Heres a quick overview to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting. These can often times be preventable fires hazards. We take a look at 3 Common Causes of Electrical House Fires and How to Prevent Them.
Electricity is a basic part of life in the U.S. It provides the energy for most powered items in a home, from lights to heating systems to televisions. Today it is hard to imagine a home without electricity. It is a part of our homes and our activities that most of us take for granted. Yet, using electricity can have dangerous consequences.
Electrical fires occur frequently throughout the U.S., causing injury, claiming lives, and resulting in large losses of property.1 From 2014 to 2016, an estimated 24,000 residential building electrical fires were reported by U.S. fire departments annually. These fires caused an estimated 310 deaths, 850 injuries and $871 million in property loss. Residential building electrical fires continued to be a part of the residential fire problem and accounted for 6 percent of all residential building fires. The term “electrical fires” is defined as those fires that include electrical distribution, wiring, transformers, meter boxes, power switching gear, outlets, cords, plugs, surge protectors, electric fences, lighting fixtures, and electrical arcing as the source of heat.
- From 2014 to 2016, an estimated 24,000 residential building electrical fires were
reported to United States fire departments each year. - These fires caused an estimated 310 deaths, 850 injuries and $871 million in property loss.
- Residential building electrical fires resulted in over twice the dollar loss per fire than residential building nonelectrical fires did.
- Residential building electrical fires occurred most often in one- and two-family dwellings (83 percent).
- Residential building electrical fires occurred most often in the winter month of January (12 percent).
- In only 17 percent of residential building electrical fires, the fire spread was limited to the object where the fire started.
- Residential building electrical fires most often started in bedrooms (15 percent) and attics or vacant crawl spaces (13 percent).
- The leading specific items most often first ignited in residential building electrical fires were electrical wire, cable insulation (31 percent) and structural member or framing
3 Common Causes of Electrical House Fires and How to Prevent Them
Electrical Cords
The electrical cords that power appliances and fixtures are often the cause of electrical fires. Never use an electrical appliance with a worn or frayed cord – it can cause sparks, which can lead to fires. Also, extension cords should only be used for short-term use. Never use an extension cord for everyday use; it is a fire hazard.
Space Heaters
Especially in January in Minnesota, there are times you want more heat. Portable heaters are wonderful for warming up a cold room, but you need to be careful when using these appliances. Regardless of the type, you should never leave a space heater on when you are not in the room. Be careful of placing it too close to combustible materials, like curtains, furniture, and clothing.
Outlets and Circuits
Many electrical fires start in areas you cannot see – behind walls and in attics. Older wiring is a main cause of fires, especially in homes over 20 years old. Be aware of issues with your wiring. Do you have breakers that constantly trip or fuse problems? Have you noticed burn marks or heat coming from electrical outlets? These can be signs of bad wiring and unsafe electrical outlets. You should have your wiring inspected and updated if needed. This could prevent a deadly electrical fire that could put your home and family at risk.
At Affordable Electric, we are your source for reliable electrical service for your home or business in Minnesota. We offer electrical updates for older homes, and we can add more outlets in your home, to eliminate the need for extension cords. Contact us to schedule an appointment for an electrical safety evaluation. Take steps to prevent electrical fires in your home.
The Residential Building Electrical Fire Problem
Although electrical fires declined by 22 percent from 2007 to 2016, electrical malfunction was one of the top four leading causes of residential fires during each of these ten years. It has also been a leading cause of residential fire deaths, injuries and dollar loss during this time frame. Electrical fires involve the flow of electric current or static electricity and are caused by electrical system failures, appliance defects, incorrectly installed wiring, misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, and overloaded circuits and extension cords. These electrical fires can be unique. For example, electrical fires that start in walls can smolder for some time and cause smoke not to be seen immediately and detection to be delayed. By the time smoke is seen and fire is detected, the flames may have already spread behind and within walls. As a result, electrical fires have the potential to spread farther and cause more damage and injuries. In addition, electrical fires can be particularly problematic to extinguish. Since they involve electricity, and water conducts electricity, using water to put out the fire can cause electrocution unless power is reliably disconnected.
Over the last 35 years, homes have been dramatically transformed by electrical devices. Today’s electrical demands can overburden the electrical system in a home, putting it at a higher risk of an electrical fire. This may be particularly true for homes more than 40 years old that have older wiring, electrical systems, and devices. There is also the likelihood that older homes may not comply with more modern electric code requirements, which puts them at an elevated risk of hazardous conditions that could lead to an electrical fire. Eventually, given enough time, any home can be at risk of an electrical fire as wire insulation ages, connections loosen, receptacles and switches come loose or wear out, and oil and dirt cause electrical components to overheat.
Types of Fires
Building fires are divided into two classes of severity in the NFIRS: “confined fires” and “non-confined fires.” Confined building fires are small fire incidents that are limited in extent to specific types of equipment or objects, staying within pots, fireplaces or certain other noncombustible containers. Confined fires rarely result in serious injury or large content loss and are expected to have no significant accompanying property loss due to flame damage. Non-confined fires extend beyond certain types of equipment or objects. They are generally larger fires resulting in more serious injury and larger losses of property and content.
For the purpose of the report, the terms “residential fires,” “electrical fires,” and “nonelectrical fires” are synonymous with “residential building fires,”