I have come upon an old news article about a home that caught fire from using substandard Christmas lights. Unfortunately, there was one death and thousands worth of property loss. Contemplating on the news article, I remarked how foolish people can be when using substandard appliances. Most people don’t know that electrical fires can happen anytime from using substandard electronics. Worst, many people don’t know how to respond to the disaster.

1. Putting Out an Electrical Fire
I have come upon an old news article about a home that caught fire from using
substandard Christmas lights. Unfortunately, there was one death and thousands
worth of property loss. Contemplating on the news article, I remarked how foolish
people can be when using substandard appliances. Most people don’t know that
electrical fires can happen anytime from using substandard electronics. Worst, many
people don’t know how to respond to the disaster.
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2. Most of us do not know that there are different kinds of fire. They can’t all be put out
by the same way. You cannot just use the fire extinguisher to douse any fire. You
cannot even use water to douse the electrical flames. Electrical fire is dangerous and
they should be handled in a precise way to put out the flames quickly and safely.
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3. How can you put out electrical fire? Below are some tips to help you out for safety:
Phone the firemen immediately. Even if the fire is small and if you think you can douse
it easily, it is better to leave that to the firemen. Make sure you tell them it is an
electrical fire so they can come prepared.
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4. Shut off the main power supply or the circuit breaker if you can. Make sure your hands
are not wet and that the fire is not close to your electrical system before you attempt
on this step.
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5. Do not douse the flames with water as it can only make the fire spread out. Use a
multi-purpose ABC extinguisher or a class-C extinguisher to douse the flames. Check if
the extinguisher is clearly marked for use against electrical fire. If it is not marked and
you are not sure what kind it is, then do not use it.
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6. Do you have any sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) at home? If you don’t have an
extinguisher at home and if the fire is small, douse it with enough amount of sodium
bicarbonate to put the fire off.
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7. Get your family and pets out of the house if you cannot fight the flames yourself or if
it’s getting large or spreading. Leave the burning premise before you and your family
can’t get out. Do not attempt to save your belongings. Wait outside for help to arrive
and seek assistance from concerned neighbours.
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8. Even if you do not experience such electrical hazard at the moment, it is best to be
vigilant and watch out early for signs of possible disaster. Do not overload electrical
outlets and extension cords. Replace broken power outlets, frayed cords, loose plugs,
broken receptacles, faulty wirings, etc. Have an electrician come over to your place for
regular maintenance. In case of electrical hazard, do not panic. Act wisely and
accordingly. Do not let your fear get hold of you
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