Electrical fire at home: what to do and what comes after

If it is happening now

1. Get everyone out and call 911. Fires in wiring spread inside walls and ceilings where you cannot see them.
2. Do not use water. Water conducts electricity.
3. If the fire is small, contained and you have a clear way out, switch off the power at the main breaker if you can reach the panel safely, and use an extinguisher marked for Class C fires. Multipurpose ABC extinguishers are suitable.
4. If the fire is in an appliance, unplug it only if the plug and cord are not involved. Otherwise switch off the breaker.
5. If it is not out in seconds, leave and close the door behind you.
6. Call the fire department even if you put it out. They check inside walls for hidden fire.

Warning signs before a fire

Most electrical fires give notice. Take these seriously:

• A burning or fishy smell with no obvious source
• Outlets, switches or cover plates that are warm, discoloured or scorched
• Buzzing, crackling or sizzling from an outlet, switch or the panel
• Lights that flicker or dim when appliances start
• Breakers that trip or fuses that blow repeatedly
• Sparks when plugging in
• Shocks or tingles from appliances or switches
• Cords that are hot, frayed or cracked

If you notice a burning smell or a hot outlet, switch off that circuit at the panel and call a licensed electrical contractor. If you see smoke or cannot find the source, leave and call 911.

Common causes

• Old or damaged wiring, including aluminium branch wiring from the 1960s and 1970s and knob-and-tube wiring in older houses
• Overloaded circuits, power bars and extension cords used as permanent wiring
• Loose connections at outlets, switches and in the panel
• Faulty or recalled appliances, and worn cords
• Space heaters, particularly on extension cords
• Lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, scooters and tools, especially when charging with the wrong charger
• Light fixtures fitted with bulbs of too high a wattage
• Do-it-yourself wiring
• Rodent damage to cables

Once the fire is out

• Do not go back in until the fire department says it is safe.
• Do not switch the power back on. After a fire involving the electrical system, the utility may disconnect the service, and it will not be reconnected until the repairs have been inspected.
• Call your insurer or broker.
• Secure the property. Board up openings and cover roof damage.
• Photograph everything before cleanup.
• Leave the failed item where it is if you can. Insurers often send an investigator to establish the cause, particularly where an appliance or recent electrical work may be at fault.

Electrical inspection and repair in Ontario

In Ontario, electrical work must be done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and it requires a notification to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), which inspects it. After a fire that has damaged wiring:

• An electrical contractor assesses the damage, which often reaches further than the visible burn. Heat travels along cables and damages insulation inside walls.
• Damaged wiring, devices and, where necessary, the panel are replaced.
• ESA inspects the work.
• Where the utility has disconnected the service, it reconnects once ESA authorises it.

Smoke and soot are conductive and corrosive. Outlets, switches, panels and electronics in rooms the fire never reached may need cleaning or replacing if they were heavily exposed.

Hidden damage

• Inside walls and ceilings. Charring can extend along studs and joists from the point of origin. Finishes are opened until clean, undamaged framing is found.
• Insulation. It holds smoke odour and is replaced where it was exposed.
• Water. Firefighting soaks walls, floors and the level below. Drying starts straight away to prevent mold.
• Smoke. Burning plastic insulation produces a dense, smeary, strong-smelling soot that travels through the whole house.

Cleanup

Smoke from burning wire insulation and plastics leaves a black, greasy residue that smears when wiped. The usual sequence applies: dry removal with HEPA vacuums and dry sponges first, then wet cleaning, then sealing and repainting what stays stained. Contents, soft furnishings, ducts and electronics are dealt with as in any house fire.

Do not test smoke-exposed electronics by switching them on. Soot inside causes short circuits and corrosion. Have valuable items assessed by a specialist.

Older houses

A fire that opens up walls in an older house often exposes outdated wiring. Repairs must meet the current electrical code, and insurers differ on how much of an upgrade they pay for. Building code and by-law coverage, if your policy has it, is meant for this. Ask your adjuster early. Older houses may also contain asbestos in materials the repair will disturb, which should be tested first.

Prevention

• Have an older house’s wiring assessed by a licensed electrical contractor
• Use arc-fault and ground-fault protection where the code calls for it
• Do not run cords under rugs or use extension cords permanently
• Plug space heaters and major appliances directly into the wall
• Charge e-bike and scooter batteries with the correct charger, away from exits, and not overnight
• Replace damaged cords and recalled products
• Test smoke alarms monthly, and have one on every storey and outside sleeping areas

More: fire damage restoration.