
| Serving Southern California |
| Prevention Tips |
Electrical Residential and Commercial fires claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, many are caused by electrical repairs by "inexperienced" persons. Mainly fires are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, overloaded circuits, overloaded extension cords, And by reducing the quality of workmanship in attempt to "save money" with a contractor in a Repair or Installation Project. During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 67,800 fires, 485 deaths, and $868 million in property losses. Home electrical wiring causes twice as many fires as electrical appliances. |

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| Preventing Electrical Fires |
| You can keep your home free of Dangerous Electrical Fires by following these Safety Tips: 1. Don't overload your electrical circuits. 2. If you have an older home 20+ Years , have the internal wiring checked to make sure it meets current building codes. 3. Turn off appliances when not in use. 4. If an appliance generates heat (like toasters, kettles, space heaters, irons, etc.) unplug it when not in use. 5. Use only appliances listed by Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). 6. Always use the proper fuses in your home. Don't use a higher amperage than recommended. Never use foreign objects like pennies or wires instead of a fuse. 7. Clean and service your heating systems and furnaces once a year. 8. While they can make the room you occupy warmer and more comfortable, space heaters need special handling: 8a. Don't leave portable space heaters unattended 8b. Don't place portable space heaters in doorways or stairways 8c. Keep portable space heaters well away from upholstery, drapes, and other combustible materials 8d. Don't add fuel to a gas-powered portable heater while it's on or hot. |

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