How to Put Out an Electrical Fire Safely and Effectively

One of the most hazardous forms of fire in Australian households and working places is electrical fires. They can commence without warning due to poor wiring, overloaded electrical outlets, or defective appliances, and within seconds, they may become out of control. Being familiar with how to put out an electrical fire can mean the difference between minor damage and major loss.

That’s why it’s vital to understand how to stop electrical fire risks before they start, and exactly how to extinguish an electrical fire if one breaks out. Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or business owner, having the right knowledge (and the right extinguisher) can save lives.

At Dynamic Group, we have witnessed how quickly an electrical system fault can escalate into a complete emergency. The mission of our professional electricians in Perth is to detect potential hidden risks, avoid electrical fires and make individuals like you sure and ready with our comprehensive electrical services.

This guide will take you through what to do in an electrical fire, how to stop fire from spreading, what causes electrical fires and how you can prevent electrical fires before they occur.

Because knowing how to put out a fire is important—but knowing how to prevent it is even better.

What Is an Electrical Fire?

Electrical fire is a type of fire which starts due to faulty or overloaded electrical parts. Compared to an ordinary fire, electrical fires are handled differently, particularly because some means of combating ordinary fires are significantly riskier in the case of electrical fires, such as water. You must know how to put out an electrical fire to maintain a high level of safety and minimise damage.

What Causes Electrical Fires?

The key to preventing electrical fires is understanding what causes them. Among the most common causes one may find:

• Faulty Wiring: Worn, rusted, or outdated wiring may overheat and spark, potentially igniting anything nearby.
• Overloaded Outlets: By connecting too many appliances to a single outlet or using power strips inappropriately, one can cause overloading.
• Malfunctioning Appliances: Faulty appliances may cause short circuits or produce excessive heat, which can lead to an electrical fire.

If you’re wondering how do electrical fires start, they tend to be a mixture of heat accumulation, short circuits or arcing that combust fuel sources in their proximity, such as dry wall, furniture or even curtains.

How Can Electrical Faults Cause House Fires?

A lot of the house fires are a result of unobserved or unattended electrical problems. As an example, one unprotected wire that runs behind a wall may heat up with time until it smolders or burns wood framing.

That is the reason why frequent electrical fault finding and inspection, and severe repairs are important. How can electrical faults cause house fires? Easily, by a rise of temperature, through the production of sparks, or the ignition of inflammable substances in the vicinity of the fault.

How Long Does It Take for an Electrical Fire to Start?

An electrical fire can start in seconds or develop slowly over hours or even days. For instance, a constantly overloaded outlet may produce enough heat over time to melt insulation and eventually catch fire.

So if you ever smell burning plastic or see flickering lights, take it seriously—these can be early signs. How long does it take for an electrical fire to start? The answer depends on the conditions, but often, you won’t know until it’s already dangerous.

Immediate Actions: What to Do in an Electrical Fire

When an electrical fire breaks out, every second counts; being able to react fast and calmly is what can save the day. Being aware of what to do in an electrical fire can save an injury or property damage, or even loss of life.

Electrical Fire: What to Do the Moment It Starts

When you smell smoke, or see sparks, or the outlet, appliance, or electrical panel is on fire do the following:

1. Cut the Power – If it’s safe to do so, unplug the device or cut off the breaker. This stops the source of electricity feeding the flames.
2. Do NOT Use Water – An electrical fire should never be showered with water. Water is a good conductor of electricity, and can result in electrocution.
3. Use the Correct Fire Extinguisher – Grab a Class C fire extinguisher, also known as an electrical fire extinguisher.
4. You are fighting an electrical fire. Where would you aim the extinguisher? Aim at the base of the fire, using short, controlled bursts.
5. Evacuate if Necessary – In case the fire increases or you are not certain on how to put out a fire, leave the house and dial 000.

These steps are vital if you want to know how to put out an electrical fire without putting yourself in danger.

How to Stop an Electrical Fire Before It Spreads

A swift response will enable one to stop a small accident before it becomes a major fire. Here’s how to stop an electrical fire from spreading:

• Have extinguishers to put off electrical fires in areas that are prone to them such as kitchens and workshop areas.
• Switch off the power source at once.
• Place blankets (fire blankets only when safety allows and also when electricity is already switched off) over the small fires.
• Put an electrical fire extinguisher (CO₂ or dry chemical) into use.
• Don’t try putting out fires you can’t control — get out and get help.

Understanding how to extinguish an electrical fire correctly means knowing the limitations of your fire response tools.

How to Stop Fire from Escalating

Although the fire may appear little, it can move rapidly through the walls, wires or insulation. That is how to stop a fire expansion:

• Learn the three ways to extinguish a fire: Take away the heat (cool it), the oxygen (smother it), or the fuel (cut it off).
• In the case of an electrical fire, removing the fuel (electric current) and smothering it with the right extinguisher is your best bet.
• Avoid hazards altogether by regularly checking outlets, wires and appliances.

When wondering how to put out an electrical fire, keep in mind that the most effective method is a combination of pre-planning and using safe gear, on the one hand, and the readiness to make prompt decisions, on the other.

How to Put Out an Electrical Fire: Step-by-Step

You must know how to put out an electrical fire for the safety of yourself and your property. Electrical fire is risky as it has to do with live current which is capable of electrocution or may rapidly spread by use of the hidden wiring. They need certain measures and equipment, unlike in ordinary fires.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to put out electrical fire safely and effectively.

Step 1: Do NOT Use Water on Electrical Fire — And Why

The first rule in putting out fires that involve electricity: never use water on electrical fires. Water is a conductor of electricity, and any electrical fire where water is poured can cause a fatal shock or even death.

This is one of the most dangerous mistakes people make when they panic. In case of fire, make sure to stop and evaluate before you take action in case you do not know how to put out a fire.

Step 2: Turn Off the Power If It’s Safe

If it’s safe to access your circuit breaker or unplug the source, turn off the electricity immediately. Cutting power eliminates the fuel for the fire, helping you stop fire escalation.

This step is critical in preventing electrical fires from spreading through your walls or devices. However, what to do in an electrical fire depends on your safety—never risk getting shocked.

Step 3: Use the Correct Electrical Fires Extinguisher (Class C)

To put out electrical fire safely, use a Class C fire extinguisher, or an ABC multi-purpose model. These are specifically designed for use on electrical fires, utilising non-conductive chemicals such as dry powder or CO₂.

A certified electrical fire extinguisher should always be available in areas where a fire risk is likely to occur, such as the kitchen, garage, or workshop.

Step 4: You Are Fighting an Electrical Fire. Where Would You Aim the Extinguisher?

The correct technique matters. You are fighting an electrical fire. Where would you aim the extinguisher?

Aim at the base of the fire, not the flames. This helps you smother the fire source and stop it from spreading.

This is part of the basic rule in the three ways to extinguish a fire: remove heat, remove oxygen, or remove fuel. Aiming at the base removes the oxygen and cools the ignition point.

Step 5: If You Can’t Control It — Evacuate

If the fire continues to grow despite your attempts, evacuate immediately. Knowing how to stop an electrical fire also includes knowing when to leave the situation to the experts.

If you’re unsure how to extinguish electrical fire safely, or your extinguisher runs out, get out and call emergency services.

3 Ways to Extinguish a Fire

There are three ways to extinguish a fire:

1. Remove the Heat – Cool the fire to stop the combustion.
2. Remove the Oxygen – Smother the flames so the fire can’t breathe.
3. Remove the Fuel – Cut off the source feeding the fire.

In the case of electrical fires, wiring or live current can be the fuel and therefore the most appropriate action is to cut off the electricity and extinguish the fires by smothering them.

When a Fire Extinguisher Won’t Be Enough

Sometimes, even if you know how to stop an electrical fire, it can grow too large, too fast. Here’s what to do in an electrical fire when an extinguisher isn’t enough:

• Evacuate immediately
• Call emergency services
• Warn others in the area

You may know how to put out a fire, but you should also be aware of your boundaries. Huge electrical fires can extend into the walls or even the ceiling, where extinguishers are unable to reach.

When to Evacuate and Call Emergency Number

It is helpful to know how to put out an electrical fire, but it is equally important to know when to evacuate. Not every fire is controlled individually. In Australia, one should dial triple zero (000) when the situation becomes dangerous.

This is what you should observe and what to do in an electrical fire in the case you need to evacuate.

Signs It’s Time to Get Out

Even if you know how to stop an electrical fire, there are clear signs that it’s time to leave:

• The fire is growing despite the extinguisher
• Smoke is spreading rapidly through the house
• You hear crackling inside walls—suggesting it’s spreading through wiring
• You don’t have the right electrical fire extinguisher
• You’re unsure how to extinguish an electrical fire safely

In these cases, don’t hesitate. Get out immediately. Time is everything when it comes to putting out fires—especially electrical fires that may be spreading out of sight.

How to Evacuate Safely

If it becomes too dangerous to put out electrical fire yourself, here’s how to evacuate:

1. Alert everyone in the building and guide them to the nearest exit
2. There is no need to go picking up valuables
3. Become low to the ground so as not to inhale smoke
4. Shut windows behind you so that the fire spreads slowly
5. Once outside, call 000 and report the location and type of fire

Knowing how to stop fire includes knowing how to protect life first. You can always replace property—never people.

Why Time Is Critical in Putting Out Fires

How long does it take for an electrical fire to start? In many cases, it only takes minutes to turn a small spark into a full-room blaze. That’s why timing is everything.

Even if you know how to put out electrical fire, how to stop a fire, and how to put out a fire correctly, you must also:

• Recognise the limits of your control
• Know when putting out fires becomes too risky
• Call emergency services (000) without delay

How to Prevent Electrical Fires

The best solution against an electrical fire in your house and for your family is to prevent the hazards. While knowing how to put out an electrical fire is important, it’s even better to stop electrical fire risks before they start.

Here’s what to do to stop electrical fires before they start, using practical, everyday strategies.

Schedule Routine Inspections and Maintenance

Many people ask, How do electrical fires start? It can be found very frequently either behind your walls-through old or faulty wiring. Insulation deteriorates, the wires become overloaded, and hazards are often ignored over time.

To reduce risk:

• Have a licensed electrician check your wiring, switchboards and outlets and make sure to check-up on them regularly
• Upgrade wires that are old or broke
• Solve the problems of frequent circuit breakers tripping

Don’t Overload Outlets

Overloading power outlets can be one of the most frequent causes of electrical fire. Plugging too many devices to a particular socket causes heat and overloading the system.

To avoid this:

• Use one high-wattage appliance per outlet
• Never daisy-chain power boards
• Keep an eye out for warm outlets or buzzing noises

One should educate himself about how to stop a fire by knowing how to avoid overheating in the first place.

Use Surge Protectors and Safe Appliances

A power surge can ignite an electrical fire in a blink of an eye during a storm or when the power is suddenly switched off.

To stay safe:

• Use quality surge protectors (AS/NZS certified in Australia)
• Dispose of outdated and damaged appliances
• There should be no rough cords and open wires

It only takes seconds for a spark to ignite. Knowing how long does it takes for an electrical fire to start—sometimes instantly—should remind you to stay vigilant.

Install Smoke Alarms and Keep Extinguishers Handy

Even with prevention, accidents can happen. That’s why it’s essential to:

• Install working smoke alarms near bedrooms and kitchens
• Keep a Class C electrical fire extinguisher in easily accessible areas
• Know how to put out a fire quickly if something does go wrong

If you are fighting an electrical fire, where would you aim the extinguisher? At the base of the fire, using a non-conductive agent like CO₂ or dry chemical.

Recognise the Warning Signs Early

Preventing a fire also means knowing when something isn’t right:

• Flickering lights
• Burning smells from outlets
• Discoloured power points or scorch marks

These are all signs that it’s time to take action. Don’t wait to wonder how to extinguish an electrical fire—fix the issue before the fire ever starts.

Don’t Wait for Sparks to Become Flames!

Dealing with an electrical fire is one of the most dangerous emergencies a homeowner or business can face. That’s why knowing exactly how to put out an electrical fire, as well as how to prevent one, could save your property—and your life.

Being aware of how electrical fires start, the timing of checks, not overloading, and utilising safe appliances all go a long way in prevention.

If you know how to stop fire before it becomes serious, and you have a strategy in the event of an emergency, then you and your family will feel more confident you will be able to take appropriate measures and do it with no harm to people.

Dynamic Group specialises in detecting and removing the electrical hazards before it results in an emergency. Our skilled and licensed residential and commercial electricians conduct end to end safety inspection, upgrade switchboard, test appliances, and audit compliance to suit both homes and business properties.

We are not only fault locators, but we also assist you in preventing the onset of electrical fire risks.

Don’t wait for sparks to become flames. You may want to ensure your premises are safe and electrical fireproof; why not contact Dynamic Group on (08) 9571 0022 for a professional electrical safety assessment?

Get in touch with us by phone or online to schedule your inspection to ensure the safety of your house and start the protection against fire.