Most people spend a lot of time indoors and some electronic gadget or appliance runs at all times. That means there may be a risk of an electrical emergency like an electrical fire. In this article, we will see how to put out an electrical fire if you ever find yourself in an unfortunate situation of an electric fire.

5 Tips on How To Put Out An Electrical Fire

  1. Disconnect the Electricity Supply

    Disconnect the Electricity

    Start at the source of the fire. Disconnect the electricity to the source such as an electrical appliance by unplugging it. This will significantly reduce the risk of a massive electrical fire by limiting the spread of the flames.

    But, what if you cannot unplug the source? In that case, disconnect the electricity in your home. If there is a safe path to the electrical panel, go ahead and turn off the house’s power.

    This is important because once you turn off the electricity, you won’t be at risk of electrocution.

  2. Use Baking Soda

    Use Baking Soda

    If any of your appliances or an overloaded cord starts a fire, use baking soda to put it off. Unplug the power source when the fire begins and toss some baking soda over the flames.

    It helps in extinguishing the fire because baking soda contains a chemical compound sodium bicarbonate. This element is also present in Class C fire extinguishers.

    Open a box of baking soda and keep it accessible. If an appliance like a toaster burst into flames, baking soda might just save you.

  3. Never Use Water

    Throw Water

    A common impulse when the fire starts is to throw water on it. It can be safe when the source of fire is not electrical.

    However, if it is electrical, turn off the power first. If you toss water when the power source is on, you may get electrocuted because water is a good conductor of electricity.

  4. Cut the Oxygen Source

    Blanket on fire

    Oxygen whets fire, so one of the things you can do to stop an electrical fire is cut the source of oxygen.

    You can do this by putting a heavy piece of clothing like a blanket. You can do this only if the fire is small. If the fire looks bad and the situation is unsafe, do not attempt to go near the fire to put it off.

  5. Keep a Fire Extinguisher at Home

    Fire Extinguisher

    Keep a fire extinguisher that is appropriate for an electrical fire at home. Since electrical fires are class C fires, you need a fire extinguisher that is specifically made for that.

    Residential fire extinguishers come labelled A, B, C, so make sure you check the type of the fire extinguisher before using it on an electrical fire. It should be Type C.

    6. What To Do if it’s a Big Fire

    • Unless the fire is really small and controllable, do not try to put out the electrical fire by yourself. When an electrical fire breaks out, get out of the house immediately. Make sure all your family members get outdoors. This will prevent loss of life or injury.
    • Before exiting the house, make sure you close the door. This helps in containing the fire within the house rather than spreading outside as well.
    • Once you and your family are at a safe distance, call 911 for help.
    • Do not try to re-enter the house until the fire is completely extinguished by the firefighters.

In Conclusion 

Aim to prevent electrical fires before they start by taking the necessary precautions. This could be bringing in a professional to inspect the house for potential electrical fire hazards. Install an AFCI for protection against electrical fires. Contact D&F Liquidators at 800-458-9600. We have a large inventory of reliable electrical supplies, circuit breakers, and safety switches from top brands at competitive rates.