Causes of Electrical Fires
7/7/2020 (Permalink)
On average, 24000 electrical fires occur in the U.S. per year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
The top causes of electrical fires are the following:
- Faulty outlets/appliances. Never use an appliance or a cord that is frayed or chewed. In addition, do not run cords under rugs.
- Light Fixtures. Light fixtures, lamps and light bulbs can all be sources of an electrical fire. These could occur by installing a bulb with too high of wattage or placing items on top of a lamp shade.
- Extension cords. Misuse of these cords can cause fires, as they should not be used all the time rather appliances should be plugged into outlets.
- Space heaters. Heaters often are left in front of/on combustible surfaces like curtains, rugs. Coil heaters are the most dangerous.
- Wiring. Outdated wiring can also be a source of fire. If a home is over 20 years old, the wiring may not have the ability to handle appliances in today's homes.