How to Put Out Electrical Fire – In the modern era, where almost every aspect of our lives depends on electricity, the dangers of electrical fires are becoming more and more apparent.
In addition to understanding electrical short circuits as one of the causes of house fires, you also need to learn how to extinguish electrical fires due to short circuits.
This article will be a comprehensive guide for you to put out an electrical fire safely, including the steps to take, equipment to use, mistakes to avoid, and prevention tips.
So, grab some coffee and let’s dive into a guide on how to put out electrical fire safely that we’ve prepared just for you!
Table of Contents
How to Put Out Electrical Fire Safely
Please note that fires caused by short circuits are classified as type C fires. How to extinguish an electrical short circuit fire can be done in several steps. Check out the details below!
1. Disconnect Electricity
The first and most crucial step is to disconnect the electricity to the building. This can be done by turning off the main switch or MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) on the electrical panel. Avoid touching electrified cables or electrical equipment with bare hands.
2. Call for Help
Immediately contact the fire department with the local emergency number and provide clear information about the location of the fire, whether it originated from an AC line, power pole, or other power line.
Be sure to give your full address and any features that will help them locate the fire quickly.
Also Read: “Foam vs Powder Fire Extinguisher: Which One is More Effective?“
3. Use a Specialized Fire Extinguisher
When an electrical fire occurs, using water is not a safe option as water can conduct electricity and make the situation worse.
Therefore, there are some safer materials to put out the fire in an electrical fire. Instead, you can use a class C fire extinguisher.
Class C fire extinguishers are a type of fire extinguisher specifically designed to put out fires in electrical equipment or equipment connected to a power source.
Class C fire extinguishers use materials that are safe to use on electrical equipment without the risk of conducting electricity or damaging the equipment.
The distinctive feature of class C fire extinguishers is their ability to put out fires on electrical equipment without turning off the electricity first.
This makes them particularly useful when wanting to extinguish a fire on electrical equipment without causing a major disruption in the electricity supply.
The best option there is, is to use a CO2 fire extinguisher to put out an electrical fire, as this type of fire extinguisher can put out a fire without water, thus improving the safety and protecting the electrical devices from further damage by the water.
4. Isolate the Area
You can try to isolate the burning area by blocking others and preventing them from approaching. Make sure everyone is at a safe distance from danger.
If you are forced to be in a dangerous smoke-filled area, or you are trapped inside a room or building, you can lower yourself and crawl under the smoke to get out of the building as clean air is usually closer to the floor.
5. Make Sure that The Fire Extinguished Completely
When using a fire extinguisher, ensure that the extinguishment is completely complete by making sure there is no more visible smoke or flames.
This is very important to prevent larger fires and ensure safety in the area.
Once the fire is visibly extinguished, conduct continuous monitoring of the affected area.
Check periodically for signs of reignition, such as smoke or heat, which could indicate the fire is still smoldering. This vigilance is essential to prevent the possibility of a re-fire.
6. Evacuate
If the fire cannot be controlled or the situation worsens, prioritize the safety of yourself and others by leaving the building or affected area immediately.
In emergency situations like this, it is important to remain calm and act quickly to avoid further risks.
Be sure to follow the evacuation routes that exist within the building or premises. These evacuation routes are designed to ease and speed up the process of getting out of a dangerous area, so that everyone can get away from potential threats safely.
Also Read: “Electrical Fire: What Is It? And What Causes It?“
7. Avoid Touching the Devices
Once you feel that there are no sparks, avoid touching the burning equipment with your bare hands as it can have a very high temperature and can cause burns to your skin.
So there you have it! A guide on how to put out electrical fire along with other precautions you have to take when an electrical fire happens.
When firefighters arrive, give them accurate information about the situation and what you have done so far. This will help them take appropriate action quickly.
Safety is the top priority. If you feel the situation is out of control or high risk, leave the area immediately and request assistance from firefighters.
Fire, regarding its type is a dangerous disaster that will leave a catastrophic loss, both property or even worse, life.
But, as dangerous as it can be, this thing can be prevented. And one thing that you need to take better care of is to choose an electronic device or equipment that is high quality and up to the standard sets in your country.
As for Indonesia, the said standard is the SNI, which stands for Standar Nasional Indonesia, or Indonesian National Standard.
This standard regulates all of the products and/or services sold and provided in Indonesia, thus promotes the consumer’s peace of mind, knowing the products they bought has already been tested for its quality and safety.
And in conjunction with the topic that we’ve discussed above, the SNI certification not only regulates the electrical products, but also the fire extinguisher and various other fire suppression systems.
