Electric lights at home

According to the National Fire Service of Ghana (GNFS), there are 3,282 fires per year, up from 3,102 in 2017; the Greater Accra region being the most populated with 640 fires, against 542. Although industrial fires seem to be the lead, domestic fires have also increased; representing 6.3%, most of them being residential. In most cases, 11% of fires result in death and 7% of fires result in injury.

Often, electric fires begin in the bedroom, but the greatest number of deaths occur in fires located in the kitchen up to the living room. Some electrical fires occur due to home wiring problems or household appliances, but many are the result of mistakes made by homeowners, such as an overload of electrical outlets or extension cords. It is important to teach the common causes of electrical fires. Here are the 5 most common causes of electrical fires.

1. Defective sockets / appliances: Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, obsolete appliances. Other fires are caused by defects in cords, plugs and switches. Never use any appliance with a worn or frayed cord that may emit heat on combustible surfaces such as floors, drapes and rugs that could start a fire. Ropes under carpets are another cause of electric fires. Removing the grounding plug from a cord so you can use it in a two-prong outlet can also cause a fire. The reason why appliances have this extra branch is that they can only be used in outlets capable of handling the extra amount of electricity that these appliances consume.

2. Lighting: Fixtures, lamps and bulbs are another common reason for electrical fires. The installation of a light bulb of too high power for lamps and fixtures is one of the main causes of electric fires. Always check the maximum recommended power of the bulb on any fixture or lamp and never exceed the recommended amount. Another cause of fire is to place materials such as fabric or paper on a shade. The material heats up and ignites, causing a fire. Defective lights and fixtures often cause fires.

3. extensions: Misuse of extension cords is another cause of electrical fire. The devices must be plugged directly into the socket and not plugged into an extension cord for an extended period of time. Use only extension cords temporarily. If you do not have the correct outlet type for your appliances, call an electrician to install new ones.

4. heaters: Since these types of heaters are portable, people often place them too close to combustible surfaces such as curtains, beds, clothes, chairs, sofas and carpets. Coil fan heaters are especially dangerous in this regard as they become so hot that they will almost instantly ignite any flammable surfaces nearby. If you use heaters, use a type of heatsink that spreads heat over the entire surface of the unit. These are less likely to ignite flammable objects, but must nevertheless be kept away from these objects.

5. Wiring: Expired wiring often causes electrical fires. If a home is more than 20 years old, it may not have the wiring capacity to support the growing number of appliances in the average home, such as computers, widescreen TVs, video and game players, microwaves and air conditioners. Circuit breakers must be tripped when circuits are overloaded with electricity, but obsolete connectors often have worn connectors that do not work, resulting in system overload and electrical fire.

NB: It is always advisable to keep at home basic fire prevention and firefighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers, to extinguish the initial fire before it degenerates.

About the author
Right Consult FireDiary articles are intended to inform the general public (public other than firefighters) about the firefighting profession. This article was written by Elizabeth Owusu-Kissi, Head of Brands & Communication – RCGSL; with reference to FireRescue1.

Right Consult and General Suppliers Limited (RCGSL) is a Ghanaian registered company with worldwide partnerships aimed at improving the supply, installation and maintenance of fire systems, electronic security and home automation.

Founded in 2010, the company enjoys a hard-earned reputation for providing excellent services in electronic quality systems and fire management. RCGSL has expanded its operations and is now established in Sierra Leone as RIGHT CONSULT & GENERAL SUPPLIERS (SL) LTD providing similar services (electronic security and fire management) in Sierra Leone and neighboring countries. With a robust maintenance culture, RCGSL is making remarkable progress to become one of the leading providers of electronic security and fire management solutions in West Africa. RCGSL is the exclusive distributor of UR FOG in Ghana and Africa.