According to FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 25,900 home electrical fires are reported each year. These fires cause an average of 280 deaths, 1,125 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property loss. The majority of electrical fires involve electrical distribution, lighting, or power transfer equipment, and 39 percent involve outlets and receptacles, electrical branch circuits, and other electrical wiring.
If an electrical fire occurs in your home, the first thing you should do is call 9-1-1. Step two should be to turn the entire circuit breaker off. As electricity can not actually burn but the surrounding items may burn, turning off the electricity from the source makes the fire easier to put out.
A Class C fire extinguisher should be used to put out the electrical fire; however, if you have turned off the source of the electricity, using a different class of fire extinguisher depending on what is on fire should also do the job.
Electrical fires are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Use caution when putting one out, and if you are unsure in any way what to do, go outside and wait for the fire department to show up. For instance, water, foam, and other combustible agents should never be used to try and put out an electrical fire. If you do not know what you are doing, you could accidentally make the fire worse.
As is usual with any electrical fire, any time you see smoke, a fire has probably already been started within the walls and has spread out of sight inside your home. Always get to safety as quickly as possible to avoid being caught by the fire.
Read for More Information:
- Fire Prevention Week: Tips to Prevent Home Fires
- Electrical Safety Tips
- How to Safely Use an Electrical Generator
