HOW DOES FIRE AFFECT ELECTRONICS?

Fire destruction

Fire can cause total damage or destruction to electronics in a residential or commercial setting.

Electrical failures are the most common cause of fires in residential and commercial spaces.

When this kind of fire happens, not to mention the accompanying water damage resulting from dousing the fire, all electronic equipment is at a great risk of being fully damaged or destroyed.

 

Smoke

Smoke in a fire causes great damage to the internal components within electronics. Smoke can create a coat on resistors, transistors, and capacitors, making it difficult for them to release heat.

This could eventually lead to overheating within the entire device, causing total damage.

It is very important to make sure that you have your electronics such as computers, computer monitors, or televisions cleaned out after a fire. Sometimes the unit might work for a while but, afterward will frequently fail after a few months due to latent oxidation or corrosion.

 

Soot

Damage caused by fires is often more evident than that caused by soot. If electronic devices don’t physically go up in flames, it does not mean that they will continue to function normally.

Because of its acidic nature, soot can cause corrosion in electronic components. If the electronics are not professionally cleaned out, their lifespan is greatly diminished.

 

What to do?

Do not turn on electronics during or after fire damage. Electronics in or after a fire can be dangerous and a safety hazard.

 

How to protect your electronics from fires?

It is advisable to shut down, turn off and unplug electronics that do not need to stay running when you travel. If you travel for a couple of days, weeks or even months, unplug the laptop, portable heaters, rechargeable batteries, etc. In case of a power surge, these could be destroyed or cause a fire.

 

Smoke detector

It is important to have smoke detectors in your home or commercial space. Check your smoke detectors on a regular basis to make sure the batteries are still good.

Power Outage

If you experience a power outage due to a storm, turn off and unplug your electronics like computers and Televisions to avoid a power surge.

 

Power Surge units

You can protect your electronics from power surges by installing a Surge Protector.  This is a good investment with respect to cost/benefit. For just a few dollars you can purchase a high-quality protector which may make save your electronic appliance when the power surges for any reason.