Firefighters had to force their way into an Aurora garage to extinguish a fire caused by a short in the power cord attached to a reclining sofa Monday night.
Central York Fire Services (CYFS) crews saw heavy smoke coming from a detached garage at the back of the property on Baywell Crescent July 29 at about 7:50 p.m., an incident report stated. Firefighters accessed the structure using a rear laneway and made Hose lines were deployed, and made a forcible entry with the aid of power tools.
The fire was caused by a short in the power supply cable for an electrical reclining sofa that was plugged into an outlet, the report said.
There were no injuries, CYFS said.
CYFS responded with four trucks, 16 firefighters, one chief officer and one
senior officer. Other responding agencies include York Regional Police, York Region Paramedic Services and local utilities.
Fire Safety Tips:
Did you know electrical equipment is a leading cause of home fires in Ontario. Keep these tips in mind to prevent the possibility of a fire occurring:
- Avoid running cords under rugs to prevent damage, and regularly check cords for damage, such as fraying.
- If you notice a frayed or damaged cord, immediately turn off the appliances and replace the cord with a new one. A damaged cord can expose wires and result in a potential shock or fire hazard.
- Ensure you plug heavy appliances directly into an outlet.
- Do not overheat the outlet, large appliances should have their own outlet.