Srinagar, Dec 4,: Fire and Emergency Services officials have cautioned that widespread use of substandard electric blankets has become a major trigger behind fire incidents across Kashmir, with Srinagar and several other districts reporting a noticeable rise in such mishaps during the winter months.
Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that investigations carried out after several recent fire calls revealed that faulty electric blankets were the source of the flames in several households. According to them, prolonged and careless use of low-quality heating devices is turning homes into fire traps during the cold season.
“People leave these blankets switched on for hours or throughout the night. When the material is substandard, the internal heating plates overheat, insulation weakens, and eventually the blanket becomes the source of ignition,” a senior fire official said.
The department has advised the public to use electric blankets only to warm beds before sleeping and to disconnect them completely afterwards. “Electric blankets should not be used continuously. Even good quality blankets should be switched off within 10 to 15 minutes,” the official said.
Fire officials explained that most substandard electric blankets sold in local markets are assembled with inferior wires and insulation that deteriorate quickly with repeated heating. Voltage fluctuations, old household wiring and lack of cutoff protection further increase the chances of fire. “Once the internal wiring begins to heat unevenly, the fabric gradually becomes dry and brittle. This triggers sparking and, in worst cases, flames,” another official said.
Officials said several cases from Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley were found to be linked directly to overheated electric blankets during spot inspections and preliminary assessments following fire outbreaks. “In many houses we reached, blankets were still plugged in even after the fire had spread,” an official added.
They urged inhabitants to immediately discard any blanket showing a burning smell, irregular heating or exposed wires. The department also advised against folding electric blankets tightly, placing heavy loads on them or using them on damp surfaces, saying such practices damage internal systems and increase fire risk.
Fire and Emergency Services has appealed to the public to remain cautious as temperatures drop further and warned that negligence could result in loss of lives and property.[KNT]
