A recent survey from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service revealed some shocking results about electrical fire safety. In fact, on average four house fires a week in the county were the direct result of faulty electrical wiring.
In the 12 months between December 2012 and December 2013 there were 210 Essex homes affected by an electrical fire. Six people were hospitalised by injuries caused in these fires.
Faulty electrical wiring
The majority of these fires started in the kitchen were caused by faulty wiring.
More than a quarter of these fires occurred in homes with no working smoke alarms.
“Electrical fires are a major cause of fires in the home in Essex” commented divisional Officer Neil Fenwick said. “But many of these fires are preventable as long as people take the time to ensure that their electrical appliances are safe and that they never overload plug sockets”.
‘Tenants also need to be encouraged not to alter the installation, and to raise any safety issues with their landlord immediately, so they can be addressed as promptly as possible.’
Too often it is the simple things that people could check for themselves that can lead to a serious accident. So we are urging everyone to make basic visual checks around the home to ensure your electrical safety.
If you have concerns about the quality of the electrical wiring in your home, office or factory, Eaton Electrical can arrange an inspection to ensure that your wiring is safe and up to date.
Call us on 01509 414 222 or email office@eatononline.co.uk.
