Electricity is so central in our lives that it’s easy to forget just how dangerous it can be.
Every year, about 51,000 home fires are caused by electrical issues, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. Nearly a third of those fires occur between November and February, reports the National Fire Protection Association.
Electrical fires might be one of the greatest threats facing the average house. Modern home designs and construction materials, which have increased comfort and efficiency, have also greatly reduced the amount of time a person has to safely escape a house fire. According to Underwriters Laboratories, a person had up to 17 minutes to escape a house fire 30 years ago; today they have three minutes or less.
“If you take a moment to think about it, you’ll realize that there are dozens of potential spots around the home where an electric fire could occur,” said Clark Public Utilities Safety Manager Justin Zucconi. “Whether it’s an extension cord that a pet has chewed on, a loose outlet or an electric stove — potential hazards are everywhere and it’s important we stay aware and eliminate fire risk as much as possible.”
Clark County is full of older homes with wiring that is several decades old. If that rings true for your property, it’s smart to have your home occasionally inspected by a professional electrician.
Perform an occasional electrical hazard survey around your home. Don’t expect new appliances to be any safer than older ones. Everything electronic is a potential hazard. Don’t run any electrical cords under rugs, through doorways or behind any furniture that is easily moved.
Inspect electric cords for any breaks, frays or exposed wires and replace any that are damaged. If the cord is part of an appliance and not easily removed, don’t throw it out. Instead have it repaired by a professional or bring it to one of the many free community repair events hosted around Clark County.
Whether it’s in the home office, around the entertainment center or in the kitchen and bathroom, we’ve all found ourselves without enough outlets for all the electronics we want to plug in. In those times, it’s tempting to connect them all to a power strip or a multi-outlet connection, but doing so can be dangerous.
“Overloaded outlets are a serious hazard. Not only can they pop your breakers, but they can easily cause a fire at the point of connection or somewhere else along the circuit,” Zucconi said. “It’s best to look for another outlet.”
This time of year, many people use space heaters to make their homes more comfortable. But a misused space heater can easily start a fire. Treat a space heater like an open flame — never leave it unattended, never use it longer than necessary, and always keep it at least two feet from any flammable materials. Like an air conditioner, it should always be directly connected to a wall outlet.
Whenever you have to use an extension cord, make sure it’s rated to handle the power demands of the device you’re connecting it to. Many electronics, especially power tools and cooking appliances, use much more power than their size might suggest.
Despite all the preventative measures you may take, accidents still happen. That’s why it’s critical your home has working smoke alarms and at least one fire extinguisher designed to combat electric fires. Above all, it’s important to stay alert at all times.
“Pay close attention to your senses,” Zucconi said. “Failing electrical equipment has a distinct burning smell, the casing will feel hot and cords will begin to discolor and sometimes begin to smoke. If any of those things occur, you’ve got an immediate fire hazard on your hands.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
