Menu

Sponsored: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service campaigning to highlight dangers of electrical items

Posted on - 25th February, 2021 - 12:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Sponsored Features
Electrical fire Pic: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
LFRS are campaigning over the winter months to highlights the dangers of electrical appliances Pic: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

From smartphones to toasters, microwaves to televisions, almost every aspect of modern life involves electricity. We love our electrical gadgets and gizmos, using them for everything from lighting our homes to communicating with our loved ones.

Advertisement

Such prevalence in our lives though does mean it’s easy to get complacent and although electricity has made many aspects of our lives easier, it’s important to remember to remain vigilant to the fire risks electrical items pose.

Advertisements
Preston Weekender advert

Between January and February 2020, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) attended 55 accidental house fires caused by electricals, 11 of which did not have a working fire alarm in their home.

This is why LFRS are campaigning over the winter months to highlight the dangers of electrical appliances, covering a range of hazards including faulty appliances, improper use and electric heaters to name a few.

Area Manager Mark Hutton, the Prevention and Protection lead for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service explains more: “Electrical fires can start in any house which is why it’s so important to have working smoke alarms and an escape plan. There are some really simple habits for all the family to get into that reduce the chance of fire.

Advertisements

“At this time of year portable heaters are used extensively, ensure they are kept away from items that can burn and that the vents are not covered up – keep a close eye on pets and children knocking something over near to a heater.

“In modern life, devices are being re-charged daily – always use a compatible charger and make sure the device is on a hard surface charged during the day so you are aware if a fire starts.”

TIP Do you know where your children charge their mobile phones? Some will tuck it under their pillow which is great for hearing the ding of a social media post, but not so great for letting heat escape from the charging battery, something that has led to some serious fires.

Here are some of our top safety tips to follow:

  • Make sure you have a working smoke alarm installed on each level of your home.
  • Test your alarms regularly.
  • Have an escape route planned out and make sure everyone in your household know it.
  • Keep your electrical appliances clean and well maintained.
  • Keep appliances switched off when not in use.
  • Always charge devices with the original charger and on a hard, flat surface.

And here are some things to avoid:

Advertisements
barton manor gym
  • Never overload your electrical plugs.
  • Never use appliances which smell of burning plastic, or emit sparks when plugged in.
  • Never use appliances with scorch marks on the plug or socket, or on the appliance itself.
  • Do not use appliances which trigger the circuit-breaker for no obvious reason.

The online ‘Socket Overload Calculator’ is available on our website. The calculator is a virtual tool that allows people to ‘plug in’ typical household appliances and check the impact of the load on a standard extension lead.

For more information on fire safety in the home, please visit our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/electrical- safety.



Share
Advertisements
caritas fostering advert
Preston in pictures 24.03.24 - Penwortham [Church of St Mary] 240323JPGDSC_7658 - Bus stationDSC_7676 - Miller ArcadeDSC_7681 - former Post Office, cenotaph and Town HallDSC_7682 - Central Methodist church, Lune StreetDSC_7668 - Fish (aka Box) MarketDSC_7672 - Miller ArcadeDSC_7674 - Miller Arcade View more Advertisement Subscribe to the newsletter

Sign up below to receive Blog Preston's email newsletter. It wings its way into inboxes every Sunday and Wednesday rounding up our top stories and more.

Advertisement News by location

Find news by location, select an area of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on.

The Preston Guide

Discover local businesses and services near you.

    Advertisements
Advertisement Categories

Find news by category, select an category of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on.

Blog Preston email updates

Receive our digest of the biggest and best stories every Sunday to your email inbox

We respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time from our emails