Fire Brigade warns about use of extension cords

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is appealing to householders to be very careful when using extension cords and electrical devices, warning that improper use can lead to overheating and fires.

Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Public Education Officer of the JFB, Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, said that many common extension cords, such as the white or brown ones, are not designed to handle high electrical loads.

"One of the things to note when it comes to an extension cord, if it has two prongs, leave it alone. What you want is negative, positive and earth," he said.

"When you buy one that has three prongs, do not take your pliers and break out the third one, because whatever you are trying to plug it into does not have the capacity for three. If it does not have the capacity for all three, it means it is no good," he added.

Regarding household devices, he highlighted the kitchen as a high-risk area, explaining that most kitchen appliances are intentionally designed with short power cords.

"There is a reason for that. The manufacturer wants you to plug it directly into the wall socket, they don't want you to use an extension cord," he informed. Ebanks emphasised that using extension cords with high-energy devices, such as blenders and mixers, is not advisable.

"These devices, they pull a lot of energy and if your extension cord is not designed to manage that, it is going to get hot and the overheating can actually cause a fire," he said.

He indicated that in addition to plugging kitchen appliances directly into the wall outlets, householders may use equipment specifically designed for protection, such as fridge guards or approved surge protectors.

"One of the ways to make sure that you are using the right devices, if you see something that says power strip and it has the word surge all over it, but you see more than three plugs, it is not a surge protector. It is simply a power strip," he warned.