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Safety Advice - Electrical Fire Safety Week 2025

Date

This week, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) is supporting Electrical Fire Safety Week 2025 by raising awareness of electrical fire risks in the home. With household appliances playing a crucial role in our daily lives, it’s important to take simple steps to reduce the risk of fire and keep our homes and others safe.

Household appliances

Last year 1,140 accidental electrical fires involving common household white goods, such as tumble dryers and washing machines, occurred in areas across England – the equivalent of three fires per day. As part of the campaign, Electrical Safety First is raising awareness about the fire risks associated with these appliances.

ESFRS urges residents to follow these safety tips to prevent electrical fires:

  • Always register your appliances: Registering ensures you receive important safety updates and recall information.
  • Don’t overload sockets: Overloading can cause overheating and increase fire risk.
  • Clean filters regularly: Especially for appliances like tumble dryers, to prevent lint build-up that can ignite.
  • Unplug when not in use: Unplugging reduces the risk of electrical faults leading to fires.

For more tips on keeping yourself and others safe, visit: www.esfrs.org/electrical-fire-safety

Lithium-ion batteries and charger safety

While white goods are a significant concern, it's essential to be aware of the risks associated with other electrical products in the home, particularly those powered by lithium-ion batteries.

On 29 August 2024, ESFRS responded to a residential fire on Woburn Way, Eastbourne. The cause of the fire was linked to a lithium-ion battery from a hoverboard charger.

Following a fire investigation, ESFRS identified the Tyzygmy Lithium-Ion Battery Charger, sold via Amazon, as the cause. ESFRS shared their findings with the Office for Product Safety and Standards which led to the product being recalled from end users by Amazon. All affected consumers have been notified and refunded by Amazon.

Watch Manager Fire Investigation Duncan Holloway emphasised the importance of following electrical safety advice:

"Electrical fires can have devastating consequences, but many are preventable. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, check your appliances and chargers for signs of damage, buy from reputable sources and make sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Registering your appliances means you'll be alerted if something goes wrong - it’s a simple step that could save lives.”

Home Safety Visits

If you have any questions about fire safety in the home, we offer a free Home safety check service. If you would like to find out more and see if you are eligible, you can:

Other useful links:

By staying informed and following these guidelines, we can work together to reduce the risk of electrical fires in our community.

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