Ripley-Huron fire chief reminds everyone of electrical fire safety

Recently the Ripley-Huron Fire Department responded to an emergency call at a residence in the Township of Huron-Kinloss. The resident was returning home and when he arrived and opened the door to his house, he saw smoke, heard the smoke alarm sounding and could smell something burning. The homeowner closed the door and immediately dialed 911.

During the response to the incident, the fire department was able to narrow the cause of the fire down to a burned out power bar (below).





Ripley-Huron fire chief Chris Cleave reminds everyone of the dangers of electrical extension cords.

“Flipping a light switch; plugging in a coffeemaker; charging a laptop computer - these are second nature for most of us," he says. "Electricity makes our lives easier. However, we need to be cautious and keep safety in mind.”

The fire department reminds everyone of the following electrical safety tips:
 

• Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
• When you are buying or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a qualified inspector in accordance with the Electrical Safety Code.
• Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• Major appliances (refrigerators, dryers, washers, stoves, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.) should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords.
• Use a light bulb with the right number of watts. There should be a sticker that indicates the right number of watts.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is for people to realize that extension cords and power strips or bars are only to be used as a temporary solution," says Cleave. "They are not intended to be permanent and if they are used in a permanent fashion, it is a violation under the Ontario Fire Code. The homeowner was extremely lucky in this circumstance as the damage to the home was very minimal; worst case scenario, he could have lost his entire house. It’s not worth the risk.”

For more information or if you wish to have a Fire Safety Survey completed within your home, please do not hesitate to contact your local fire department.

On behalf of the Ripley-Huron Fire Department, have a safe and happy holiday season.