AN ELECTRICIAN whose faulty freezer sparked a fire at his home causing extensive damage is supporting Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s (AF&RS) campaign to reduce the number of fires caused by faulty electrical goods.

Yate resident Andy Warren said the faulty freezer was in use inside his garage when a fire broke out, damaging his classic Morris Oxford car and other items in the building.

“The fire was devastating and caused large amounts of damage to the garage, the car and other items being stored there” he said.

“We have smoke alarms fitted in our home but had never considered fitting them in the garage. I would urge anyone who has electrical appliances in outbuildings and garages to fit a smoke detector to alert them in the event of a blaze.”

As part of a countrywide safety campaign, AF&RS has launched Electrical Fire Safety Week taking place from Monday, 10 to Sunday, 16 November with a focus on the number of resources available to help people to reduce the risk of electrical fires.

Since 2006, AF&RS has attended 370 accidental house fires caused by a fault with an electrical appliance. In 120 cases tumble-driers were involved, 116 fires were caused by a faulty washing machine, and faulty dishwashers sparked 77 fires.

AF&RS Group Manager for Community Safety, Matt Peskett, said: “The most important thing you can do to protect your family from the risk of fire is to make sure you have working smoke alarms fitted on every level of your home.

“If you have electrical items, like a freezer or a washing machine, in outbuildings or a shed, it would also be a good idea to fit the alarms there too. The batteries should be regularly checked to ensure they are working. Smoke alarms will activate at the first sign of fire, giving occupants the chance to escape from the property, but only if they are working.”

As part of the campaign, an online “Socket Overload Calculator” has been launched to test the safety of appliances plugged into the same socket. The feature allows you to plug in up to four appliances from a selection of 25, to see if the combination is a safe one or if you have created a fire risk.

Mr Peskett added: ”Fires can be devastating, destroying property and belongings and endangering lives. Electrical appliances can overheat if they are left on unnecessarily or if too many appliances are plugged in at the same time. We would like everyone to ensure they follow our advice to keep their families safe.”

Top tips for how to avoid electrical fires include:

• Always check that you use the right fuse to prevent overheating;

• Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it;

• Try and keep to one plug per socket;

• Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order to prevent them triggering a fire.

For more information visit AF&RS website – www.avonfire.gov.uk