Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

This note considers some preliminary analyses of a special survey conducted in 1957/58 of fires associated with electrical equipment. In all 9385 reports were received, of which 6489 referred to fires originating from electrical appliances (as distinct from fixed installations) and these are covered by this note. Dwellings suffered 57.1% of the fires, although domestic consumption of electricity accounts for less than a third of, the total sales of electricity. Cooking appliances with 1406 fires and space heating equip- ment with 1345 fires were the most frequent sources of ignition.