5 Tips for Extinguishing Electrical Fires in Your Apartment

Are you worried about the electrical safety in your apartment? Electrical fires are a significant cause of fire damage in apartment buildings, but you can prevent them with the right advice. Your maintenance department helps many renters keep their units safe by teaching them the right electrical guidance and minimizing the hazards in their apartments. Our experts with apartments for rent in Fort Myers, FL, want to remind you that if you notice an electrical fire in your unit, there are a few tips that you will want to follow directly to extinguish the fire as soon as possible.

Disconnect All Electricity

Before you begin to do any work to put out blazes, you first want to disconnect, unplug, and turn off all your electricity. Forgetting to do this first can result in electrocution, inducing severe or even fatal injuries. So any time you smell smoke or notice sparks near your electrical outlets, turn off the power at the origin before mitigating the damages.

Keep a Fire Extinguisher on Hand

Many renters fail to have the proper safety equipment on hand. One of the first things that every renter should purchase is a fire extinguisher. Keep the fire extinguisher near areas in your apartment that you use most frequently, like your bathroom or kitchen. Also, it is helpful to understand how to use the fire extinguisher in case of an emergency. The last thing you want to do is struggle to operate the extinguisher when a fire is blazing in your apartment.

Use Baking Soda

If you do not have a fire extinguisher in your apartment, you can put out small electrical fires with baking soda. Dump some baking soda directly over any power cords, electrical outlets, or small fires showing issues, like sparks or smoke. This will prevent the fire from spreading by putting it out quickly and safely. Of course, once a fire has spread, you will want to use other strategies.

Smother with a Heavy Blanket

To prevent your electrical fire from spreading throughout your apartment, you can smother it with a heavy blanket. Depriving a fire of oxygen is critical in stopping it. Be sure that the blanket is large and heavy enough to cover all the flames for this to work.

Get Out of the Apartment

When you cannot put the fire out completely, you should get yourself and your family out of the apartment. Go to a safe location far enough away from your building, and call for help. Fires can spread quickly, and you should protect your family and neighbors from the devastating effects it can compel in your life by simply vacating and calling the fire department.

These are a few steps that you need to follow to maintain protection and put out electrical fires safely in your apartment building. If you are concerned about the electrical safety of your unit or you are suspicious of specific electrical hazards, you should call your maintenance department to inspect your electrical system. And if you are looking for apartments in Fort Myers, FL, contact us to schedule your tour today.