by Because of the flames combined with the potential for electric shock, electrical fires pose an extra danger. Protecting lives and assets requires that you know the best way to douse such fires. The steps you can take to minimise the risk and put out the fire are discussed in this article. If you want to learn more about What to do with electrical fire NZ?, please visit this page.
1. Assess the Situation
It is important to assess the safety of extinguishing an electric fire before you attempt to do so. Please consider:
How big and how severe the fire is.
Know your electrical systems.
The presence of fire extinguishers or safety equipment.
2. Disconnect Power
It is crucial to first turn off the electricity source. You can turn off your electrical appliances or circuit breaker if you feel it is safe. To prevent more electrical arcing or shock, turn off the circuit breaker.
3. Use the Correct Extinguisher
Electric fires are not all suitable for every fire extinguisher. As a matter of fact, the use of an incorrect extinguisher will only make things worse. An extinguisher of class C is recommended for electrical fires. To suppress flames and prevent electricity from being conducted, these extinguishers employ non-conductive substances.
4. Shoot at the Base Of The Fire
The nozzle of a Class C Fire Extinguisher should be aimed at the base, and not the flames. This cuts off the oxygen supply to the fire and helps suppress it. While aiming at the fire and operating your extinguisher you should maintain a safe working distance.
5. Use Short Bursts
The fire extinguisher should be squeezed in small bursts, rather than being continuously sprayed. This will conserve the extinguishing substance and make sure that there is enough to fully suppress the fire.
6. Back Away Safely:
After you’ve used an extinguisher to put out the fire, be sure to slowly back away. As electrical fires are prone to re-igniting, it is important that you keep an eye on the situation and maintain a distance.
7. CALL FOR HELP:
It doesn’t matter whether the fire is extinguished or not, you should still call the Fire Department to report it. This allows them to conduct a detailed assessment of the situation, identify hidden fires and eliminate any safety concerns.
Precautions & Safety Measures
You should not use water in any way to extinguish an electric fire. Because water is a conductor of electricity, using it to extinguish an electrical fire can result in electric shock or the spreading of the flame.
To reduce the chance of an injury, you should wear personal protective equipment when you are dealing with electric fires.
In the event of an emergency, you should consider evacuating. If possible, shut the doors behind you and get professional help.
Maintain electrical appliances and wiring regularly in order to minimize the chance of an electrical fire.