Just today had a little fire in a extension strip plug. (Someone happened to be standing a couple feet away when this happened and prevented any serious damage.)
It was one I used when I bring home new fish, like an extension cord for my air pump and little heater, which goes into a bucket over night and whoever lives, gets to go to QT tank.
It was plugged in but not being used at the time of the incident. But since it was plugged in, it was live. And water and electricity are dangerous when combined.
But in general it was a little fire because the strip got accidentally pushed out the back of the cabinet and in line with a over flowing drip, drip, dripping HOB filter case. This happened because the filter pad was blocking the flow.
* In general look for accidents waiting to happen.
* Plugs are securely plugged in all the way, not loose or showing metal prongs.
* Including considering mounting the strips at the side away from possible dripping / spilling. Accidental movement of the plug strip.
* Also the number of plugs plugged into the wall.
* Check if your power strip is like extension cord strips without a fuse link inside to help stop a fire risk or a more expensive one with the feature to shut off if there is a safety issue.
* And to check about installing a GFI on the circuit whenever water is involved.
* Keep a decent sized Fire Extinguisher nearby
* Know where your breaker box is and how to shut off power and it also helps if the label for what the breakers go to is posted and accurate.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Public service announcement.
Anyone please add anything else you might know which could help keep us all safer.
It was one I used when I bring home new fish, like an extension cord for my air pump and little heater, which goes into a bucket over night and whoever lives, gets to go to QT tank.
It was plugged in but not being used at the time of the incident. But since it was plugged in, it was live. And water and electricity are dangerous when combined.
But in general it was a little fire because the strip got accidentally pushed out the back of the cabinet and in line with a over flowing drip, drip, dripping HOB filter case. This happened because the filter pad was blocking the flow.
* In general look for accidents waiting to happen.
* Plugs are securely plugged in all the way, not loose or showing metal prongs.
* Including considering mounting the strips at the side away from possible dripping / spilling. Accidental movement of the plug strip.
* Also the number of plugs plugged into the wall.
* Check if your power strip is like extension cord strips without a fuse link inside to help stop a fire risk or a more expensive one with the feature to shut off if there is a safety issue.
* And to check about installing a GFI on the circuit whenever water is involved.
* Keep a decent sized Fire Extinguisher nearby
* Know where your breaker box is and how to shut off power and it also helps if the label for what the breakers go to is posted and accurate.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Public service announcement.
Anyone please add anything else you might know which could help keep us all safer.
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