Hamilton County – As holiday decorations go up across the county, emergency officials are reminding residents to take extra precautions with electrical outlets to reduce the risk of house fires this season.
According to Hamilton County Emergency Management, overloaded outlets and improperly used extension cords are a common cause of residential fires during the holidays. Officials say festive lighting, inflatables, and seasonal décor can place unexpected strain on home electrical systems—especially in older homes.
Emergency management officials recommend using power strips equipped with built-in surge protection instead of plugging multiple devices directly into a single wall outlet. Residents are also urged to avoid “daisy-chaining” extension cords, a practice where one extension cord is plugged into another, which can quickly lead to overheating.
“Never plug too many items into one outlet,” the agency advised in a public safety message shared this week. Even small decorations can collectively exceed safe electrical limits when used together for long periods.
Fire safety experts say warning signs of overloaded outlets include warm wall plates, flickering lights, buzzing sounds, or frequent tripped breakers. If any of these occur, residents should unplug devices immediately and have the outlet inspected.
Officials also recommend turning off holiday lights before leaving home or going to sleep and using extension cords rated specifically for indoor or outdoor use, depending on placement. Damaged cords should be discarded, not repaired.
The safety reminder is part of a broader seasonal campaign aimed at preventing home fires, which tend to increase during late fall and winter months due to decorations, space heaters, and cooking activity.
Residents are encouraged to review their holiday setups now to ensure a safe and fire-free season.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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