What is a common cause of electrical fires in residential buildings?

Overloaded circuits are a significant cause of electrical fires in residential buildings due to the excessive demand placed on electrical systems. When too many devices are connected to a single circuit, the wiring can overheat as it struggles to deliver more power than it is designed to handle. This overheating can damage the insulation on wires, potentially leading to short circuits or ignition of surrounding materials, creating a fire hazard.

In residential settings, circuits are typically designed to handle a specific load, and exceeding that load with multiple high-demand appliances or devices increases the risk of overheating. This issue is particularly prominent in older homes where electrical systems may not have been upgraded to accommodate modern power needs. Understanding the limitations of circuits and managing load effectively is crucial for fire safety in residential electrical systems.

Other factors, such as malfunctioning appliances, improperly placed outlets, and the use of non-approved extension cords, can also pose fire risks, but overloaded circuits are notably prevalent and easily preventable through proper circuit management and awareness of load limits.