Skip to content

Electrical fire and sparking outlet: what to do

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

Sparks, smoke, or a burning smell from an outlet, cord, or panel can mean a fire is starting inside a wall. This page helps you decide whether to leave, how to cut power safely, and what to do about a fire that is already burning.

Do this now

  1. If you see flames or smoke, or the fire is spreading, leave right away. Close doors behind you and do not stop for belongings.
  2. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) from outside.
  3. If there is only a spark or a burning smell, and the breaker panel is dry and close by, switch off the breaker for that area. If you are not sure which one it is, switch off the main breaker.
  4. Do not throw water on anything electrical. Do not touch a hot or sparking outlet or cord.
  5. Keep everyone, including pets, away from the area until an electrician has checked it.

... danger "Never use water on an electrical fire" Water conducts electricity and can shock you. Do not use a bucket, a hose, or a wet cloth. Only try to put a small fire out with an extinguisher marked for electrical fires, and only if you have a clear way out behind you.

Signs of an electrical problem

Act on these signs even when there is no fire yet:

  • Sparks or a flash when you plug something in or switch something on
  • A burning, hot plastic, or fishy smell near an outlet, switch, or panel
  • Outlet covers, switch plates, or plugs that are hot to the touch, or that look scorched or melted
  • Buzzing or sizzling sounds from the wall or panel
  • Lights that flicker or dim, or a breaker that keeps tripping

A little warmth in a plug that is powering a heater or a kettle can be normal. Hot, discolored, or smoking parts are not.

If there is a fire

Get out first. A fire inside a wall or behind an outlet can spread out of sight, and smoke is the main danger. Crawl low if the room is smoky, and feel closed doors with the back of your hand before you open them.

Once you are outside, stay outside. Wait for the fire service, and tell them where the fire was and that it is electrical. Our house fire guide covers escaping and what to do afterward.

Using an extinguisher

Fire services teach one simple rule: if the fire is small, you have a clear exit, and you know how to use the extinguisher, you may try. If it grows, or you are unsure, leave. Never go back in to fight a fire.

Cutting the power safely

Cutting power makes the situation safer, but only do it if you can do it without risk.

  • Stand on a dry floor. If there is water on the floor or around the panel, do not touch the panel.
  • If the panel itself is sparking, smoking, or hot, do not go near it. Leave and call for help.
  • If you cannot switch off the power, unplug nothing from a sparking outlet. Leave it and keep people away.

In many countries you can also ask your electricity utility to cut power at the meter. Find the number on your bill or your utility's website.

After a spark or burning smell

Do not turn the breaker back on and carry on as usual. A sparking outlet, a hot plug, or a breaker that trips again and again points to a fault in the wiring or a failing device. Resetting it over and over can start a fire.

  • Leave the breaker off for that circuit
  • Unplug devices from the affected outlets only once the power is off
  • Do not use the outlet, switch, or cord until it is checked
  • Call a licensed electrician and tell them what you saw and smelled
  • Check smoke alarms and test them

Never replace a breaker with a larger one to stop it tripping. It is built to match the wire in the wall, and a bigger one lets the wire overheat.

... warning "Electrical work is for electricians" Do not open the panel, open the wall, or repair wiring yourself. Laws on who may do electrical work differ by country, so use a licensed electrician where you live.

Prevent electrical fires

  • Plug large appliances such as heaters and air conditioners straight into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
  • Replace cords that are frayed, cracked, or have loose plugs.
  • Do not run cords under rugs or pinch them behind furniture.
  • Replace outlets that no longer hold a plug snugly.
  • Have an electrician look at older wiring, and fit working smoke alarms on every level of the home.