UNDATED, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The month of May marks National Electrical Safety Month, and safety officials are working to remind citizens about some basic tips for harm prevention.
Michael McLeeir is a firefighter and the President of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc., who says 57 Michigan citizens have died in 46 fires since the beginning of 2020.
“That’s a 46 percent increase over the same period in 2019,” McLeeir said. “There’s approximately 45,000 home electrical fires, and we just want to raise the awareness as we’re plugging things in, we’re home more, and maybe we don’t have enough outlets.”
To begin with, McLeeir says routine maintenance checks are a good way to prevent home electrical fires.
“Make sure we have an electrician who’s licensed, examine your electric system every ten years, inspect all electrical cords, replace cords that are cracked or damaged,” McLeeir said. “And most importantly, as a firefighter I’ve seen this time and again, never ever run cords under rugs or pinch them behind furniture, because that can create a short in the electrical cord, and over time, that can pose a risk for a fire.”
When it comes to charging electronic devices, McLeeir says to be mindful about where these devices are left.
“Avoid charging devices such as phone and iPads on sofas or beds,” McLeeir said. “We’ve seen that those devices generate a great amount of heat, and they can heat up the bedding material or the furniture and cause a fire, especially if they’re left unattended. A better choice would be to leave it on a solid surface such as a desk or counter top.”
McLeeir is also providing some tips in regards to home appliance electrical safety.
“Make sure we always plug major appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, washers and dryers directly into the wall outlet, avoid using an extension cord,” McLeeir said. “We avoid overloading that extension cord and possibly causing a fire.”
Furthermore, citizens are advised to be on the lookout for signs of possible risks inside the home.
“If we hear noises, if we’re constantly seeing breakers trip, that’s a good time to get a hold of a licensed electrician,” McLeeir said. “If we’re smelling odors of burnt electrical wiring or things like that, again, those are times to really take heed and either call that local electrician, or if its an immediate need, contact the local fire department. Making sure that, if we are using older appliances, making sure that those are electrically sound and making sure those don’t pose a risk, and making sure we’re never placing those appliances close to water or electricity.”
In the event of a fire, McLeeir says that all homes should make sure to have working smoke detectors and a fire escape plan ready.
“Have that well-practiced escape plan, we should be practicing those plans knowing two ways out, a door or a window, out of any room, and make sure we do that with everyone in our home at least twice a year,” McLeeir said. “If we have anyone who has mobility issues and can’t leave quickly, that’s where this plan will help inform everyone in the family so that they can alert the fire department.”
Further information about fire safety and electrical fires can be found online at http://escapeinc.org/blog/.
