Major warning issued after common household item sparks fire that destroys bedroom
Photos taken by firefighters of the aftermath of a devastating blaze in a Northern Ireland home have shocked people after they were shared on social media in a bid to raise awareness of the dangers posed by extension cables.
The fire took place on Sunday, November 24, and the images were shared on the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service East Facebook page the same day.
NIFRS captioned the photos: "Crews this evening attended and swiftly dealt with a fire in an upstairs bedroom. The fire was started by an extension lead plugged in and left on the mattress.
"For your safety, please ensure all electrical items are turned off and unplugged when not in use and extension leads have sufficient air to remain cool and are kept off soft furnishings."
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) also have information online about electrical safety, and how to avoid extension lead fires.
They say: "It is important to avoid overloading circuits, which can cause wires to overheat and ignite. Avoid using extension cords and power strips for long periods of time, as they can also be a fire hazard.
"Also, keep the area around the plug sockets and mains switch clear."
There are also certain household items that should never be plugged into an extension cord of power strip, the SFRS explain: "Fridges, freezers, microwaves, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, power tools and gardening equipment should never be plugged into adaptors or power strips with other appliances.
"Plug them straight into the wall instead."
Last month, another UK fire service warned of another potential cause of house fires - one that might surprise you.
A fire station in Leominster, Herefordshire sounded the alarm after responding to a house fire ignited by direct sunlight, signaling a potentially overlooked danger as the seasons shift. A hairband was set alight due to sunlight magnified through a glass lamp.
Leominster Fire Station explained: "Even as we experience the change in the seasons, days like today can see us experiencing strong sunlight. The pictures below show a glass lamp that magnified the sunlight, causing a hair band on a bedside table to ignite."
READ MORE: House fire sparked by direct sunlight leads to urgent safety warning from fire station
The post continued, urging vigilance: "Please be aware of what damage magnified sunlight can do and consider what is in the way of direct sunlight. Also consider the effects of bright sunlight when driving at certain times of the day, and make use of sun visors and sunglasses if necessary."
Fortunately, the event did not result in any casualties but could have escalated disastrously if left undetected, reported the Mirror.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.