Residents in areas affected by the tornado on June 1 also can turn off the main switch on their electrical breakers or remove the fuses in order to reduce the risk of a fire when electricity is restored.
SPRINGFIELD - A kitchen was gutted by fire after power was restored at 17 Kipling St. Saturday night, according to Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger.
Leger said the fire broke out when no one was home, about 20 minutes after electricity was restored to the area, and caused approximately $60,000 in damage. He said the home, a two-story Colonial in the east Forest Park section, also had heavy smoke damage.
He said the fire started in the area of an electronic teapot, microwave and another appliance. Leger advises residents to make sure all appliances are off, or unplugged, if they have been without electricity for several days.
Residents in areas affected by the tornado on June 1 also can turn off the main switch on their electrical breakers or remove the fuses in order to reduce the risk of a fire when electricity is restored.
"Turning off the main switch reduces the risk of a surge in your home and if you have a generator hooked up to your house, it reduces the risk if fire from that," said Leger. "We have also had two fires caused by people lighting with candles, so we are reminding everybody that flashlights are much safer."