Electricity is one of the leading causes of accidental fires in homes. That’s why this February; Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is encouraging residents to prioritise electrical fire safety.
Electrical Fire Safety Week runs from 2 to 8 February and is an excellent opportunity to make sure you avoid a shock from an electrical fire in your home.
Nicola Smith, Prevention Manager, at RBFRS says: “Electrical fires can happen suddenly and devastate homes. However, there are often telltale signs that can warn you of an impending fire.
“Look out for scorched plugs, sparks, discoloration on walls or melting paint. It’s not just visual warnings you need to be mindful of. Popping or buzzing sounds could indicate dangerous wiring in your home.
“When using or charging an electrical product, do not leave them unattended and remember to unplug them from the socket when they’re not in use.
“If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, avoid charging them indoors, especially in hallways or places where your escape routes could be blocked.
“As always, we encourage everyone to make sure they have at least one smoke alarm installed on every level of their home and to test them regularly.”
Follow our top tips to help you reduce the risk of electrical fires in your home.
Electrical Products:
- Check that your products have not been recalled. It’s easy to do this on the Government website.
- Register your electrical appliances to be the first to know of any safety alerts, repairs or recalls. You can do this at registermyappliance.org.uk.
- Always buy your electrical products from reputable sellers.
- Make sure your washing machines and tumble dryers are in good, working order by regularly cleaning the lint and fluff from your dryer filter, and never covering up the vents.
- Never leave appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers running unattended or overnight.
Plugs, Sockets and Cables:
- Look out for loose wiring or signs of dangerous wear and tear, e.g. scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, flickering lights, fuses that blow or circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reason. Do not use a product or socket if there are any of these signs.
- Do not overload sockets (keep to one plug per socket) and never ‘daisy chain’ extension cables.
- Always unplug electrical products when you are not using them, before you go to sleep, or leaving them unattended.
Batteries and Charging:
- Always use a charger supplied with the device or recommended by the manufacturer – using any charger other than the one intended for the battery can increase the risk of damage.
- Avoid placing phones or other electric devices under pillows or blankets whilst charging.
- Avoid overcharging your batteries.
- Always unplug chargers when you have finished using them.
- Don’t dispose of damaged or end of life batteries in your household waste or normal recycling. Ensure that you dispose of them properly at designated battery disposal banks. Find your nearest battery recycle point on the Recycle Your Electricals website.
E-Bikes and E-Scooters:
- E-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries should be stored in a cool place, avoiding excessively hot or cold areas.
- If possible, avoid charging e-bikes and e-scooters indoors.
- Avoid storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters in hallways and communal areas as this can affect people’s ability to escape.
- Avoid charging near combustible or flammable materials.
- Always use the manufacturer approved charger for the product and carefully follow the instructions.
- Charge batteries whilst you are awake and alert and do not charge them if you are away from home.
- Do not overcharge your battery. Check the instructions for charge times.
- Unplug the charger when you have finished using it.
- Check your battery regularly for any signs of damage.
- Do not cover chargers or battery packs when charging as this could lead to overheating or a fire.
Read more electrical fire safety advice on our website.