National Fire Prevention Month
Photo: Photo courtesy Grand River Dam Authority
Electrical safety in the home
October is recognized as National Fire Prevention Month, and the Grand River Dam Authority is proud to join organizations like the Electric Safety Foundation International (esfi.org) to share some valuable information about preventing fires in your home.
According to ESFI, electric fires in the home account for approximately 51,000 fires each year. Of those fires, nearly one-third are caused by the home's electric system. However, there are some important steps you can take to help recognize and even prevent overloaded electric circuits in the home. Here is some information that can be helpful to you:
Warning signs of overloaded circuits:
* Flickering, blinking, or dimming lights
* Warm or discolored wall plates
* Burning odor coming from receptacles or wall switches
* Frequently tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses
* Crackling, sizzling, or buzzing from receptacles
* Mild shock or tingle from appliances, receptacles, or switches
Steps to help can prevent electrical overloads in your home:
* Never use extension cords or multi-outlet converters for appliances.
* Major appliances should be plugged directly into wall receptacle outlets.
* Only plug one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time.
* A heavy reliance on extension cords is a good indicator that you have too few outlets to address your needs. Have a qualified electrician inspect your home and add new outlets.
* Only use the appropriate watt bulb for any lighting fixture. Using a larger watt bulb may cause a fire.
* Remember, power strips only add additional outlets; they do not change the amount of power being received from the outlet.
For more electric safety tips, visit esfi.org<https://www.esfi.org/>. Your friends at GRDA want you to stay safe and enjoy the fall season!
GRDA is Oklahoma's largest public power electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an "Oklahoma agency of excellence" by focusing on the 5 E's: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.
# # #
Power For Progress — a weekly column provided by the Grand River Dam Authority.
More GRDA Updates
Celebrating National Public Power Week 2026
Each year, during the first full week in October, the Grand River Dam Authority joins with the nation's 2,200 other publicly owned electric utilities to celebrate National Public Power Week. It is a t
Seasonal safety for cooler weather
The calendar has officially changed to fall, and the Oklahoma weather seems to be slowly changing too. While it may be a little early to park the lawnmower for the season, it's always a good time to t
Back to school with GRDA
As the new school semester gets underway, area students are returning to the classroom and once again studying reading, writing and arithmetic, along with history, science, and other subjects. With th