A spate of large insurance claims due to house fires this winter has prompted a warning for people to be vigilant and reduce risks around the home.
AA Insurance figures showed the company paid out $8 million for sixteen large house fire claims for the months of June and July this year, compared to $7.1 million paid out from June to August last year. Large claims were for more than $100,000 of damage.
Mike Hart and Sarah Coleman told 1News they watched their Marton home of 11 years go up in flames last month after a powerboard in their bedroom started sparking.
"I just heard the crackling in the bedroom," Coleman said.
By the time Hart spotted the fire in the bedroom and returned with a fire extinguisher, he said it had doubled in size.
Mike Hart and Sarah Coleman. (Source: 1News)
"I had a little go with the fire extinguisher to see if we could fight it, but it was a losing battle. We just said 'right, let's get out'."
They said a cord for a lamp was plugged into the power board — but it was not in use — and the power board was plugged into a socket in the wall.
"[It is] quite scary when you think you're sitting on the couch watching TV, just relaxing, and then two or three minutes later you're outside watching your house burn down," Hart said.
Fire and Emergency shares advice
Fire and Emergency New Zealand community risk manager Kerry O'Keefe said house fires started by power boards — also known as multi plugs — were one of the most common that firefighters respond to, second after cooking fires.
"People just need to think about 'what am I plugging into this plug board?'... 'Am I gonna hammer this plug board so hard it's gonna give up at some stage in the near future?" he said.
Power boards should only be used with low power appliances such as computers, printers, scanners, modems, phone chargers, televisions and stereos, according to Worksafe.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand community risk manager Kerry O'Keefe. (Source: 1News)
The device shouldn't be used with heaters, dehumidifiers, electric jugs, washing machines and stoves as these appliances draw a heavy load of electricity. These appliances should be plugged into a wall socket.
"Every time you turn the electric blanket on it's drawing 10 amps or 12-14 amps, the plug board's rated to 10 amps so you're asking it to do more than it's capable of doing and then you go, one day it just goes 'I've had enough' and parts fail, melt, catch fire," O'Keefe said.
"I say to people feel the plug board, if it's warm, you've overloaded it, should never be warm."
He said if the power board is rattling, that's another sign to dispose of the device as it's broken.
"Plug boards need to be replaced especially if they start looking yellow and they start getting a bit older, just get rid of them," O'Keefe said.
Couple urges others to take action
The couple urged others to take actions to reduce the risk of fire around their own homes, saying "if you are in this situation, don't try and save anything, just save yourself."
"If we can just save, potentially save a life, check your multi-boards would be the message," Coleman said.
Hart said he was grateful to the community for their support since the fire, as well as AA Insurance for how they've responded to their claim.
"When the chips are down, people are there... You see the best of humanity in difficult times, and we've experienced that, so we're very grateful for that."
The couple planned to return to their home once it had been reconstructed internally.
Hart said the thought of a repeat incident occurring is "confronting", so they'll be taking a preventative approach.
"Ideally, we'd like to have some more hot points put into the house, rather than rely on multi-boards.
"But like I say, if we can replace them yearly and be pretty diligent about it, then that goes a long way to preventing it," he said.
High number of claims 'unusual' - AA Insurance
AA Insurance Chief Operating Officer Simon Hobbs said the high number of fire claims this winter is "unusual" but he does have a theory for the high number of electrical fires.
"It's got a lot to do with how many more appliances and things we're having in our homes and how many things we're plugging into the power system and multi boards in particular," he said.
"If there's anything that we can do to get the message out there about fire safety and protecting people's livelihoods, their homes and their lives, it's something we really want to do."
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