With regards to home structure fires,
- From 2011-2015, Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in the ignition of 34,000 reported home structure fire, on average, per year.
- These fires involved equipment such as wiring, lighting, cords and plugs.
- Electrical distribution or lighting equipment ranked first in direct property damage and third among the major fire causes in the number of home fires.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) work together to raise awareness of potential home electrical hazards as well as the importance of electrical fire safety.
To help reduce your risk, NFPA and ESFI recommend that you have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician, including electrical inspections, when buying or remodeling a home. The following are additional tips residents can follow to help keep their homes safe from electrical fires:
- Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets where they are can get damaged.
- Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets in your home to reduce the use of extension cords.
- Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture. Check the sticker on the lamp to determine the maximum wattage light bulb to use.
Click here for an Electrical Safety Checklist from the NFPA.