During Electrical Safety week firefighters are urging people to be careful when using electrical appliances in the home.

The residents of this property were out at the time the fire started. Thankfully the damage to the room was confined to a relatively small area. However, the room was full of smoke so it was still a dangerous situation.

The warning comes after crews from Cheadle and Hanley attended a house fire in Meir at the weekend which is believed to have been caused by a hairdryer. Firefighters used breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to extinguish the blaze which started in a bedroom. Fortunately, no-one was injured and the residents were able to go back into the property after crews had finished.

Station Manager Tim Hollingworth, who attended the fire, said: “The residents of this property were out at the time the fire started. Thankfully the damage to the room was confined to a relatively small area. However, the room was full of smoke so it was still a dangerous situation.

“We also attended a fire at a flat in Cannock in the early hours of Monday morning (November 19) where a convection heater had inadvertently been left switched on. A coat had fallen on it and burst into flame. Fortunately the two occupants managed to escape through a first floor window and were unhurt.

“More than 7,000 fires across the country are caused by overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances every year. During Electrical Safety Week we’re asking people to make sure they switch off appliances when they’re not being used and not to overload sockets. “

The Service has electrical safety advice on its website where its general advice includes:

• When using electronic devices always use the official charger and don’t be tempted to use cheap counterfeit replicas instead
• Ensure that you replace all damaged cables and chargers
• Make sure all electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them
• Don’t overload your sockets - keep one appliance to one plug where possible and use the socket overload calculator to reduce the risk of fire
• Unplug appliances when you are going to bed or not using them
• High powered appliances such as washing machines should have a single plug socket
• If using a cable drum extension lead, it should be completely unwound to avoid overheating.