentally activated, can quickly ignite nearby combustible materials (e.g., dish towels, food packaging, cooking utensils, or even flammable vapors), leading to rapid fire spread. The presence of smoke also poses a significant risk of smoke inhalation, which can be life-threatening.
- Long-Term Risks: Beyond the immediate fire hazard, the incident caused extensive smoke damage to the kitchen and permeated the entire home with a foul odor. Smoke damage can be costly to remediate, requiring professional cleaning, painting, and potentially replacing damaged materials. Long-term exposure to smoke residue can also pose health risks, particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions.
- Who Might Be Affected: Households with children, pets, or individuals with limited mobility are particularly vulnerable. Children or pets can inadvertently bump knobs, as reported in this incident. Even adults can accidentally activate controls in high-traffic kitchen environments, especially when interacting with overhead appliances like microwaves. The design vulnerability affects anyone who owns or regularly uses this model of range.
- Property Damage Potential: The incident clearly demonstrates the significant property damage potential, ranging from localized kitchen damage to a complete loss of the home due to fire. The reported smoke damage alone can amount to thousands of dollars in repairs and inconvenience.
The core safety concern centers on the range’s control design, where stovetop knobs appear to be susceptible to accidental activation through minimal contact. This design, combined with common kitchen layouts (e.g., over-the-range microwaves), creates a hazardous situation where burners can be engaged unintentionally and left unattended, posing a substantial risk of fire.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own an LG LDEL7324SE electric range or a similar model with easily activated knobs, here’s what you should do:
- Immediate Steps: Always double-check that all stovetop burners are in the “off” position before leaving the kitchen or home, especially after cooking or if children/pets have been near the stove.
- Identify Your Product: Verify if you own an LG LDEL7324SE range by checking the model number usually found on a label around the oven door frame or back of the unit.
- Prevention Measures:
* Utilize the Control Lock Feature: If your range has a control lock feature, make it a consistent habit to engage it whenever the stovetop is not in active use, especially when leaving the home or going to bed. Communicate this practice to all household members.
* Be Mindful of Overhead Obstructions: If you have an over-the-range microwave or other objects that might cause you to lean or reach over the stovetop, be extra vigilant about not accidentally bumping knobs.
* Keep Pets Away: Train pets to stay away from the stove area, particularly when unattended.
* Consider Knob Covers: For households with young children or particularly active pets, consider researching aftermarket safety knob covers designed to prevent accidental activation. Ensure any covers you use are heat-resistant and compatible with your range.
* Clear the Area: Ensure no flammable items (e.g., paper towels, oven mitts, plastic bags) are stored on or near the stovetop, as these could easily ignite if a burner is accidentally activated.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience a similar incident or have concerns about your product, report it immediately to both the manufacturer and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Your report helps identify safety trends and can lead to product improvements or recalls.
Manufacturer’s Response
LG Electronics, USA provided a response on January 2, 2026, stating that the LG electric range is manufactured to meet or exceed all relevant standards, including UL858. They emphasize rigorous testing processes to ensure product quality and continuous monitoring of product performance in use. LG states they take customer concerns seriously and use feedback for ongoing evaluation and improvement of their products. Consumers seeking more information are directed to LG’s website at http://www.lg.com/us/index.jsp or their toll-free number: 1-800-243-0000.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.