According to the Home Electrical Safety Foundation, an estimated 51,000 electrical fires occur in homes across the nation each year. To encourage home electrical fire safety amongst Cloverland’s membership, we reached out to local fire chief Ed Miller for tips on keeping your home safe.
What are a few tips everyone should follow for home electrical fire safety?
- Do not overload circuits. Know how much power is being pulled from each circuit and be mindful of the limitations of your home’s electrical system.
- Use approved and appropriate chargers for your electronic equipment. Make sure chargers are the correct amperage for the device. Use chargers provided with products to ensure they are correct.
- Do not use extension cords or outlet extenders for permanent wiring. This tends to overload circuits and can produce excessive heat. Don’t cover up extension cords with rugs, clothing or bedding. Be sure to unplug cords when they are not needed.
Are there any home safety tips that should be considered while using a space heater?
- If using a space heater, plug it directly into a wall outlet, do not use extension cords or power strips with space heaters. These heaters draw a large amount of power, which can cause power strips and extension cords to overheat which could cause a fire.
- Do not keep combustible items in front of a space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for spacing around the space heater. Not all space heaters are the same, so the manufacturer’s guides will help you prevent a fire.
- Unplug the space heater when not in use and don’t use the space heater unattended.
How should someone prepare for a home electric fire emergency?
- Prevention is the best preparation to avoid an electrical fire emergency.
- Use proper chargers, cables and equipment designed for your devices.
- Keep cords uncovered and open to prevent excessive heat accumulation.
- Use properly grounded outlets and ensure your home wiring system can support the energy demands you bring into the home.
- If you have anything that is battery powered, charge it while it can be monitored and as soon as they are fully charged, unplug it from charging systems.
- If a charger, battery or equipment shows signs of damage, unplug them and avoid charging them as they could be a source of ignition.
- Ensure your home has properly installed smoke alarms. Make sure your smoke alarms are within 10 years of manufacture date; anything older should be replaced. Smoke alarms should be in every sleeping area, every floor of the home and checked regularly to ensure they will alert you to a fire situation.
What else should someone know about electrical fire safety?
Electrical fires pose risks of burns and electrical shock. Water should not be used as an extinguishing agent for an electrical fire. Don’t attempt to unplug a burning cord as doing so could cause injury. Call your local fire department even if you think the fire is out. In an electrical fire, there may be hidden damage or concerns of overheated circuits that need to be checked. You will also need to have a licensed electrician confirm circuits are okay to use after such incidents.
Another consideration for electrical safety is the safe operations of generators. It is important for generators to be used in a well-ventilated area outside the home. Any connection to the home wiring system should be properly installed by a licensed electrician and designed to protect Cloverland’s crews. Never fill a generator with gas while running and allow it to cool down before refilling.