First Name:

Last Name:

Telephone:

Email:

Address:

City:

State:

Zipcode:

Incident Details:

Yes, I would like to receive
the Morgan & Morgan newsletter.

form base
Home » Consumer Information » Occupational Safety » Electrical

Electrical Fires

Home electrical fires account for 67,800 fires, 485 deaths, and $868 million in property losses each year in the U.S., with faulty electrical wiring causing twice as many of these fires as electrical appliances. The highest number of electrical fires occurs during the winter months because the increase in indoor activities requires elevated lighting, heating, and appliance use.

Causes of electrical fires include the following:

  • Faulty electrical outlets and old wiring.
  • Damaged extension and appliance cords and plugs.
  • Misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits and running cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.
  • Electrical appliances, such as electric stoves and ovens, dryers, central heating units, televisions and radios.
  • Build up of dust trash and spider webs.
  • Unprotected light bulbs in work areas.
  • Electrical wiring hit when drilling holes or driving nails into walls.

The following safety precautions should be observed in order to prevent electrical fires:

  • Routinely check appliances and wiring.
  • Replace worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
  • Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs and doorways or high traffic areas.
  • Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters.
  • Only buy appliances that meet the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) standard for safety.
  • Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances.
  • Keep clothes, curtains and potentially combustible items at least three feet from heaters.
  • Never force a three-prong plug into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
  • Never overload wall sockets.
  • Immediately shut off and professionally replace light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
  • Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
  • Protect all circuits with a fuse or circuit breaker.
  • Replace any tool that causes small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out or gives off smoke or sparks.
  • Never use water to put out an electrical fire. If the fire is small, use a CO2 fire extinguisher.