Electrical Fires in Nigerian Homes, Offices and Markets: Causes and How to Prevent Them

Electrical faults are among the most common causes of building fires in Nigeria, from homes and offices to markets and factories. Most of these fires start the same few ways, and most can be prevented with sound installation, sensible habits and regular checks.

The most common causes

Overloaded sockets and extension boards

Plugging extension boards into extension boards, or running several high-power appliances from one socket, pushes cables and sockets beyond their rating until they overheat.

Loose connections

A loose terminal in a socket, switch or distribution board heats up every time current flows. Over weeks it chars the insulation and can ignite nearby material.

Oversized breakers and bridged fuses

When a breaker keeps tripping, replacing it with a bigger one, or bridging a fuse with wire, removes the protection that stops a cable from overheating.

Substandard cables and fittings

Undersized or counterfeit cables, sockets and breakers fail under normal loads.

Unsafe generator connections

Generators connected without a proper changeover, fuel stored near electrical equipment, and long, thin extension leads from generators to buildings are frequent causes of fires.

Power surges when supply returns

Voltage spikes when grid supply is restored can damage equipment and start fires in poorly protected installations.

Damaged and old wiring

Wiring damaged by rodents, heat or age, and illegal or improvised connections, especially in markets, are serious hazards.

Warning signs to act on

• Sockets, plugs or switches that feel warm or show brown marks
• A burning or hot plastic smell
• Lights that flicker or dim when appliances switch on
• Breakers that trip often
• Buzzing or crackling from boards or sockets

How to prevent electrical fires

• Have new installations designed and tested by qualified engineers
• Never replace a tripping breaker with a larger one. Find the cause
• Avoid chaining extension boards, and use quality boards with built-in protection
• Install residual current devices (RCDs) on socket circuits
• Use a correctly rated changeover switch or ATS for your generator
• Fit surge protection at the main distribution board
• Keep distribution boards closed, labelled and clear of stored items
• Switch off non-essential equipment when buildings are empty
• Keep a suitable fire extinguisher for electrical fires near the main board

Find problems before they start a fire

Thermal imaging finds hot connections while the system is running, often before any visible sign. A regular electrical safety audit combines thermal imaging, testing and inspection to catch fire risks early.

If an electrical fire starts

Switch off the supply at the main switch if it is safe to reach. Never use water on a live electrical fire. Use a CO2 or dry powder extinguisher, evacuate everyone, and call the fire service.

Talk to Corustar

Corustar Technological Services is an electrical engineering contractor based in Ikeja, Lagos, working across Nigeria. See our Electrical Safety Audit service, request a quote, or call +234 816 976 9672. For outages and faults, call our 24/7 emergency line on 0705 739 9297.