A recent NewsChannel5 investigation reported on fires that investigators have tied to GE microwave ovens. As a result of the investigation, NewsChannel5 heard from consumers about a different complaint.

Aaron McHenry's microwave oven appeared perfectly normal. But, McHenry said, looks are deceiving.

McHenry said: "I started hearing, like, a buzzing noise. And then I heard beeping. I'm like, what is that?"

Aaron said his GE microwave turned on all by itself.

"I walked over and sure enough the microwave's running. I turned it off. That's kind of weird (and) sat back down," McHenry explained. "(Then) I heard the beeping like it was being turned on again. All right, this is really strange."

McHenry called NewsChannel5 after seeing its investigation involving other GE microwave ovens.

NewsChannel5 found three home fires where GE over-the-range units were suspected by fire investigators. These microwave ovens are not turned on or cooking a thing.

McHenry and his wife stopped using their countertop unit.

"All right, I got to unplug this thing. This ain't right. And (my wife) goes, 'Maybe it's a ghost,'" McHenry said, "It ain't no poltergeist stuff. There's something electronically wrong and we can't be using it. And we unplugged it and haven't used it since."

So NewsChannel5 tested McHenry's microwave.

For the test, NewsChannel5 plugged in the microwave and their cameras videotaped every second.

There's no proof this could start a fire, but the NewsChannel5 cameras captured the GE microwave turning itself on, on three different occasions, over three days.

"If that glass gets real hot in there, if it was running hours on end, it could be a little bomb," McHenry said.

NewsChannel5 immediately alerted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington. The CPSC quickly announced an active investigation in the wake of the report.

In a statement, the CPSC said:

"To have spontaneous activation of an appliance could present a safety risk to not just adult users but to entire families in a home. Anyone who experiences spontaneous activation should contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission immediately and unplug the appliance at its source.
--Scott Wolfson, Acting Director, Office of Information & Public Affairs

"That's the main concern for me of contacting Channel 5 was to make sure this didn't happen to nobody else," McHenry said.

General Electric asked to view NewsChannel5's test. After looking at the video, GE said, "there is no risk to the consumer" and "heat sensors would shut the oven down."

Read GE's full statement here.

If you have any questions or problems with your microwave, the Consumer Product Safety Commission asks that you contact them at this number:
800-638-2772

The CPSC credits NewsChannel5's investigation with providing valuable information.