Electrical wiring sometimes malfunctions. If you and your loved ones ever experience an electrical fire, you should remember these five smart tips for staying safe during an electrical fire.
Don’t Use Water To Put Out an Electrical Fire
When you catch sight of a fire, your first instinct might be to extinguish the fire with water. Never toss water on an electrical fire. You might have heard before about the dangers of placing electrical cords near water; this is a hazard because water conducts electricity, and it raises your risk of being electrocuted.
Shut Off the Electricity
Turning off the electricity whenever an electrical fire breaks out is another smart tip for staying safe during an electrical fire. When doing this, you’re cutting off the power source fueling the electrical fire. This puts you in a safer position to control the environment and limit the spread of the fire.
Pour Baking Soda Over the Flames
For small electrical fires, household baking soda is a helpful alternative to extinguish the flames. Keep your body as far away from the flames as possible to protect yourself. You might even consider putting on a flame-resistant shirt to fully protect your skin from the fire. Remember that this trick only works on small fires, so do not try this with large fires.
Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy
Stay away from water and baking soda for intense electrical fires, and grab a fire extinguisher to douse the flames. A class C fire extinguisher is the safest way to put out an electrical fire. This is an essential resource to keep in your home in case of an emergency to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Call 911
Remember that you should always call 911 to have firefighters resolve the issue and take a closer look at the cause of the fire. They will teach you about how to prevent electrical fires in the future and safe practices to implement in your home.
Electrical fires are a consequence of old, faulty wiring and various electrical malfunctions. Remember these safety tips to implement during an electrical fire to keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way.