Fire safety, energy conservation go hand-in-hand Published June 23, 2010 Courtesy of Fire Protection NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Millions of dollars are wasted each year by unused equipment being left plugged in, which essentially takes away from mission effectiveness. This is not only a waste of energy, but can quickly become a life-threatening safety hazard with the right conditions. Many people don't think about fire safety and prevention until something goes wrong. It's important to be proactive in preventing mishaps before it is too late. The most common objects known to start electrical fires are heating elements such as coffee pots and irons, frayed wires, extension cords and overloaded surge protectors. These hazards are relatively obvious, but even something as inconspicuous as a fan has been known to start a fire. Recently, the fire department responded to an on-base fire caused by a fan that had been left running over the weekend. Though the fire was quickly contained, it could have very easily been devastating. The Consolidated Safety Code states that at the end of each duty day, a fire and safety inspection should be performed, which includes unplugging any unused electrical equipment. This inspection is the first line of defense against mishaps caused by electrical equipment, and it also reduces unnecessary energy consumption. It is important for everyone to be aware of the risks and to not get careless when shutting down at the end of the day. The few extra minutes taken to unplug unused equipment could end up saving valuable resources, and even lives.
