Manufacturer marking
The panel face carries a visible “SYLVANIA” and “GTE Sylvania” label.
Resident safety notice · Burlingame, California
Caution, be aware of 645 Rollins Road!!!
A resident reports experiencing an electrical issue involving the heaters that raised concern about a potential fire while living here. Photographs supplied in September 2026 also show a GTE Sylvania panel whose equipment label specifies Zinsco breaker types. The electrical system should be evaluated in person by a licensed electrician.
If you smell burning, hear buzzing or arcing, see smoke, or find the panel unusually hot: move away and call 911 or the serving utility. Do not remove the cover.
Resident-reported incident
“I had an electrical issue with the heaters and a potential fire while living here.”
This is a firsthand resident account. It is presented separately from the photographic record and has not been characterized here as a professional determination of cause. The report, together with the photographed equipment, is the reason this page asks for an independent licensed inspection and written disclosure.
What the photographs establish
Visible facts—not a remote diagnosis
Breaker specification
The interior equipment label instructs the use of listed Zinsco breaker types.
Service information
The photographed label identifies the load center as 125 amps maximum.
Unknown condition
The bus, terminations, conductor condition, grounding, bonding, and trip performance are not visible in these photos.
Open wall box
A separate photograph shows an uncovered wall box with multiple wire connections wrapped in red tape.
Reported location
The resident identifies this open wall box as the area where the burnt smell was strongest.
Photographic record
Look closely at the installed equipment
Tap any image to enlarge it. Captions describe only what can reasonably be seen.
Safety illustration previously created for this resident. It depicts possible burn injuries for warning and educational purposes; it is not a photograph of an injury that occurred at this property.
Additional reported hazard
Hot water reportedly measured at 141°F.
That temperature presents a serious scald risk. A CDC-hosted study states that exposure to 140°F water can cause a serious burn in about three seconds. Children, older adults, and people with reduced mobility or sensation are especially vulnerable.
141°FResident-reported tap-water measurement at this building
≈3 secTime in which 140°F water can cause a serious burn
120°FMaximum water-heater setting recommended by the CPSC to reduce scald risk
What should be done
Property management should have a qualified plumbing professional verify temperatures at the taps and correct the delivery temperature. Where hotter storage temperatures are needed for water-system health, the CDC advises using thermostatic mixing valves to reduce the temperature delivered at faucets, showers, and tubs.
Safety sources: CDC-hosted tap-water scald study, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and CDC water-temperature guidance.
Requested action
Get answers in writing before relying on these building systems.
- 1
Licensed inspection
Request an on-site evaluation by a licensed electrical contractor who has no financial interest in the transaction.
- 2
Panel and breaker condition
Ask the electrician to identify the exact panel and breaker series and examine the bus, connections, overheating evidence, breaker seating, and operation.
- 3
Capacity and protection
Confirm the service rating, calculated load, grounding and bonding, and whether required GFCI or AFCI protection is present.
- 4
Permits and repair history
Ask the owner or manager for permits, inspection records, prior electrical reports, and invoices for any panel or breaker work.
- 5
Written correction plan
If deficiencies are found, request a scope, permit requirements, cost estimate, and completion date from a qualified contractor.
- 6
Hot-water correction
Request written verification of tap temperatures and documentation of any thermostat, tempering-valve, or plumbing corrections made to reduce scald risk.
Important limitation
This page contains a resident's firsthand account, a resident-reported water-temperature measurement, a resident-identified incident location, and a photographic record. The burn image is a simulated safety illustration, not an injury documented at this property. This page is not an electrical or plumbing inspection, engineering report, code determination, or professional finding about the cause of the reported smell. Qualified professionals with access to the property must verify present conditions and required corrections.