Madison fire crews were able to educate some residents about proper electrical safety protocols when they responded to an east side home Sunday morning for a report of smoke in the basement.
When crews arrived to the residence in the 1800 block of Helena Street shortly before 2 a.m. they didn’t find any signs of smoke or fire, but they did discover an odor of burned plastic and a light haze of smoke in the basement. Crews said it came from an extension cord that shorted out and burned through its outer casing. Crews worked to ventilate the basement and allowed the residents and their pets to return inside. While the damage was limited to the extension cord, firefighters took the opportunity to educate the residents about proper safety and use.
Fire officials said appliances like space heaters, dehumidifiers and fans should be plugged directly into wall outlets. Likewise, power strips should only be used for small items like office equipment, TVs and other smaller items.