Significance

• According to bobvila.com, the website of home improvement expert Bob Vila, there 67,800 electrical fires a year in the United States, causing $868 million in property losses and 485 deaths.
  
  

Features

• December is typically the most common month for electrical fires. This is because people are forced to stay indoors and use lighting, heating, and appliances more often.
  
  

Light Switches

• Most electrical fires are a result of faulty wiring. If a light switch is hooked up to faulty wiring, it can trigger a fire when switched on and off.
  
  

Fact

• According to bobvila.com, 33 percent of urban fires are the result of faulty wiring. Many of these are triggered by light switches or outlet use.
  
  

Appliances

• Home appliances are often the cause of electrical fires as well. The most common type of appliances that cause fires are ovens, stoves, dryers, toasters and central heating units.