PALMER—A house fire that injured a woman Wednesday began because an air conditioner was plugged into a series of extension cords, according to a news release Thursday from the state.
Fire Chief William J. Bernat Jr. and state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey are reminding residents to plug heavy appliances directly into wall outlets, according to the release.
The Palmer fire followed four days after a fire in Webster which started with an air conditioner’s cord pinched between a bedframe and the wall.
“This summer’s heat has been brutal, and many folks are turning up the air conditioners,” Bernat said in a prepared statement . “If you do, remember that these appliances should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Using an extension cord or power strip could cause a fire like the one we saw here.”
“Extension cords and power strips are for temporary use and can’t safely handle the high current that air conditioners, space heaters and other heavy appliances use,” Ostroskey said in a news release. “Plug these devices into a wall outlet to prevent a fire, and keep the cord clear of doorways and furniture that might damage or pinch them.”
The Fire Department responded to 4454 High St. at 3:20 Wednesday morning, finding smoke coming from the front left corner of the second floor. A woman living there was injured while attempting to extinguish the fire but escaped the residence, according to the release. She was transported to a hospital for additional medical care. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze soon after arrival.
An investigation by the Fire and Police departments and the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the fire marshal determined the fire’s point of origin to be the connection between an air conditioner power cord and an extension cord. The extension cord had been plugged into a power strip and another extension cord. An electrical event at that point ignited combustible materials in the area.
“Fortunately, the resident was awoken by the noise and flash of light,” Bernat said. “There were no working smoke alarms in the residence, and this could very easily have been a terrible tragedy.”
In Webster, a resident’s air conditioner cord caused a fire after it was pinched between the bedframe and the wall.
“An occupant reported that the circuit breaker panel had tripped several times in the hours before the fire,” said Webster Fire Chief Brian C. Hickey. “Blowing fuses or tripping the circuit breaker frequently is a warning sign that you should call a professional electrician. If you see arcs or sparks, hear a sizzling or burning sound, or smell something burning, call your fire department right away.”
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