October is Fire Prevention Month!

October is fire prevention month and our electrical contracting company at the Lake of the Ozarks would like to take the time to raise awareness for fire prevention and electrical safety in your home. According to ESFI, home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year, nearly 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage. In lieu of fire prevention month, Catalyst Electric would like to share with you some safety tips for electrical fire prevention.


Electrical Outlets 

You should check your electrical outlets in your home frequently. Check to ensure fitting plugs are not loose because this can become a fire hazard. Make sure that you have a wall plate on ALL electrical outlets and that none of them are broken. The exposed wire can be dangerous for young children and also pose a fire risk.

Plug Safety

You should NEVER force something into an electrical outlet. Try not to overload your plugs and NEVER remove the grounding pin (third prong) to fit a two-pronged outlet. If you find that many of your home outlets have two prongs, you should seriously consider upgrading those outlets because they are outdated and can be dangerous. 

Extension Cords 

Extension cords are designed to be used for temporary use ONLY. Extension cords are not a permanent solution for new wiring. Make sure that your cords are not frayed or cracked, this is an extreme fire hazard. Cords should NEVER be placed under rugs or carpet as they could heat up and cause a fire.


Check Your Smoke Detectors 

House fires sometimes happen even if you take the steps in preventing them. In the event that a fire starts in your home, making sure your smoke detectors are in working order could be the difference between getting out of your home in time and not. Below are a few tips for smoke detector safety:

  • Replace batteries yearly - at a minimum 
  • Complete reliability tests monthly 
  • Always replace old smoke detectors 
  • Ensure Proper Installation 

Create a Fire Escape Plan 

Just in case a fire does happen, it's important to have a fire escape plan created. Not only should you create a plan but you should talk about and rehearse the plan with your family.  Having a plan is crucial - especially if you have young kids. Fire prevention month is a great time to make a plan if you don't already have one! 

Keeping an eye on your electrical system could help lessen the chance of an electrical fire in your home. Taking a few extra steps like not using extension cords, space heaters, and getting your home's electrical system inspected could be the difference! If you haven't had an electrical inspection recently, give the best electricians at the Lake of the Ozarks a call. We want to ensure the safety of everyone in your household and anything we can do to help lessen the chance of a tragic house fire we want to be a part of!


Quality Work With Integrity

 Catalyst Electric: Best electrician service at the Lake of the Ozarks  


1106 Runabout Drive
Osage Beach, Mo 65065
(573) 552-8488 -Phone
(573) 552-8248 -Fax

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Location: Osage Beach, MO 65065, USA

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