Victorians warned after plug catches fire

Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is encouraging Victorians to ensure their electrical plugs are properly plugged in following a fire in a Roxburgh Park garage last week. The 16 February fire started at around midday where a plug was found to be only partially plugged into a power point after it was believed to be dislodged. Once the plug was dislodged, the partial connection created heat, which led to the plug catching fire. The incident highlights the importance of always checking that appliances are properly plugged into power points.

“This incident is an important reminder about how dangerous dislodged plugs can be and the damage they can cause,” said ESV Commissioner and Chairperson Marnie Williams. “Victorians need to be vigilant, regularly inspecting the condition of their cords and plugs and the power points they are connected to.”

ESV is also urging the community to regularly check that plugs and power cords are kept clear of furniture and are not left wedged in tight spaces that might lead to them being pulled out, frayed, bent or dislodged. “Cords and plugs can become damaged over time due to repetitive movement, especially when trapped or dislodged behind large equipment like fridges, freezers and ovens,” Williams said. If there is no adequate space around the power point, the equipment should be moved to a location that allows for more room, or instead, the plug should be replaced with one where the cord and plug enters from the side.

Victoria’s energy safety regulator also recommends that householders regularly test their safety switches. Safety switches are mandatory on both power and lighting circuits in new homes as well as on older properties where extensive renovations have been carried out. A safety switch monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit; if a problem is detected that causes a leakage to ground, it can turn off the power within 0.03 of a second. If homeowners do not have safety switches installed, they should consider engaging a licensed electrician to have them fitted.

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