This article was in a recent National Fire Prevention Association newsletter:
Flipping a light switch. Plugging in a coffeemaker. Charging a laptop computer. These activities are second nature for most of us. Electrical appliances and devices make our lives easier. However, our trust in them should not be absolute.
Electrical failure or malfunction was involved in 46,500 reported home structure fires in 2010. These fires resulted in 420 civilian deaths and 1,5200 civilian injuries, with $1.5 billion in direct property damage. Electricity is safe to have in the home if it is treated with respect. NFPA needs your help to ground your community in the basics of electrical safety.
Here’s an online toolkit of support materials, including electrical fact sheets, to help fire departments (or anyone else interested) conduct successful electrical safety campaigns in their communities.