Don’t Overload Circuits

Even as Jackson’s town square is ceremoniously lighted for the season, area residents are donning their homes with a variety of lights and animated decorations.  However, Jackson Hole Fire Marshal Kathy Clay points out that it is easy to overload a home’s electrical circuits in the process and create a fire hazard.  She says when you ask too much from your power system, the resistance through the electrical conductors can produce significant heat and become a fire hazard.  She says that can also apply to extension cords that are chosen for use if they are not designed to carry the amount of power being called for. When you do connect your strings of lights or appliances, Clay says it is also important to be sure the electrical connection is snug and the circuit is complete.  She says there is a history of fires in  Jackson where the plugs were not snugged into the outlet and the electricity arched between the two metal tongues that are supposed to be buried in the outlet.  Clay also says homeowners should be sure that the lights or other decorations being placed outside of a home are actually made to be outside in the elements.  Then check the literature that came with them to determine their power demand and calculate how many can be powered by the circuits to which they are being connected.