Electrical Appliances

Fires often occur due to short circuits when using electrical wiring with damaged insulation or due to overloading the electrical network when multiple household appliances are plugged into one outlet simultaneously. Heating of wires and their ignition in this case occurs if homemade inserts 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 May 25 at 10:25 the firefighters were informed by phone 101 that smoke was coming from the windows of an apartment located on the fifth floor in Vitebsk. It turned out that the incident occurred on Gagarin Street. The Ministry of Emergency Situations units promptly arrived at the scene. The first to arrive were the workers of the Fire Emergency Rescue Unit No. 1 of the Vitebsk City Department for Emergency Situations. After ascending to the fifth floor and using the rescue tool "Hooligan," the rescuers pried open the door and entered the apartment. Inside, there was very dense smoke. On the floor in the living room, they saw a woman who was unconscious. The Ministry of Emergency Situations workers carried her out into the fresh air and handed her over to the medics. It was later revealed that the apartment was inhabited by its owner born in 1984, who was at work at the time of the fire, and her grandmother, born in 1930, who was rescued by the Ministry of Emergency Situations workers. The fire was extinguished, property in the apartment was damaged by fire, and the walls and ceiling were sooted. An investigation is underway regarding this incident, and the cause of the fire is being determined. The version being considered is a violation of the rules for the operation of electrical networks and electrical equipment.

On July 15 at 2:32 the operational management center of the Voronovo District Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations received a report of a fire in a residential house in the village of Yedelevtsy. A local resident informed the rescuers that a house was burning on the neighbor's yard. Units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and interaction services were immediately dispatched to the specified address. The wooden structure was engulfed in flames. The Ministry of Emergency Situations fighters began extinguishing the fire and protecting nearby structures. It was found that at the time of the fire, the 81-year-old owner of the house was asleep; upon smelling smoke and hearing the crackling of slate, the woman woke up and left the room. Passing by the kitchen, the pensioner touched the metal door handle and realized it was hot; she opened the door into the burning room and was hit by heat - there was high temperature and dense smoke inside, the fire's focal point was behind the refrigerator. The frightened victim ran outside and asked neighbors to call the rescuers. Medics examined the pensioner and hospitalized her in the district hospital with thermal burns to her hands and face. Her condition is serious. The fire destroyed the roof, flooring, and property in the house, damaging the walls. The cause of the fire is being determined. The version being considered for the incident is a short circuit of the electrical wiring.

On the afternoon of March 4 the operational management center of the Novopolotsk City Department for Emergency Situations received a report of a fire in an apartment on Molodezhnaya Street in the city of Novopolotsk. Units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, there was heavy smoke coming from the window of the apartment on the first floor. During the fire extinguishing operation, the Ministry of Emergency Situations workers, as part of the smoke and gas protection service, rescued the owner born in 1945, who was in a distant room at the time of the fire. After being examined by emergency medical doctors, she refused hospitalization. According to the owner, in the morning she started the washing machine, after which she noticed smoke coming from the back wall of the device, which intensified. Her attempt to extinguish the fire herself failed, so the pensioner called her granddaughter to have her call the rescuers while she hid in the distant room. The fire was extinguished by the rescuers. The fire damaged the washing machine in the kitchen, and the walls and ceiling were sooted. An investigation is underway regarding this incident, and the cause of the fire is being determined. The version being considered is a short circuit of the washing machine.

For the safe use of electrical equipment, it is recommended to study the operating instructions, use network filters to prevent the ignition of electrical appliances due to voltage spikes and fluctuations in the network, regularly remove dust from the back wall of the refrigerator, and always turn off electrical appliances when leaving home.
It is not uncommon for a burning wiring smell to appear in a room. What should you do? First, it is necessary to de-energize the house or apartment. The solution to the issue 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 disconnect 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 appropriately, check 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 places where electrical appliances are connected, and extension cords. For example, an automatic switch or outlet may catch fire. If this happens, it is essential to take repair actions. Of course, calling an electrician is the most correct decision. However, it is still worth checking everything independently beforehand. As there is a high probability that the source of the smoke is household appliances, and to eliminate the problem, it is only necessary to turn them off.

In case of fire danger, call the Ministry of Emergency Situations at: 101 or 112. If nothing dangerous or frightening has happened, it is advisable to call the housing maintenance service and invite a specialist.

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

-before using an electrical appliance, carefully read the operating instructions;
-repair electrical appliances in a timely manner (trust repairs only to professionals);
-to prevent the ignition of electrical appliances due to voltage spikes and fluctuations in the network, use network filters;
-place electric heating appliances, including irons, electric stoves, and electric kettles on non-combustible surfaces. If the cord or plug of the appliance heats up during operation, immediately turn it off and disconnect it from the power supply;
-regularly remove dust from the back wall of the refrigerator;
-do not block the ventilation openings in the television case and do not place the television near heating appliances, curtains, or drapes that can easily catch fire;
-do not leave the television on unattended and when leaving home, disconnect the television from the power supply, as even in standby mode, its main components are under voltage.

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

We remind you that the service life and maintenance of electrical appliances, including refrigerators, are specified by the manufacturer in the attached operating instructions. Operating electrical appliances beyond their service life increases the likelihood of fire in residential buildings and apartments.

Remember! The slightest carelessness and negligence in fire safety matters can lead to great trouble!