Commercial Establishment’s Neon Signage Sustains Fire Damage

Location: Salmon Arm

Regulated industry sector: Electrical - High voltage electrical system (greater than 1000V)

Incident overview

A fire damaged the wiring for exterior neon signage at a commercial establishment, causing minor damage to the building. At the time of the incident there was a power outage in the area which may have caused a voltage surge, leading to faults at the junction boxes above the ceiling. These faults caused arcing and shorting. The cable jacket and insulation melted from overheating, spreading the fire and igniting the plastic vapor barrier.