Damaged Cord Connector Leads to Fire in Family Home

Location: Armstrong, BC
Regulated industry sector: Electrical – Low voltage electrical system (30 V to 750 V)

Incident Overview

In the bedroom of a family home, a portable electric heater was plugged into an extension cord along with the TV and gaming console. The cord connector was damaged, and the receptacle overheated and shorted, causing a fire. The fire destroyed a large portion of the structure of the house, along with heat and smoke damage. Water ingress from firefighting (and possibly other sources) also flooded the basement. Two individuals were treated for smoke inhalation.