Electrical Fire Displaces Woman, Kills Cat, Two Birds

An electrical fire that broke out shortly after midnight in Centreville has displaced a woman and killed her two birds and cat, according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department officials. 

The accidental fire, which was caused by an electrical anomaly in a bedroom light fixture, caused $50,000 in damages. 

The smoke alarm warned the woman in the two-story middle townhouse, located on the 14400 block of Salisbury Plain Court. It took firefighters about 10 minutes to get the fire under control. 

The Fire & Rescue Department released the following safety tips to prevent electrical fires:

• Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If your power goes out a lot or the lights in your home flicker, smell bad, or make noise, have an electrician come in to inspect your wiring.   
• The electrical outlet in the bathroom should have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). This is a tool that protects you from dangerous shock when water and electricity come together. An electrician can install a GFCI for you.
• All electrical outlets and switches should be covered by “face plates.”
• When possible, avoid the use of “cube taps” and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
• Inspect electrical cords to make sure they are in good condition.
• Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.
• Don’t tie or knot electrical cords.
• Don’t let furniture sit on electrical cords.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.