My electrical outlet is on fire. What should I do next?

You should probably do what most people do, run and yell for help. Okay, forget what I just said, although that is what most people usually do when there is a home emergency like this.

Most electrical outlet fires start when something is plugged into the outlet that is consuming more electricity than was originally designed. Most homes built today have circuit breakers installed to prevent things like this from happening, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. Like everything else, sometimes electrical circuit breakers won’t turn off during an emergency.

If there is a fire in an outlet, make sure your children and everyone else are in a safe place first, first of all. Make sure your hands are not wet and that you are not standing in the water before even thinking about opening the main electrical panel. If you are not comfortable, contact 911 immediately.

If your outlet catches fire, the first thing you’ll want to do is turn off the main electrical breaker in the house. If you don’t know which of your electrical breakers is the main one, turn them all off. You can safely assume that all electrical breakers will be in the on position, but they must have on and off sides that are clearly visible for assistance.

Now what do you do when your outlet catches fire and you don’t know where the electrical circuit breakers are located? You can find your electrical breakers on the main electrical panel, which should be located near the electrical meter.

Most electrical meters and main electrical panels will be located on the outside of your home, but they could be located in your basement, if you have one. If you cannot turn off the electrical circuit breakers or if the outlet continues to burn and smoke, you should contact your local fire department, because you are in the middle of a home damage emergency.