Warning issued after garage fire in Clacton
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is urging people to use electricals safely.
Crews were called to a garage fire on Dorking Crescent, Clacton, at 7.29pm on Sunday 8th November caused by an overloaded extension lead.
The occupants of the property managed to get out safely after they were alerted to it when it caused all other sockets to trip out.
The fire was extinguished by 8.07pm and all damage was restricted to the garage.
Ben Turner, Watch Manager at Clacton Fire Station, said: "Firefighters managed to control this fire before it became much more serious, but overloading extension leads like this where multiple appliances are using the same plug socket is very dangerous.
"Please don't take the risk - use one adaptor per socket and never plug one adaptor into another. Plugging too many electrical appliances into one place will often lead to overheating and then fire - so please keep your family safe and follow our advice."
ECFRS is encouraging people to beware of hot plugs or sockets, scorch marks, fuses that often blow, or flickering lights as it could be a sign of loose wiring or electrical problems.
People should also avoid overloading sockets as it can lead to overheating, and extension leads have a limit on how many amps they can handle.
More electrical and other safety advice can be found on the ECFRS website.