Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

A special survey of fires associated with electrical equipment was carried out in 1957/58. Of the 9385 reports received from Local Authority Fire Brigades, 6489 referred to electrical appliances; these have been reported on separately. This note deals with the remaining 2896 fires which were reported to be due to wire and cable and equipment forming part of the permanent electrical supply installation, including outdoor fires, but excluding fires in vehicles. Nearly half the fires occurred in dwellings and 14.3 per cent in commercial premises; 64.5 per cent of the fires were caused by cable or flex.