Electrical fires in homes claimed the lives of 370 people in 2006, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Most of these fires are caused by misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances. The kind of appliances most often involved in electrical fires are stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, central heating units, TVs, radios, and CD/DVD players. Help prevent an electrical fire in your home by taking the following preventative measures:
- Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring for cracked wires. Replace worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
- Use extension cords only temporarily and don’t overload them by attaching more electrical appliances to them than they are designed to handle.
- Pinching cords against walls or furniture or running them under carpets or across doorways can cause a fire.
- Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp’s recommended wattage.
- Purchase only electrical appliances that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), indicating it has met safety standards.
- Keep children from playing with or around electrical appliances such as space heaters, irons, and hair dryers. Homes with young children should have tamper-resistant electrical receptacles.
- Keep clothes, curtains, and other similar combustible items at least three feet from all heaters. Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn, including lamp shades, furniture, bedding, clothing, and flammable or combustible liquids.
- Check your electrical tools regularly for signs of wear. Replace any tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts, or gives off smoke or sparks.
If an electrical appliance catches fire, first try unplugging it or shutting the electricity off at the fuse or circuit breaker panel. If you cannot shut off the electricity, use a portable extinguisher with the rating of “C” on it, indicating it is approved for use on electrical fires. If you do not have a fire extinguisher, or the fire is too large to fight (larger than a household waste basket), leave the house and call the fire department. Do not use water on the fire as it conducts electricity and you could be shocked.
To learn more about extinguishers and get first-hand experience using one on a real fire, take advantage of one of our group training classes, offered by appointment. Request a date for your group by completing the online program request form at www.wtwp.com.
Article Credits: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.
Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.
Tags: appliances, electrical, Electrical Safety
