Danger! High Voltage – Identifying and Minimising the Risks of Electrical Fires

We all know the dangers of leaving an open flame unattended, or the risks of forgetting about a sizzling pan of oil, but there is a far less noticeable fire risk in our homes and workplaces – electrical goods.

According to a study which was recently released by Co-op Insurance, electrical faults now account for more than a quarter of all fire claims, following a number of incidents over the last year.

This may not be as surprising as it first appears. Stories of e-cigarettes and mobile phones igniting have been relatively commonplace, and as recently as August a faulty tumble dryer caused a fire which spread through five levels of a Shepherds Bush apartment block, taking 120 fire fighters nearly 2 hours to get under control.

Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to reduce the risk of an electrical fire:

  • Keep appliances clean and in good working order, including cleaning filters on dryers
  • Don’t use imitation electrical chargers
  • Make sure all appliances have the correct British or European safety mark
  • Items such as hair straighteners can get extremely hot, make sure you unplug them after use and keep them on a heatproof surface
  • Be careful not to overload sockets, especially when using adaptors or extensions
  • Keep an eye on charging electrical items. It’s relatively common for charging to generate some heat, but if the item is excessively hot to touch unplug it and contact the manufacturer or retailer where you purchased it
  • Don’t ignore blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers – they are often a sign that a device is malfunctioning and may be unsafe
  • Switch off electrical appliances which generate heat – such as dryers, irons and heaters – before you leave home or go to sleep

As well as following these tips, it’s important to carry out a couple of safety precautions. As mentioned in our previous blog post, always make sure your smoke alarms are working correctly, it takes a matter of seconds to test them and can alert you if a fire breaks out.

Also make sure you have the correct type of fire extinguisher, and that it’s easily accessible. CO2 extinguishers are ideal for electrical fires, although dry powder extinguishers can be used if necessary. Never use any form of ‘wet’ extinguisher such as water or foam on an electrical fire, it will make it even worse.

Most importantly, as soon as a fire begins, call the Fire Brigade. What begins as a small fire can quickly escalate, and the sooner you contact the emergency fire services the sooner they can attend.