Seattle, Washington – One Firefighter Sustained Minor Injuries in House Fire Caused by Rechargeable Battery

Seattle, Washington (June 13, 2019) – One firefighter sustained minor injuries while battling a house fire at the 6700 block of 33rd Avenue Northwest. It would appear tat the firefighter did not need to be hospitalized for treatment. There were no other injuries reported among the fire crew, and the residents of the home were all able to safely escape the building.

Fire officials have determined that the cause of the fire was a rechargeable battery which burst into flames shortly after being unplugged from a power strip. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire was coming from the basement and had spread to an attached deck and detached garage. The fire reached up to the attic, but the efforts of the crews contained the fire and put it out within an hour. The damage done to the house was estimated around $400,000.

About Fires

Our sympathies go to the families affected in various home fire accidents. They are not alone in their situation – electrical causes remain to be one of the top causes for home fires according to the NFPA. Their Electrical Fire Reports to the U.S Fire Department since 2000 estimates around 45,000 to 55,000 cases of home fires being caused by electrical malfunction every year. Annual losses due to electrical fire result in 455 civilian deaths, 1, 500 civilian injuries and 1.5 billion of dollars in direct property damage. From these statistics, the risk from electrical fire is very real and should not be underestimated. As for the accidents themselves, the NFPA lists 63 percent involved wiring and related equipment, 74 percent cited some sort of electrical failure or malfunction, and wire or cable insulation was the first item ignited in 32 percent of electrical distribution or lighting equipment home structure fires. When reviewing fire safety for the home, one should not forget to check for possible electrical causes. While we take the role of electricity for granted, one should never forget to use electricity without caution. Apart from the risks like electrocution and electrical burns, the electrical system can also pose a problem to the home itself. Proper identification and handling of electrical problems will be a key in securing fire safety for the home and all those that live in it.

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