Electrical appliances

Fires often occur due to short circuits when using electrical wiring with damaged insulation or from overloading the electrical network when several household appliances are plugged into one outlet simultaneously. The heating of wires and their ignition in this case occurs if homemade inserts ("bugs") are used instead of standard fuses, which do not protect the electrical network. Sometimes fires also occur due to improper use of household electrical appliances.

On October 11 at 00:53, rescuers received a report of a residential building fire in the village of Plino, Ushachy district. Upon arrival at the scene, open burning of the house was observed, and the roof had collapsed. The owner of the dwelling, born in 1944, a disabled person of the 2nd group with hearing impairment, lived alone. At the time of the fire, he was in the house. During the firefighting operation, EMERCOM employees found the pensioner's body. Rescuers extinguished the fire; the roof was destroyed by fire, the ceiling, property, and walls were damaged. An investigation is underway into this incident, and the cause of the fire is being established. The version being considered is a violation of the rules for operating electrical networks and equipment.

On July 15 at 2:32, the operational control center of the Voronovo District Department of EMERCOM received a report of a fire in a residential building in the village of Edelevtsy. A local resident told rescuers that a house was burning in a neighboring yard. EMERCOM units and interagency services immediately headed to the specified address. The wooden structure was engulfed in flames. EMERCOM firefighters began extinguishing the fire and protecting nearby structures. It turned out that at the time of the fire, the 81-year-old homeowner was sleeping. Feeling the smell of smoke and hearing the crackling of slate, the woman woke up and left the room. Passing by the kitchen, the pensioner grabbed the metal door handle and realized it was hot. The woman opened the door into the burning room and was hit by heat – there was a high temperature and dense smoke inside, and the source of the fire was behind the refrigerator. The frightened fire victim ran out into the street and asked neighbors to call rescuers. Medics examined the pensioner and hospitalized her in the district hospital with thermal burns to her hand and face. Her condition is serious. The fire destroyed the roof, ceiling, and property in the house, and damaged the walls. The cause of the fire is being established. The version being considered is a short circuit in the electrical wiring.

On the afternoon of March 4, the operational control center of the Novopolotsk City Department for Emergency Situations received a report of an apartment fire on Molodezhnaya Street in Novopolotsk. EMERCOM units were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, heavy smoke was observed coming from the window of the apartment on the first floor. During the firefighting operation, EMERCOM employees, as part of gas and smoke protection units, rescued the owner, born in 1945, who was in the far room at the time of the fire. After examination by ambulance doctors, she refused hospitalization. According to the owner, in the morning she started the washing machine, after which she noticed smoke coming from behind the device's back panel, which intensified. An attempt to extinguish the fire herself failed, so the pensioner called her granddaughter to call rescuers, and she herself hid in the far room. Rescuers extinguished the fire. The washing machine in the kitchen was damaged by fire, and the walls and ceiling were blackened. An investigation is underway into this incident, and the cause of the fire is being established. The version being considered is a short circuit in the washing machine.

For safe use of electrical equipment, it is recommended to study the operating instructions, use surge protectors to prevent electrical appliances from igniting due to voltage fluctuations and surges in the network, regularly remove dust from the back of the refrigerator, and always unplug electrical appliances when leaving home.

It is not uncommon for the smell of burning wiring to appear in a room. What to do? First, it is necessary to de-energize the house or apartment. The solution is to turn off the circuit breaker. If there is old wiring and meters, unscrew the fuses. The next step is to check all electrical appliances in the house and unplug them from the outlets.

Often, household appliances are the cause of ignition. That is why it is necessary to inspect microwave ovens, refrigerators, televisions, etc. Also, if the smell is localized, it is worth checking the wiring near the ceiling light fixture.

If it is impossible to determine the source of ignition by smell, visually inspect the rooms, their walls, the connection points of electrical appliances, and extension cords. For example, a circuit breaker or an outlet may catch fire. If this happens, it is simply necessary to take action to repair it. Of course, calling an electrician is the most correct solution. But it is still worth checking everything yourself beforehand. Because, with high probability, the source of smoke is household appliances, and to eliminate the problem, it is only necessary to turn them off.

If there is a risk of ignition, call EMERCOM at: 101 or 112. If nothing dangerous or terrible has happened, it would be correct to call the housing and communal services and invite a specialist.

To protect yourself and your family from fire in your home or apartment, remember and observe fire safety rules when operating electrical household appliances:

- Before using an electrical appliance, carefully read its operating instructions;

- Timely repair electrical appliances (entrust repairs only to professionals);

- To prevent electrical appliances from igniting due to voltage fluctuations and surges in the network, use surge protectors;

- Place electric heating appliances, including irons, electric stoves, and electric kettles, on a non-combustible surface. If the appliance's cord or plug heats up during operation, immediately turn it off and disconnect it from the power grid;

- Regularly remove dust from the back of the refrigerator;

- Do not cover the ventilation openings in the TV casing and do not place the TV near heating appliances, curtains, or drapes that can easily catch fire;

- Do not leave the TV on unattended, and when leaving home, disconnect the TV from the power grid, as even in "standby" mode, its main components are under voltage.

When leaving home, do not forget to completely turn off electrical appliances, including the TV, computer, and mobile phone chargers.

We remind you that the service life and technical maintenance of an electrical appliance, including a refrigerator, are specified by the manufacturer in the attached operating instructions for the appliance. Operating electrical appliances beyond their service life increases the likelihood of a fire in a residential building and apartment.