Electrical fires are responsible for 51,000 fires each year.
These fires can happen at any moment and can occur for different reasons. You may be wondering what some of the most common causes of these fires are.
Knowing the different causes will help you prevent them from occurring.
Continue to read on to learn about the common causes of electrical fires, how to prevent them, and how to go about handling a fire after it has happened.
Older Appliances
As appliances get older, they are not in the shape they once were, leading to electrical fires.
These appliances can cause fires due to the wearing of the cords or outdated circuits and electrical panels. Safety standards have changed over time, and some older appliances do not meet these standards, which puts you at risk of an electrical fire.
While you can have your appliance repaired, there can be times this is not enough to prevent a fire. The best option is to look into newer appliances that meet safety standards and are in excellent condition.
Overloaded Outlets and Extension Cords
Outlets and extension cords can only handle so many appliances or devices plugged into them at one time.
Misusing and overloading them puts your home at risk for an electrical fire.
One thing to remember about extension cords is that they are not for appliances. Outlets are what appliances should be plugged into.
As prevention, be cautious of your outlet and extension cord usage and have an electrician install any outlets you may need to overloading does not occur.
Space Heaters
Devices such as space heaters are the second most common cause of home electrical fires.
This happens because people tend to put them near flammable materials and items such as curtains and furniture. Coil space heaters are dangerous, and you should avoid them because they can cause a fire due to overheated coils.
Making sure these heaters are placed away from flammable items and do not leave them unattended. These heaters, along with appliances, should be plugged into wall outlets and not extension cords.
Overloaded Light Fixtures
This is another common cause of home electrical fires.
If light fixtures are overloaded with a lightbulb wattage too high, a fire can occur. Leaving flammable materials over these lights can cause a fire to ignite as well.
Making sure you have the correct bulb wattage and avoid decorating these lights with any flammable materials.
How to Put Out an Electrical Fire
Knowing how to put it out safely and correctly is important if you ever come across an electrical fire.
Having an electrical fire extinguisher is important because there are different kinds of extinguishers for different fires. Making sure you have working smoke detectors as well is important to keeping everyone safe.
What to Do After Electrical Fires Occur
Knowing how to handle the aftermath of an electrical fire will make the restoration process much easier and less stressful for you. Before you begin cleaning and assessing damage, have an inspector check the damage of your home and make sure it is safe to go inside.
Once deemed safe, here is how you can go about handling the aftermath:
- Assess damage
- Clean any undamaged clothing or items
- Collect undamaged belongings
Fire restoration is the best option if the damage is severe or you feel you cannot handle it.
Fire and Smoke Restoration
There are many times where electrical fires cause so much damage that handling it on your own is nearly impossible.
Christian Brothers Restoration is here to help with cleaning and restoration needs. Not only do our experts provide the utmost restoration, but they are dedicated to helping you move on from this fire and get back to the home you had. We provide a 24/7 emergency service that will reach you immediately to help you with your damage.
If you have any questions or want to hire us for restoration work, reach out and contact us.