APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – If you’re still waiting for the power to come back on, fire officials warn that an active appliance could create the spark needed to start a fire.
In fact, the Appleton Fire Department has seen a few examples of that just in the past couple of days.
“Two of them were directly related to stuff placed on stovetops and then when the power came back on, the stove had either been left in an “on” position or got bumped into an “on” position,” explains Battalion Chief Ethan Kroll, with the Appleton Fire Department.
He says because of that, you’ll want to make sure that all appliances and household items are turned off, or even unplugged.
“It could potentially be a source of ignition,” explains Kroll. “Maybe there is a power surge and it creates a spark.”
Ovens and stovetops might be the obvious ones to checkout, but fire officials say there are plenty of other items capable of presenting a risk.
“Coffee makers that were left on and now there is no longer water or coffee in the pot,” says Kroll. “And the burner starts to heat up.”
Additionally, it’s not just kitchen items that can start a spark.
“Curling irons, you know if like people were doing their hair they might have had a curling iron or a flat iron that was plugged in,” he says. “Then the power went out and they didn’t think of it.”
Even the larger items that you wouldn’t necessarily unplug warrant a glance over.
“An electric water heater,” says Kroll. “Just make sure it’s in a safe position and that someone hasn’t accidentally pushed some combustibles up against it.”
In the most recent case Monday morning, a cooler was stored on a stovetop and the cooler caught fire after power was restored.
