What the U.S. Fire Administration & FEMA Tell Us About Electrical Fires

Electrical systems are complex things. Each element of the system is integrated with complex circuitry, wiring, and potentially deadly high-voltage electrical currents. Because of this, each county and city has strict, specific laws and codes governing electrical systems inside and outside of properties.

When an electrical system isn’t constructed properly, malfunctions happen and can cause electrical fires. These fires can be difficult to extinguish and sometimes sneak up on property owners by starting inside walls and under flooring.

Improvements in Fire Safety – Numbers Don’t Lie!

Fortunately, people are getting better at protecting themselves against and preventing fires in their residences. Every few years, the U.S. Fire Administration provides a variety of useful statistics about fires in America. These statistics tell us a lot about trends in fires between 2002 and 2011. Both fires themselves and deaths occurring from fires are down 20%. Injuries occurring during fires also decreased by about 5%. While this is great news, fires are still occurring and electrical fire prevention is more important than ever.

The Risk Is Still There

In 2012, electrical fires accounted for 5.4% of all residential fires and 6.9% of all non-residential fires across the nation, which is about one out of every 20 fires—not something to scoff at. A significant number of fires were also caused by appliances and heating systems, which often incorporate complex electrical systems as well. So, it’s still important to have your electrical systems regularly checked and updated, regardless of how advanced switches, circuit breakers, detectors, and sensors have become.

These issues hit close to home, too. Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery County, PA residents suffer from electrical problems every year, whether it’s an electrical fire or just a faulty system that doesn’t work when they need it. Look at this recent story by Philadelphia Magazine where an electrical fire caused a popular high-end menswear showroom to be evacuated and closed “until further notice.”

Now these business owners have to go through the troublesome task of relocating their merchandise, treating it for possible smoke damage, and operating their store out of a temporary or entirely new location. Whether they are at fault or not, it’s clear that having quality, fully functioning electrical systems is a must for businesses in Philadelphia.

Smoke Alarms & Your Property

You might know that you should check your smoke alarms every month to make sure nothing’s gone awry. What you might not know is that you should also install a smoke alarm close to the core of your property’s electrical system. If you need help identifying areas at risk on your property, call us at A-1 Electric and we’ll help. If anything goes wrong with your electrical system and smoke starts to appear, you want to know about it as soon as possible—you don’t want to wait for the smoke to waft and rise up through your property to discover the fire.

Your Power Might Not Go Off When an Electrical Fire Starts

Sometimes the problem is with wiring or incoming electrical currents. Sometimes the flow of electricity still continues and will make the problem worse. This is especially true for older appliances with weak or frayed electrical lines. Electricity will continue to flow through the system, causing further damage. Over time, outlets, transistors, and transformers have been developed to produce less heat and stop the flow of electricity in the event of a fault. If you are holding on to old appliances, they are probably presenting an electrical fire hazard to your property and should be upgraded.

Space Heaters 101

Space heaters, portable or wall-mounted, also present a significant risk—and it’s not because of the electricity! Because they are so convenient, people often carelessly plug them in near materials that are at risk of burning with prolonged heat exposure. Any time you plug something in, you have to think about the risks.

Our goal is to educate you first and foremost, and then help you with your services, whether you need an electrical contractor or a third-party agency in Montgomery County, Bucks County, or Philadelphia, PA. A-1 Electric can help you. Call us today at (267) 651-0684">(267) 651-0684 for a consultation or to schedule a visit to check out your system. We also help with reintroduction of service throughout Montgomery County, Bucks County, Philadelphia, and all the surrounding areas.

To see the U.S. Fire Administration’s Fire Statistics: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/