Electrical fires: what

Stats reveal there is one fire every 9 days in city

FAULTY equipment or outright negligence in the kitchen has been at the root of most electrical fires in Tayside in the last three years, new data has revealed.

Figures on electrical blazes in domestic dwellings, obtained via freedom of information legislation, have revealed that 110 electrical fires were l ogged i n Dundee between 2014-17, with four people injured each year as a result.

Of the 232 blazes logged by fire crews in three years across Tayside, 169 started in kitchens.

And a total of 220 were caused by either faults in equipment or negligent use by residents in all areas of the home. The remainder were down to faulty wiring.

One in five of the homes affected by electrical blazes did not have a smoke alarm fitted.

And of the homes that did have alarms fitted, a quarter of the alarms did not operate, due to dead batteries or faulty equipment which had gone unchecked.

Today, fire chiefs urged locals to check their safety equipment is in full working order.

David McGown, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s director of prevention and protection, said: “We are absolutely committed to reducing the occurrence of electrical fires in the home and keeping communities safe.

“We are particularly keen to support the most vulnerable to live safely at home.

“We would encourage the public to register their domestic appliances to ensure that they are kept up to date with product recall information and manufacturers’ safety advice, and also to book a free home fire safety visit.”

Cooking equipment such as ovens, grills, toasters and microwaves were found to be the cause of 105 fires.

Another 78 fires were caused by white goods such as tumble dryers, dishwashers, washing machines, extractor fans and fridge freezers.

Elsewhere in the home, electric blankets, TVs, vaccum cleaners and phone chargers were found to be at fault.

Fires started in electrical equipment commonly spread to furniture, food, foam and through fixtures and fittings.

The living room was the second most common location, followed by hallways and bedrooms.

All but a handful of fires were contained before causing significant damages.

Of the 110 electrical fires logged in Dundee, 43 occurred in homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs) — the blanket term for large households such as student lets and bedsits.

Meanwhile, research by the consumer group Which? has found that almost half of all fridges and freezers on sale are major fire risks due to their plastic backing.

While just five fires in Tayside started inside fridge freezers, much of the plastic backing from firms such as Smeg, Hotpoint, Whirlpool and Indesit is not as flame-retardant as manufacturers claim.

Which? conducted tests which replicated real house fires – tougher than those used by firms which make the white goods – and found 45% of fridges failed them.