Electricity as an industrial fire hazard

OF ALL FIRES in the United States and Canada during the years 1936 and 1937 (excluding those where lightning was the initial cause) 11.2 per cent were of electrical origin, and the loss was 10.9 per cent of all fire loss. These figures from the records of the National Fire Protection Association indicate that for all types of property, electricity ranked third as a cause of fire. The records of the Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies on the same basis show that for industrial plants, electricity rates a strong first. For the years 1931 to 1938 inclusive, 19.8 per cent of the fires for which claims were made in Factory Mutual plants were caused by electricity, and the loss was 19.2 per cent of their total fire loss. That is, one out of every five fires was of electrical origin.