Burning vacuum cleaner...

OK...with the new kitten came FLEAS! Yuck! We have not had a problem with fleas in years...I hate this! So I got some flea medication at Wal-Mart and as I was vacuuming up the disgusting critters as the web site said to...I hear a pop and the cord is on fire! This is in mid-air so I unplugged the cleaner and it stopped flaming and smoked a bit. I put it out in the garage for the garbage. It has served it's purpose...$59 from Wal-Mart three years ago...DirtDevil...I don't need my house burning down! Meggie and I are going out in a few minutes to buy a new cleaner. I would wait a day or two but I can't stand the FLEAS! I studied all of the ads and am checking K-mart first and then Linen and things. There is a nice "Shark" in the LNT ad. There is also a 20% off coupon which brings it into my price range. If anyone has any ideas on flea extinction please leave a note! I might check out flea bombs, but it is 32 degrees here and I can't take my flea bitten animals anywhere else while I de-flea the house...so I think flea bombs are out. I love the kitten but this is getting trying...to be continued...